diamond in the rough

Saudi Arabia’s MBS: An unlikely prince among the thousands

In depth

This article is part of the dossier: Inside the rise of Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman

By Amélie Zaccour
Posted on Tuesday, 9 February 2021 20:06, updated on Thursday, 11 February 2021 20:07

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has become one of the most powerful leaders in the Arab world. In the second part of our series, we look back at his childhood.

This is part 2 of a 6-part series.

Nothing ever indicated that the young prince, far back in the line of succession and looked down on by his older half-brothers, would someday become the most powerful man in the Saudi kingdom. But he came to be his father’s favourite son. Here’s how.

Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) grew up in magnificent palaces, surrounded by servants, drivers and private tutors – nothing out of the ordinary for a member of the Saudi royal family, also known as the House of Saud.

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