King Salman Reconstitutes Saudi Cabinet Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Shuffles Key Leadership

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued three royal decrees on Thursday to reconstitute the Cabinet under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, alongside leadership changes across two major economic authorities, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The initial decree confirmed the Cabinet's reconstitution led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while keeping its current members in place. This adjustment aligns with legal mandates requiring a royal decree to reconstitute the Cabinet after a maximum four-year term.

A second decree relieved Bandar Alkhorayef from his role as chairman of the board of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was subsequently named as the new chairman of the board.

Under the third decree, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Kuwaiz stepped down as chairman of the board of the Capital Market Authority and was succeeded by Mazen bin Turki Al Sudairi, who holds the ministerial rank.

Prince Mohammed previously became Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister in June 2017 to replace his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef, later taking on the role of Prime Minister in September 2022 to oversee the kingdom's political, economic, and foreign policy agendas.

Serving as the main driver behind Saudi Vision 2030, the Crown Prince steers an ambitious strategy designed to lower oil dependency, diversify the economy, and foster growth in sectors such as tourism, technology, entertainment, logistics, and renewable energy. Key initiatives tied to this program feature Neom, Red Sea tourism development, and the growth of the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has advanced a more independent and assertive foreign policy steered by Prince Mohammed, strengthening relations with global powers like the US, China, and Russia while broadening diplomatic outreach across the Middle East. Notably, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations in 2023 through a China-brokered deal.

Alongside these political and economic shifts, Prince Mohammed has directed major social transformations in Saudi Arabia, including lifting the driving ban for women, boosting female workforce participation, and welcoming international tourism and entertainment. Concurrently, the kingdom continues to face international scrutiny over human rights concerns and curbs on political dissent.