Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman turned forty, a milestone that highlights the rapid pace of change he has overseen in Saudi Arabia.
In less than a decade, the Kingdom has shifted from an oil-dependent state with entrenched social conservatism into a country positioning itself as a global investment hub and a more assertive political actor.
At home, the Crown Prince has pursued an agenda of accelerated reform. Restrictions on women’s participation in public life have been eased, while the influence of religious conservatism has been sharply curtailed.
These shifts were implemented with a decisiveness that surprised both domestic and international observers. What was long assumed to require gradual, generational change has unfolded within a few years.
The foundation of this transformation is Vision 2030, a framework that seeks to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons.
Flagship projects such as NEOM and The Line are designed not only as urban experiments but also as symbols of a future economy driven by technology, tourism, and sustainability.
By adopting corporate-style governance within the public sector—emphasizing efficiency, accountability, and measurable results—Mohammed bin Salman has attempted to overcome the bureaucratic inertia that has slowed development in the past.
Regionally, his approach reflects a broader recalibration of Saudi policy. Riyadh has sought to present itself as a stabilizing force in the Gulf and as a champion of pragmatic state-building.
By sidelining ideological currents that once shaped the region, the Crown Prince has advanced a model that privileges sovereignty, diversification, and modernisation. This has encouraged a reassessment within the Arab world of its capacity to compete globally rather than remain bound by dependency or defeatism.
On the international stage, his credibility has been reinforced by measures to tackle corruption at senior levels, which signaled an intention to strengthen institutional integrity.
As a result, Saudi Arabia is increasingly perceived not only as a critical energy supplier but also as a strategic player in investment flows, technology partnerships, and climate diplomacy.
At forty, Prince Mohammed bin Salman represents a generational shift in Middle Eastern leadership. His initials—MBS—have become synonymous with ambition and modernisation. Whether the full scale of his vision is realised remains a question for the future, but the trajectory is clear: Saudi Arabia is asserting itself as a regional power with global ambitions.
History will likely view this period not just as one of reform, but as the beginning of a new Saudi era—one in which decisiveness, vision, and execution form the “secret code” to the Kingdom’s, and perhaps the Middle East’s, success.
