Royal Beginnings
In a grand palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a young boy named Mohammad bin Salman spent his days dreaming big dreams. Born on August 31, 1985, little Mohammad wasn't like other kids. His father was Prince Salman, who would one day become king.
"Why do things have to stay the same?" young Mohammad would often ask his mother Fahda. She smiled at her curious son, not knowing he would grow up to change their whole country.
Growing Up Royal
Unlike many Saudi princes who went to fancy schools abroad, Mohammad stayed in Riyadh. He went to local schools and earned his college degree from King Saud University. He wanted to understand the real Saudi Arabia, not just the royal life.
"I learned more from watching my father work than from any book," Mohammad once said about Prince Salman, who taught him about leadership from an early age.
Even as a teenager, Mohammad showed he was different. While other princes spent time at expensive parties, he loved to read books about history and economics. He would sit for hours in his father's office, listening to how Saudi Arabia worked.
Early Signs of Leadership
By age 16, Mohammad started showing his business skills. He created his own companies and learned how money worked. His father noticed something special about him:
"Mohammad asks questions that make even wise men think twice," Prince Salman told his advisors.
Young Mohammad watched his country carefully. He saw that Saudi Arabia depended too much on selling oil. He worried about what would happen when the oil ran out. These thoughts would later shape his big plans for change.
Family Life
Growing up in the Al Saud family wasn't simple. Mohammad had many brothers, sisters, and cousins. But he stood out because he worked hard and thought differently. He married Princess Sarah bint Mashhoor when he was young, and they started their own family.
Some important things about young Mohammad:
He loved technology and new ideas
He worked harder than most other princes
He spent time with regular Saudi citizens
He dreamed of making Saudi Arabia modern
He learned everything he could about running a country
Dreams of Change
As Mohammad grew older, he started to see problems in his country. Women couldn't drive cars. Young people couldn't find good jobs. The country needed new kinds of business, not just oil.
"Our country can be better," he would tell his friends. "We need to change with the times."
At night, he would look out his palace window at the lights of Riyadh. He imagined a future Saudi Arabia with tall buildings, new technologies, and happy people. He didn't know it yet, but soon he would get the chance to make these dreams come true.
Every day, Mohammad learned more about leadership from his father. He watched how Prince Salman solved problems and helped people. These lessons would be very important later, when Mohammad would need to make big decisions for his country.
As the sun set over Riyadh each evening, young Mohammad's mind filled with ideas. He knew Saudi Arabia could become something amazing. He just needed the chance to prove it.The Path to Power
In 2009, Mohammad bin Salman took his first big step into leadership. At just 24 years old, he became a special advisor to his father, Prince Salman. His office wasn't fancy - just a simple desk and a computer. But his ideas were anything but simple.
Learning the Ropes
"I want to understand everything about how our government works," Mohammad told his team. Every morning, he arrived early to read reports and meet with experts.
"Young prince works harder than anyone else," whispered the palace staff. They weren't used to seeing a royal family member arrive before sunrise.
Father and Son
When King Abdullah made Prince Salman the new Defense Minister in 2011, Mohammad got an even bigger job. He became his father's right-hand man. They worked side by side, solving problems for Saudi Arabia.
"My father taught me that being a leader means serving your people, not just giving orders," Mohammad said later.
The Big Jump
Everything changed in 2015. King Abdullah died, and Mohammad's father became King Salman. Suddenly, Mohammad had new responsibilities:
Defense Minister at age 29
Head of the Royal Court
Leader of Saudi Arabia's economy
In charge of the state oil company
Chairman of important development projects
Becoming Crown Prince
The biggest change came in 2017. King Salman named Mohammad the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia! At just 31 years old, he would be next in line to become king. Many older princes were surprised - nobody so young had ever had this much power.
"With great power comes great responsibility," Mohammad told his advisors. He knew he had to prove himself worthy of this trust.
Early Challenges
Not everyone was happy about Mohammad's quick rise to power. Some older princes thought he was too young. Others didn't like his new ideas. But Mohammad stayed focused on his goals.
He started making changes right away:
✓ Created new jobs for young people
✓ Started building modern cities
✓ Brought music and movies to Saudi Arabia
✓ Gave more rights to women
Building Trust
Mohammad knew he needed the people's support. He spent time meeting regular citizens, listening to their problems. Young Saudis especially liked him because he understood their dreams for a modern country.
"We need a leader who knows what it's like to be young in today's world," said one Saudi student. "MBS understands us."
Looking Forward
As Crown Prince, Mohammad had big plans. He wanted to change how Saudi Arabia made money, not just from oil. He dreamed of new cities in the desert, filled with technology and jobs.
Every night, he worked late in his office, planning these changes. The lights of Riyadh sparkled outside his window, reminding him of all the people counting on him.
The young prince who once watched his father work was now making his own mark on history. But his biggest challenges - and greatest achievements - were still to come.
Mohammad knew that changing a country wasn't easy. But as he looked at the pile of work on his desk each morning, he smiled. He was ready for the challenge.A Vision for Tomorrow
The year was 2016, and Mohammad bin Salman had a big dream. He wanted to change Saudi Arabia forever. One morning, he stood at his office window, looking out at the desert.
The Big Plan
"We need to think differently," MBS told his team. He pulled out a large map and spread it across his desk. "This is Vision 2030 - our plan for a new Saudi Arabia."
"We can't depend on oil forever. We need new ways to make money and help our people grow," MBS explained.
Building Dreams in the Sand
One of MBS's biggest ideas was NEOM - a super-smart city in the desert. Picture this: flying cars, robot helpers, and buildings that touch the clouds!
"Imagine a city where kids ride in self-driving cars to school and robots help clean the streets," MBS said excitedly.
The city would cost $500 billion - that's like building 500 huge football stadiums! Some people thought it was impossible, but MBS believed in dreaming big.
Fun for Everyone
MBS knew Saudi kids wanted more fun things to do. So he made plans for:
Movie theaters
Theme parks
Sports stadiums ⚽
Music concerts
Beach resorts ️
Jobs of the Future
MBS wanted young Saudis to have cool new jobs. He started programs to teach kids about:
• Computer coding
• Robot building
• Business skills
• Science and math
• Art and design
Saving the Earth
Even though Saudi Arabia made lots of money from oil, MBS wanted to help save the planet. He had a green plan:
"We will plant 10 billion trees and use more solar power from the sun. Our desert will help make clean energy!"
Making Friends Around the World
MBS traveled to many countries to tell people about his plans. He met with business leaders and presidents. He wanted everyone to know that Saudi Arabia was changing.
One day, he visited a school in Riyadh. A little girl asked him, "Will I be able to become a scientist?"
"Yes," MBS smiled. "In the new Saudi Arabia, you can be anything you want to be!"
Working Hard
Every day, MBS worked with his team to make these dreams come true. They made charts, drew plans, and solved problems. Sometimes things were hard, but they didn't give up.
"Big dreams take time," MBS would say. "But if we work together, we can build an amazing future."
Changes Begin
Soon, people started seeing changes. New buildings went up. Solar panels appeared in the desert. Kids started learning to code in school.
Some older people weren't sure about all these changes. But most young Saudis were excited. They could feel their country transforming.
At night, MBS would look at the stars over Riyadh. The city lights twinkled below, brighter than ever. He knew there was still much work to do, but his vision was becoming real, one day at a time. ✨Breaking with Tradition
The sun was rising over Riyadh as MBS sat in his office. On his desk lay a list of old rules he wanted to change. Making Saudi Arabia modern meant dealing with tough traditions.
Women Take the Wheel
One big change came in 2018. MBS decided women should be allowed to drive cars. Many people were excited, but some weren't happy.
"My daughter can now drive herself to college!" said Sarah, a happy mom in Jeddah. "This makes our lives so much better!"
Before this change, Saudi Arabia was the only country where women couldn't drive. Now they could feel more free!
More Freedom for Everyone
MBS wanted young people to have fun like kids in other countries. He made many changes:
Girls and boys could go to concerts together
Families could watch movies in theaters
Women could go to sports games ⚽
People could have music in restaurants
Stores could stay open during prayer time
New Rules for Work
MBS wanted more women to have jobs. He made new rules so they could:
• Work in stores and offices
• Start their own businesses
• Travel without asking permission ✈️
• Sign their own papers
Dealing with Disagreement
Some people didn't like these new changes. They thought things were moving too fast.
"Change is hard," MBS told his advisors. "But we must move forward for our children's future."
The Religious Police
Before MBS, religious police would walk around making sure everyone followed strict rules. They could stop people and tell them what to do.
"We need to be kind to each other," MBS said. "Force and fear don't make people good."
He took away much of their power. Now they could only give friendly advice.
Making New Friends
To show the world Saudi Arabia was changing, MBS invited people from other countries to visit. Famous singers came to perform. Big sports events happened.
Tourists could now come see Saudi Arabia's beautiful places! They could visit ancient ruins, swim in the Red Sea, and camp in the desert. ️
Teaching New Things
Schools started teaching new subjects. Girls could take gym class. Everyone learned about computers and art.
One teacher said, "My students are so happy to learn new things. They feel ready for the future!"
Growing Pains
Change wasn't always easy. Some days were hard. But MBS kept going because he believed in his country's future.
Young Saudis posted happy messages online. They liked seeing their country change. Many started their own YouTube channels and businesses.
Looking Forward
As the sun set each day, MBS thought about all the changes happening. He knew some people were worried. But he also saw how happy many young people were.
"We are writing a new story for Saudi Arabia," he told a group of students. "And you will help write it!" ✨
Every new rule and change was like turning a page in Saudi Arabia's book. The story wasn't finished yet, but it was getting more interesting every day.On the World Stage
The bright lights of New York City sparkled as MBS's plane landed at JFK Airport. He was far from the desert sands of Saudi Arabia. Being a leader meant talking to people all around the world.
Making...
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