User:Matthew Yeager/AFD

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود}}, Salmān bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ʾĀl Saʿūd) (born 1935) is the Crown Prince and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, as well as a senior member of the House of Saud.

Early life and education
Prince Salman was born on 31 December 1935. He is reported to be the 25th son of King Abdulaziz. His mother is Hassa al Sudairi. Therefore, Salman bin Abdulaziz is a member of the Sudairi Seven.

Salman bin Abdulaziz received his early education in the Princes' School in Riyadh which was established by King Abdulaziz to provide education to his children. He studied religion and modern science.

Early experience
Prince Salman's governmental experience dates back to the 1950s. King Abdulaziz appointed Prince Salman as his representative and the Emir or Mayor of Riyadh on 17 March 1954, when Salman bin Abdulaziz was just nineteen years old. Later, he was appointed by King Saud as Mayor of Riyadh at the rank of minister on 19 April 1955. He resigned from his post on 25 December 1960.

Governor of Riyadh
Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed to the governorship of Riyadh Province on 4 February 1963. His tenure lasted for forty-eight years from 1963 to 2011. As governor, he contributed to the development of Riyadh from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis. He has attracted tourism, capital projects, and foreign investment inside his country. He favors geopolitical and economic relationships with the West.

He was advised by young well-qualified technocrats recruited from King Saud University during his governorship. In January 2011, he ordered action against Riyadh beggars "who try to take advantage of the generosity of people". All foreign beggars were deported and Saudi beggars were placed in a rehabilitation program by the Ministry of Social Affairs. "Riyadh Police round up 109 in Clampdown on Beggary." Arab News. 21 January 2011. Web. 21 January 2011.

Defence Minister
On 5 November 2011, Prince Salman was appointed the Minister of Defence, replacing his full brother late Crown Prince Sultan. On the same day, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz was named as the Governor of Riyadh Province. Since his appointment in November 2011, Prince Salman visited both the US and the United Kingdom where he met with U.S. President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.