Blood and Oil: The Rise of Mohammed bin Salman 🏜️👑 | Reela

Blood and Oil: The Rise of Mohammed bin Salman 🏜️👑

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Strict use of scripts:“The Rise of a Prince
The story begins in December 2014, as King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia lay on his deathbed, the air thick with uncertainty. King Abdullah, a leader known for his cautious modernization efforts, had kept a firm grip on the kingdom, balancing progress and tradition. But the sands were shifting. Behind the gilded walls of the palace, a young and determined prince was waiting for his moment. Mohammed bin Salman, the son of Crown Prince Salman, had spent years in the shadow of his powerful father, absorbing the inner workings of power and planning his ascent.
MBS was unlike the other royals who spent much of their time abroad or indulging in luxury. Instead, he stayed close to his father, studying the family’s weaknesses and Saudi Arabia’s vulnerabilities. As the youngest son of King Salman’s third wife, Mohammed didn’t inherit the vast fortunes of his older half-brothers. Instead, he saw his family’s financial struggles, relatively speaking, as a challenge. By his late teens, Mohammed was already trying to build a name for himself. “My plan,” he once said to a Kuwaiti official, “is to be richer than Alwaleed bin Talal in two years.” Alwaleed, a cousin and billionaire investor, was then one of the most famous Saudis in the world. Mohammed’s ambition was no secret even then.
But family dynamics were never straightforward in the House of Saud. King Abdullah had worked to curtail the unchecked wealth and influence of the royal family, often at the expense of his own sons. His ambitious offspring, such as Miteb, who controlled the National Guard, and Turki, the governor of Riyadh, saw themselves as natural heirs to the throne. Meanwhile, Khalid al-Tuwaijri, Abdullah’s powerful and controversial chief of court, wielded enormous influence and worked to sideline the Salmans. Tuwaijri’s maneuvering created growing tension between the two factions of the royal family.
The death of King Abdullah in January 2015 set the stage for a historic power shift. Crown Prince Salman, already in his late seventies, assumed the throne. His first move was swift and symbolic: Mohammed bin Salman was named Minister of Defense and head of the Royal Court, placing him at the center of Saudi decision-making. While many dismissed MBS as too young and inexperienced, the prince quickly proved them wrong. He convened Saudi generals, assessed the country’s military strength, and immediately prepared for action. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia launched its military intervention in Yemen, and MBS was the architect. It was a bold and shocking move, one that would come to define his rule. “Send in the F15s,” he ordered, taking his generals—and the world—by surprise.
The rise of MBS wasn’t just a story of political ambition; it was also a study in strategy. By staying close to his father, Mohammed positioned himself as an indispensable ally. He understood that power in Saudi Arabia was not only about lineage but also about consolidating control. Through his roles, he began reshaping Saudi Arabia’s political and military landscape, sidelining potential rivals and centralizing authority.
The years between 2014 and 2015 marked a seismic shift in Saudi Arabia’s governance. Mohammed bin Salman emerged as a central figure, not just as a defense minister but as the kingdom’s de facto leader in many ways. His audacity and willingness to disrupt tradition were apparent from the beginning. While some saw a brash young prince, others recognized a visionary who was willing to take risks no other Saudi leader had dared to.
This part of the story sets the stage for the transformative—and controversial—years ahead. As MBS consolidated power, his actions began to redefine Saudi Arabia, shaking its foundations and leaving both his supporters and critics in awe. From here, the story moves into a phase of intense centralization and bold reforms, where Mohammed would face challenges far greater than family disputes or regional conflicts. His journey to absolute authority had only just begun.

Consolidating Power
By 2017, Mohammed bin Salman had moved swiftly to cement his authority, making it clear that Saudi Arabia was entering an era of rapid transformation—and ruthless consolidation. The young crown prince, now fully empowered by his father’s support, faced a system plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and deeply entrenched interests. But for MBS, the kingdom wasn’t just in need of reform; it needed an overhaul.
The turning point came in November 2017, when the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh became the stage for one of the most extraordinary political gambits in modern Saudi history. Under the guise of combating corruption, MBS ordered the detention of over 300 individuals, including powerful royals, ministers, and business moguls. Among them was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the internationally renowned billionaire who had long been seen as the face of Saudi wealth and influence abroad. Detainees were stripped of their phones, held under tight surveillance, and pressed to sign away assets in exchange for their freedom. “The Ritz was no longer a hotel but a makeshift prison,” the book recounts, painting a vivid picture of the opulent yet eerie scene.
This move wasn’t just about corruption—it was about power. By detaining some of Saudi Arabia’s wealthiest and most influential figures, MBS eliminated potential rivals and signaled that no one was untouchable, not even members of the royal family. The crackdown, dubbed the “sheikhdown” by outsiders, sent shockwaves across the world. Yet it also left Saudis divided: Was this an overdue clean-up of corrupt elites or a calculated grab for unchecked power?
Simultaneously, MBS launched Vision 2030, a bold and ambitious economic reform plan aimed at reducing Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil. He envisioned a diversified economy powered by tourism, technology, and foreign investment. Projects like NEOM, a futuristic city in the desert, symbolized the scale of his aspirations. “We will not waste another 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideas,” MBS declared, positioning himself as a reformer determined to modernize Saudi society. Cinemas reopened, women were allowed to drive, and the religious police saw their powers curtailed.
But with each step forward came questions about the cost. While reforms brought newfound freedoms to some, they were coupled with intense suppression of dissent. Activists, clerics, and critics were silenced, arrested, or, in some cases, disappeared altogether. Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women’s rights activist, was detained for her advocacy, despite her work aligning with MBS’s reforms. This duality—progressive policies on one hand and authoritarian crackdowns on the other—became a defining feature of his rule.
MBS’s economic gambles also carried risks. The reliance on oil revenue to fund massive projects like NEOM seemed contradictory to the goal of diversification. Investors were wary of political instability following the Ritz arrests, and the kingdom’s international image became increasingly polarized. While some admired MBS for his bold vision, others viewed his tactics as reckless and oppressive.
This period of consolidation wasn’t just about shaping Saudi Arabia; it was about shaping MBS’s identity as a leader. He projected himself as a modernizer unafraid to challenge the status quo, yet his methods left little room for compromise. The Ritz episode, Vision 2030, and his broader governance style reflected his willingness to take unprecedented risks.
As Saudi Arabia stepped into a new chapter, the stakes only grew higher. While MBS had solidified his control at home, his ambitions extended far beyond its borders. His next moves would bring global consequences, ushering in an era of international intrigue and controversy that would further define his legacy. The story now shifts to the global stage, where MBS’s calculated strategies and bold gambles collide with the complex realities of geopolitics.

Global Gambits and Controversy
In 2018, the world’s gaze shifted sharply toward Mohammed bin Salman when a shocking event shook Saudi Arabia’s already turbulent narrative. The brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul sent ripples across global headlines. Khashoggi, a longtime critic of MBS’s policies, had fled Saudi Arabia and written for The Washington Post, voicing his concerns about the kingdom's trajectory. On October 2, Khashoggi entered the consulate for routine paperwork but never walked out. His disappearance led to international outrage, and when Turkish authorities revealed gruesome details of the murder, global pressure mounted on MBS, accusing him of orchestrating the crime. “We hope this will not undermine the crown prince’s vision for reform,” some allies muttered cautiously, but the damage was done. This moment forever stained his reputation.
But MBS was not one to shy away from controversy. The same year, he traveled extensively, courting world leaders and business tycoons. In the U.S., he met with President Donald Trump and Jared Kushner, solidifying a strong relationship that would give him leverage on the global stage. The Saudi-U.S. relationship had long been based on oil and arms, but MBS aimed to expand its scope. He signed billion-dollar investment deals, promoted Vision 2030, and presented himself as a modernizer. “Investors must understand,” he told reporters, “Saudi Arabia is open for business.”
Yet, his international gambits were often clouded by his own ambitions. In 2017, just a year before the Khashoggi incident, he led a blockade against Qatar, accusing the nation of funding terrorism. This aggressive move alienated many Gulf allies and drew criticism for its disproportionate economic and political consequences. Despite Qatar’s survival under the blockade, MBS remained unapologetic, viewing it as a necessary stance against dissent in the region.
Beyond geopolitics, MBS pursued personal projects that highlighted his taste for extravagance and absolute control. In 2017, he reportedly purchased the world’s most expensive painting, Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci, for $450 million. That same year, he acquired a $500 million yacht. These indulgences, juxtaposed with his vision of economic diversification, raised eyebrows internationally. While he wanted to project an image of progressive leadership, critics saw his actions as out of touch with the economic struggles of ordinary Saudis.
Despite these controversies, MBS remained relentless in his efforts to transform Saudi Arabia into a global player. NEOM, his proposed $500 billion futuristic city, symbolized his desire to build a nation that could rival global powerhouses. But progress came at a cost. The project displaced thousands of tribal inhabitants, further exacerbating tensions between his ambitions and the realities of governance. As one tribal leader lamented, “We are being erased in the name of modernity.”
The crown prince’s boldness also had global implications. His foreign policy, especially his ongoing war in Yemen, drew sharp criticism for its humanitarian toll. By 2020, the conflict had resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and a devastating famine, turning the international community’s attention toward MBS’s aggressive tactics. Yet, he viewed these actions as necessary steps to secure Saudi dominance in the region.
While MBS’s strategies did succeed in securing short-term gains—political consolidation, economic partnerships, and a more visible Saudi Arabia on the world stage—they also exposed the inherent risks of his approach. His authoritarian grip, coupled with his unpredictable and often impulsive decisions, created an unstable environment for allies and adversaries alike. The contradictions between his modernization efforts and his repressive governance left many wondering whether his vision for the future was sustainable.
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Title Usage:“#Saudi #Worldcup2034 #KingSalman - Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power · The Ambitious Rise of Saudi Arabia and Its King”

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