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 is a member of the Sudairi Seven.
Prince Salman’s experience as governor of Riyadh Province dates back to 1950’s before he began his long-term service in this post. King Abdulaziz appointed Prince Salman as his representative and the Emir of Riyadh on March 17, 1954, when Salman bin Abdulaziz was nineteen years old. Later, he was appointed by King Saud as governor of Riyadh Region at the rank of minister on April 19, 1955. He resigned from his post on December 25,1960.
Salman bin Abdulaziz was again appointed to the governorship of Riyadh Province on 4 February 1963. His tenure was lasted for forty-eight years from 1963 to 2011. As governor, he contributed to the development of Riyadh from being 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 programme by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
On 5 November 2011, Prince Salman was appointed Minister of Defense, replacing his full brother late Crown Prince Sultan.
Prince Salman’s appointment as Defense Minister is seen as an important move. Because this appointment means that he is the next heir in line after Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. This post is thought to enable him to experience a powerful governmental post before his future appointment as crown prince.
It is speculated that his appointment as Defense Minister occurred due to his qualities. Firstly, he has a conciliatory and diplomatic nature. It is well known that he actively deals with the internal family problems and is a mediator to settle disputes between family members. Secondly, Prince Salman belongs to middle generation in the royal family. Therefore, he could develop close ties with both generations socially and culturally. Lastly, as a result of his long-term governorship, he developed a network of relationships within the Arab and international circles.