Saudia Arabia: social reforms

Just a month after he lifted the ban on women driving, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has signalled that more social reforms are in the pipeline, including a shift towards a more moderate form of Islam.

Speaking at a conference to drum up investment in the conservative kingdom, the Crown Prince said:

“70 percent of Saudi people are under the age of 30. Frankly, we will not waste 30 years of our life with extremist ideas. We will destroy them today immediately.”

It’s the clearest indication yet that the Crown Prince is willing to take on the country’s hard line clerics, an important step towards attracting the investment Saudi Arabia needs.

The approach has been welcomed around the globe, but the biggest challenge will be convincing traditionalists at home.