Prince Salman established the Crown Prince's International Scholarship Program in 1999[6][7] to guide Bahrain's young people into the 21st century. Under the program, the most able high school students from Bahrain are awarded scholarships to continue their higher education overseas, and return to productively contribute to the development of Bahrain. More than 260 students from across Bahrain's society have been awarded the scholarship, and have had the opportunity to study abroad – including the UK, the USA and France.
Career
Salman Al-Khalifa and U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague in 2013Salman Al-Khalifa and U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019Salman Al-Khalifa and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in 2022Salman Al-Khalifa and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 13, 2023
On 24 February 2001, Prince Salman was appointed as chairman of the committee for the implementation of the National Action Charter. The Charter was approved by over 98% in a referendum held in February 2001 and provided a comprehensive blueprint for Bahrain's future development based on transparency, cooperation and popular participation. The committee proposed a number of laws to implement the National Charter, including laws on government procurements and freedom of the press.[citation needed]
On 3 March 2002, Prince Salman was appointed chairman of the Economic Development Board, which is responsible for formulating and overseeing the Bahrain's economic development strategy, and aims to attract foreign direct investment into Bahrain. He also chairs the following committees:
Government Executive Committee
Natural Resources and Economic Security Committee
Higher Urban Planning Committee
On 6 January 2008, King Hamad issued a royal decree appointing Salman as deputy supreme commander of the Bahrain Defence Force to oversee the management and implementation of public policy as well as military, administrative, economic and financial plans of the Bahrain defence force and the national guard.[citation needed]
In March 2013, Prince Salman was appointed by the King as first deputy prime minister, charged with overseeing the ongoing development of executive agencies and government institutions in the kingdom.[citation needed]
On 11 November 2020, Prince Salman was appointed as Prime Minister after the death of his great uncle, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman, who had held the position for more than fifty years.[8][9]
Prince Salman was married to Sheikha Hala bint Duaij Al Khalifa until 2005. Sheikha Hala was the youngest daughter of Sheikh Duaij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. Hala was honorary president of the Information Centre for Women and Children, and Chair of the Bahrain Society for Mental Retardation. She died in June 2018.[11] They have two sons and two daughters:
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (born 7 March 1990), attended American University in Washington DC, and graduated in 2012. He is second in the line of succession to the Bahraini throne. Married, has three sons named Hamad, Abdullah and Salman.
Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa (born 11 November 1992), educated at Bahrain School (Class of 2009). He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2011[12] and later went on to graduate from King's College London in 2015.[13] He is sixth in the line of succession to the Bahraini throne. Married, has a son Ahmad and a daughter Basma.
Fatima – Al Dana bint Salman Al Khalifa
Al Jude bint Salman Al Khalifa
Honours and awards
Salman has been awarded a number of honors, including:[14]