Fact check: Are Mohammed bin Salman's views similar to Crown Prince Sheik Hamdan and are they close friends?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is extremely limited information to answer the question about Mohammed bin Salman's views being similar to Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan or whether they are close friends.

The only concrete evidence of any relationship comes from one source that mentions a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, indicating they have a professional relationship, but provides no information about their personal views or friendship ^[1].

Regarding Mohammed bin Salman's views, one source reveals that he personally stated he "doesn't care" about the Palestinian issue, but acknowledged that his population does, suggesting his public positions may be driven by popular opinion rather than personal conviction ^[2]. However, no sources provide comparable information about Sheikh Hamdan's views on this or other topics.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several critical gaps in available information:

• No direct comparison of political views between the two Crown Princes on key regional issues
• No information about the nature of their personal relationship beyond professional diplomatic meetings
• Limited insight into Sheikh Hamdan's political positions - sources focus primarily on his ceremonial duties and economic initiatives ^{[3] [4] [5]}
• No evidence of regular communication or collaboration between the two leaders

The sources show Sheikh Hamdan's activities are largely focused on UAE-India relations, space companies, and healthcare partnerships ^{[3] [4] [5]}, while Mohammed bin Salman's coverage centers on regional geopolitics and Saudi Arabia's strategic positioning ^{[6] [7]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains implicit assumptions that may not be supported by evidence:

• Assumes similarity in views exists without establishing what those views actually are
• Presupposes a close friendship when available evidence only confirms professional diplomatic contact ^[1]
• May conflate professional diplomatic relationships with personal friendships, which are distinctly different in international relations

The question appears to be based on speculation rather than documented facts, as the analyses consistently show that sources either do not mention both leaders together or fail to provide substantive information about their personal relationship or comparative political positions.