Saudi Arabia announces plan to 'stop negative international press', amid reports of lavish royal spending

Saudi Arabia has said it will prevent international media outlets from publishing stories critical of the royal family, following a deluge of bad press surrounding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's lavish spending.

Hani al-Ghofaily, the spokesman for the ministry of culture and information, announced on Sunday that he was working on a method to counter recent negative press reports from international media.

"Thirty percent of what the international press writes about deliberately smears Saudi Arabia," Ghofaily tweeted.

"We are currently putting the final touches on a strategy to develop the media in order to submit it to higher authorities... We are working on developing culture and tackling the difficulties that stand in the way," he added.

Veteran Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi responded harshly to the comments.

"The best and most economical solution to stop 'insults' in the international press is to stop feeding it material and news," Khashoggi said, who was recently banned from writing in local media.

International media outlets have slammed a recent purge of senior royal and business figures by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which Riyadh claims is part of an anti-graft campaign but critics suggest is a way of the young prince amassing power.

The purge began in early November and has led to more than 300 public figures - including princes, former and current ministers, as well as business leaders - being arrested.

Most of the detained Saudi elite have struck monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom.

On Saturday, MbS was revealed as the owner of a French chateau described as the "world's most expensive home", as well as a $500 million yacht, in a report by The New York Times.

The US newspaper also reported that a Saudi royal acting on behalf of the crown prince snapped up a Leonardo da Vinci painting that sold in auction for $450.3 million in November.

Reports of MbS's lavish spending - at a time when he is leading the anti-corruption campaign and adopting sweeping austerity measures - have angered many Saudis.

Saudis took to Twitter on Saturday to condemn the crown prince for his alleged luxurious purchases.