Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Saudi Arabia postpones flagship investment conference to 2027 after attacks
Saudi Arabia has postponed its Future Investment Initiative to 2027 after a series of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
The conference, known as “Davos in the Desert,” was due to run in Riyadh from October 26 to 29.
It is a major event where Saudi Arabia presents plans to attract global investment and business leaders.
The attacks have hit sites including Riyadh’s international airport, and travel warnings have raised concerns about safety.
The postponement is a setback for Saudi efforts to attract foreign investment and shift the economy away from oil and gas.
Organizers said registrations and partnerships remain valid, and new dates will be announced soon.
Saudi Arabia postponed its Future Investment Initiative conference until 2027 after a series of Houthi attacks and worsening security concerns.
The event, often called “Davos in the Desert,” had been scheduled for October 26 to 29 in Riyadh.
Organizers said new dates would be announced soon and existing registrations and partnerships would remain valid.
The postponement is a setback for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy away from oil and gas.
- Who
- The Future Investment Initiative organizers postponed the conference.
- What
- Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference was postponed until 2027.
- When
- The decision was announced on October 19, 2026. The event had been scheduled for October 26 to 29.
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The postponement followed repeated Houthi attacks and growing security concerns about travel to the kingdom.
Conference organizers
Banks and investment firms reporting safety concerns
Aspect
Conference organizers
Organizers’ view
Banks and investment firms reporting safety concerns
Banks and investment firms’ view
Event attendance
Conference organizers
Organizers said they wanted the anniversary event to deliver its expected scale and quality.
Banks and investment firms reporting safety concerns
Some firms had privately raised safety concerns about attending, according to reporting cited by the Globe and Mail.
Travel to Riyadh
Conference organizers
Earlier plans included in-person and virtual attendance and alternative travel routes, according to the Straits Times.
Banks and investment firms reporting safety concerns
A consultant told AFP that executives were very hesitant to travel and companies would not put employees in harm’s way.
Diplomatic sources said Saudi Arabia planned to proceed with on-site and virtual attendance and alternative travel routes.
A strike at Riyadh’s international airport killed 13 people, and the airport suspended operations earlier that month.
The FII Institute announced that the conference would take place in 2027 instead.
The conference had been scheduled to take place in Riyadh.
- New event year
- 2027
- Original event dates
- October 26–29, 2026
- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Edition
- 10th
- Airport strike deaths
- 13 people killed in an October 10 strike, according to the Straits Times
4 sources
Saudi Arabia cancels next week’s ‘Davos in the Desert’ conference after series of Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia postpones ‘Davos in the Desert’ conference after Houthi attacks
Saudi flagship investment conference pushed to 2027 after Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia Postpones Its FII Investment Event After Houthi Attacks
What people are saying
This decision has been taken to ensure that our milestone tenth edition delivers the full scale, quality and impact that our partners, members, speakers and delegates expect
full scale
The executives I’ve spoken to are very, very, very hesitant to travel to Riyadh for this month’s conferences
Companies won’t put their employees in harm’s way for the sake of an investment conference