Saudi Arabia Postpones 2026 Future Investment Initiative to 2027
Saudi Arabia delays its annual investment conference amid Houthi attacks, citing security concerns.
Key facts
- The Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference was postponed to 2027, originally scheduled for Oct. 26‑29, 2026, according to a statement on the FII official website.
- The postponement was announced by the FII Institute, citing escalating attacks by Iran‑backed Houthi rebels.
- Houthi attacks included missile and drone strikes on King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300, according to CNBC.
- Saudi officials said the conference is a key platform for attracting investment to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons, according to Al Jazeera.
- The 10th edition was expected to feature speakers such as Ruth Porat, David Solomon and Jamie Dimon, according to Al Jazeera and CNBC.
Saudi Arabia postponed its annual Future Investment Initiative conference to 2027, according to a statement on the FII official website.
The conference was originally scheduled to run from Oct. 26 to Oct. 29, 2026, as announced by the FII Institute.
The decision follows a series of missile and drone attacks by Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, including an attack on King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10 that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, according to CNBC.
Saudi officials said the conference is a key platform for attracting investment to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons toward tourism, sport and technology, according to Al Jazeera.
The FII Institute CEO Dr Maha Bint Mishari Al Saud said the postponement reflects a deep commitment to partners, members, speakers and delegates, and that the 10th edition will deliver full scale and extraordinary quality, according to Al Jazeera.
The conference’s new dates for 2027 will be announced 'very soon', according to the FII statement.
Context
The Future Investment Initiative was launched in 2017 by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and has become a flagship event for the kingdom’s economic diversification strategy, according to Al Jazeera and CNBC. The event is informally called 'Davos in the Desert' and has attracted high‑profile speakers such as JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, according to CNBC.
How outlets headlined it
- Al JazeeraSaudi Arabia cancels 2026 ‘Davos in the Desert’ amid Houthi attacks
- New York TimesSaudi Arabia Postpones Its FII Investment Event After Houthi Attacks
- The HillSaudis postpone investment conference until 2027 amid fighting with Houthis
- CNBCSaudi Arabia postpones big investor conference to 2027 as Iran-backed Houthis escalate attacks on kingdom
How this was made
Compiled by our AI newsroom from 4 independent outlets, checked by a separate AI editor against the sources. Only claims found in the sources are reported. Spot an error? Every source is linked below.
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