Houthi Attacks Force Saudi Investment Summit Delay

Saudi Arabia has postponed its flagship Future Investment Initiative conference until 2027 after Houthi attacks disrupted air travel and raised security concerns, including at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The conference had been scheduled for October 26-29 in Riyadh. Organizers said they’d announce a new date “very soon.”

Security concerns disrupt events

The FII Institute said the delay would help ensure the “milestone tenth edition delivers the full scale, quality, and impact that our partners, members, speakers, and delegates expect.” FII chief executive Princess Dr Maha Bint Mishari Al Saud said the event “will now take place in 2027,” describing the decision as a commitment to its partners, members, speakers and delegates.

“Because this is our landmark 10th edition, we want to ensure it delivers the full scale, extraordinary quality, and unforgettable impact that our community has come to expect and truly deserves,” she said. “A decade of partnership and shared vision deserves nothing less than our absolute best.”

Houthi missile and drone attacks have disrupted air travel. They’ve also prompted concern among international executives and investors. Reuters reported that the attacks struck military, energy and civilian infrastructure, including the headquarters of state oil company Aramco and Riyadh’s international airport. Strikes at the airport killed at least 18 people and wounded hundreds this month.

Saudi Arabia has faced an escalating war with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, according to Reuters. The attacks followed earlier disruptions to the Gulf’s events calendar: several conferences in the UAE and Qatar were cancelled, postponed or reworked during the first part of 2026, when those countries bore the brunt of attacks and Saudi Arabia suffered fewer hits.

Executives raise safety concerns

Organizers had considered a hybrid FII conference, allowing executives to attend remotely. Semafor reported that major banks and private-equity firms privately conveyed safety concerns to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The report also said chief executives felt pressure to attend the four-day event.

One source told The National that their company remained committed to attending and described the mood as “calm and level-headed,” while saying safety was a higher priority. The FII conference, informally called “Davos in the Desert” after the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland, has become a major event for global financiers.

The state-backed annual gathering promotes Saudi Arabia’s investment plans and seeks billions of dollars to support economic diversification away from hydrocarbons towards tourism, sports and technology. The 2026 draft program listed Goldman Sachs CEO and Chairman David Solomon, Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters and Citi CEO Jane Fraser as expected speakers. The National also reported that BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink and JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon were expected to attend.

FII launched in 2017 and has served as a platform for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification program aimed at reducing reliance on oil and attracting foreign capital.

Other Saudi events postponed

Two other Saudi events have also been postponed or cancelled. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2026, scheduled for November 16-18, will take place in October 2027, Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia said. The Saudi Retail Forum, scheduled for November 19, was postponed to March 2027.

Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia said it made the decision after monitoring developments and coordinating with the venue, local government partners and local and international stakeholders. It said the postponement prioritized the safety and security of exhibitors, visitors, partners, suppliers and staff while seeking to preserve the events’ international scale and high-calibre attendance.

The National also reported that Saudi Arabia and the European Union postponed a planned summit, while sporting and cultural events had been delayed or cancelled amid security concerns.