Houthi Attacks Force Saudi Investment Summit Delay

Saudi Arabia has postponed its flagship Future Investment Initiative conference until 2027 after Houthi missile and drone attacks disrupted air travel and raised security concerns. Organizers had scheduled the conference for October 26-29 in Riyadh, and they said they’ll announce a new date “very soon.”

The attacks have reached military, energy and civilian infrastructure, Reuters reported. Strikes at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed at least 18 people and wounded hundreds this month. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have also struck state oil company Aramco’s headquarters, according to Reuters.

Security Concerns Disrupt Major Events

The FII Institute said the postponement would help ensure its “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 confirmed the event “will now take place in 2027.”

“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.”

The conference, informally known as “Davos in the Desert,” draws global financiers. The state-backed annual event promotes Saudi Arabia’s investment plans and seeks billions of dollars to support economic diversification away from hydrocarbons and toward tourism, sports and technology.

A 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.

Semafor reported that big banks and private-equity firms privately conveyed safety concerns to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The report also said CEOs 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. They won’t put safety second.

Other Saudi Events Postponed

Organizers considered a hybrid format that would let executives attend remotely, Reuters reported. The delay follows 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.

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

Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia said it made the decision after closely monitoring developments and coordinating with the venue, local government partners, and local and international stakeholders. It said the postponement put the safety and security of exhibitors, visitors, partners, suppliers and staff first, 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 organizers delayed or cancelled sporting and cultural events amid security concerns. The FII conference launched in 2017 and has served as a platform for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s program to reduce reliance on oil and attract foreign capital. It isn't scheduled to return until 2027.