Saudi Arabia Delays FII Summit to 2027 as Houthi Strikes Disrupt Riyadh
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 19
Saudi Arabia Delays FII Summit to 2027 as Houthi Strikes Disrupt Riyadh
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 19
Summary
Organizers told participants Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative will be postponed to 2027, scrapping the Oct. 26 start after considering hybrid and fully remote options.
At least 13 people were killed and hundreds injured in recent strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, prompting closures, thousands of flight cancellations and tighter flight controls with no end date.
The disruption had already thinned attendance plans, with some guests canceling and others rerouting through Bahrain, undercutting the kingdom’s effort to project stability to global investors.
More than 8,000 people attended last year’s FII, Saudi Arabia’s flagship forum for its post-oil agenda, and it is now the highest-profile event postponed as renewed fighting with the Houthis hits business, tourism and sports.