Organizers of the Future Investment Initiative are choosing between a virtual event and a postponement after Houthi attacks disrupted travel to Riyadh.
Tamrah News Desk | October 19, 2026
Saudi Arabia has ruled out holding Davos in the Desert in person this year as continuing Houthi attacks disrupt travel into the kingdom, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The Future Investment Initiative, known as FII, was due to run from 26 to 29 October in Riyadh. Bloomberg said organizers are weighing whether to hold the tenth edition entirely online or postpone it, and one source said a final decision is expected within days.
Reuters, citing four people familiar with the matter, reported that FII 2026 will now be held virtually or postponed. The sources were not authorized to speak publicly.
Why the Future Investment Initiative Plans Changed
Only days earlier, the plan was different. Reuters reported last week that Saudi Arabia planned a hybrid conference, letting executives join remotely, with some guests landing at airstrips outside Riyadh or in neighboring Gulf states and driving in. The latest reports go further because in person attendance is now off the table.
According to Reuters, large numbers of world leaders, corporate chiefs and financiers usually attend, which earned the event its Davos in the Desert nickname, a reference to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Organizers had said earlier that delegate safety was their
“highest priority,”
in a statement Reuters attributed to FII chief executive Maha Al Saud and committee chairman Richard Attias.
Riyadh Airport Attack Disrupts Travel
The Riyadh airport attack is the main reason behind the change. Reuters reported that a strike claimed by the Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest attack in the kingdom in over a decade. Reuters later reported that the airport remained closed.
Airlines and governments responded quickly. Reuters said Lufthansa suspended Riyadh flights through 16 October, while Etihad Airways and flydubai cancelled flights scheduled for 10 October. The UK, France and Germany warned their citizens to avoid Riyadh. The AFP news agency reported that France also told its citizens to avoid the Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam airports. Each travel warning has made it harder for foreign executives to plan a trip.
Houthi Attacks Widen to Saudi Aramco
Houthi attacks have not been limited to the capital. AFP reported that Saudi Arabia said an attack on an Aramco building in the east caused a “limited fire”, and that debris from intercepted missiles wounded four people in Riyadh.
Reports differ on the damage at Saudi Aramco. Reuters, citing three people with direct knowledge, said the headquarters in Dhahran suffered extensive damage with a fire spreading across several floors. Reuters also reported that the Houthis vowed to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities.
Other Saudi Arabia Investment Conference and Summit Plans Affected
The disruption reaches beyond FII. Reuters reported on 15 October that the EU postponed a summit with Gulf states planned for Saudi Arabia on 24 October, saying only that a new date would follow. The EU did not give a reason in that statement.
Reuters said several top energy executives were dropped from the schedule of the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, although Saudi authorities pressed ahead with the event. The same report described the strikes as a blow to Vision 2030, the kingdom’s plan to diversify its economy away from oil.
Will Davos in the Desert Be Postponed?
That has not been settled in the reports reviewed. Bloomberg and Reuters both describe a virtual event and a postponement as the two options, and neither outlet reported a final choice. Saudi authorities and FII organisers had not publicly confirmed a decision in the coverage found by Tamrah News.
For readers following Saudi Arabia travel advice, the hybrid conference plan reported last week has now been overtaken by the latest reports. Related coverage is available in our Middle East news section and our Houthi Strikes on Saudi.
Tamrah News will update this report on Davos in the Desert as soon as organisers confirm a final decision.
FAQs
Is Davos in the Desert postponed?
Not officially, based on the reports found. Bloomberg and Reuters say organisers are choosing between a virtual event and a postponement.
What is Davos in the Desert?
It is the nickname for the Future Investment Initiative, a Saudi investment conference held in Riyadh that attracts world leaders and business chiefs.
When was FII 2026 scheduled?
Reuters reported that the Future Investment Initiative was planned for 26 to 29 October in Riyadh.
Why was in person attendance cancelled?
Bloomberg said continuing Houthi attacks are disrupting travel into Saudi Arabia, including after the Riyadh airport attack.
Will the Saudi Arabia investment conference be held online?
A virtual format is one of two options reported by Bloomberg and Reuters. No final decision had been announced in the coverage found.
Is Riyadh airport open?
Reuters reported on 15 October that it remained closed. Check with airlines and official Saudi sources for current status.
