Yemen's Houthis claim attacks on Saudi Aramco site, oilfield, Riyadh and Abha airports

Saudi Arabia has postponed its major Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference due to an increase in Houthi attacks within the country. The annual event, originally planned for October 26-29, 2026, in Riyadh, has been rescheduled for 2027, with the new date yet to be announced. This decision was made to ensure the conference maintains its quality and impact, as stated by the FII Institute.

The postponement comes after a series of missile and drone strikes by Houthi rebels, including an attack on King Khalid International Airport, causing disruption in air travel and raising security concerns. The tenth edition of FII was anticipated to gather prominent figures such as BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to discuss investment opportunities and economic progress.

The event, initiated in 2017, serves as a platform for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's economic diversification plan that aims to diminish the nation's dependence on oil and entice foreign investment. The postponement is just one of several international events affected by the ongoing conflict, with Saudi Arabia and the EU cancelling a planned summit, and various sporting and cultural events delayed or cancelled due to security concerns.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia has canceled two more events - Intersec Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Retail Forum - which were originally scheduled for November 2026 and November 19, 2026, respectively. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2026 will now occur in October 2027, while the Saudi Retail Forum has been postponed to March 2027. This decision was taken in coordination with event organizers, local government partners, and international stakeholders, with the primary goal of ensuring the safety and security of attendees, partners, and staff.