The annual Future Investment Initiative (FII), a prominent Saudi investment conference often referred to as “Davos in the Desert,” has been postponed until 2027, the event’s CEO announced on Monday. The conference was originally scheduled for October 26-29 this year and has, for nearly a decade, played a key role in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract global investors, business leaders, and heads of state.

Maha Al-Saud, CEO of the FII Institute, stated on social media platform X that the organizers decided to delay the event to ensure that the anniversary edition meets the expected “full scale” and “extraordinary quality.” She added that the new dates would be announced soon and reassured participants that current registrations and partnerships would remain valid.

This postponement follows a series of security challenges impacting Riyadh’s international airport, which was temporarily closed earlier this month after a missile attack killed 13 people on October 10. The airport had no clear timeline for resuming operations, creating significant logistical obstacles for international travel to the conference.

Earlier in October, diplomatic sources indicated that the Saudi government was exploring options to hold the event both onsite and virtually, while also considering alternative travel routes by air and land to circumvent the airport closure. However, these contingency plans appear to have been abandoned amid growing Western travel advisories for the region and continued disruption at the airport.

The FII has long been a centerpiece of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to diversify its economy and attract substantial foreign investment. The decision to postpone this year’s event underscores ongoing regional security concerns and their impact on international business engagements in the kingdom.