Saudi Arabia's flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) investment summit has been given new dates, with the 10th edition now set to take place in Riyadh from October 25 to 28, 2027, the FII Institute announced on Thursday.
The event, often described as "Davos in the Desert", had been scheduled for October 26 to 29 this year before it was postponed. The institute said the decision to move the landmark edition to October 2027 reflected its commitment to ensuring the highest levels of international participation, visibility and impact.
Held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the 2027 edition will take place under the theme "The Power of Legacy", marking a decade of global investment dialogue, partnerships and impact while looking ahead to the next decade.
"The decision to move this landmark edition to October 2027 reflects our commitment to ensuring the highest level of international participation, visibility and impact," said Princess Dr Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chief executive of the FII Institute, describing the 10th edition as a milestone of global significance.
The postponement followed an escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. Strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport disrupted air travel and raised security concerns among international executives and investors, and organisers said the move was intended to ensure the anniversary edition delivered the scale, quality and impact expected by its partners, members, speakers and participants.
FII has been Saudi Arabia's main stage for courting foreign investment since it launched in 2017, bringing together world leaders, investors and decision-makers to discuss the kingdom's economic transformation. The delay is a setback for Riyadh's efforts to attract international capital and strengthen its position as a global financial and business hub.
The institute said it would continue its global engagement ahead of FII10 through the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, scheduled for March 31 to April 2, 2027, followed by an Asia summit whose date and location will be announced later.
The announcement came as the conflict in the region continued to weigh on Gulf economies and shipping. Houthi forces have claimed a series of attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, airports and military installations in recent weeks, while Saudi air defences have repeatedly intercepted missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, Mecca and other regions.
For the kingdom, the rescheduled summit is now a test of whether it can restore the confidence of the global investors it hopes to attract. A year is a long time in a fast-moving conflict, and the institute will be counting on calmer conditions — and on the draw of a tenth-anniversary edition — to bring the world's business leaders back to Riyadh in October 2027.
