Iraq–Saudi travel alert: Riyadh investment event pushed to 2027 after attacks

Saudi Arabia has pushed back its flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference until 2027, the event's organizers said. The gathering had been due to take place in Riyadh from 26 to 29 October 2026, and travelers booked to attend now face an event that will not go ahead on those dates.

Key facts

• What: the tenth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference
• Original dates: 26–29 October 2026, in Riyadh
• New timing: postponed until 2027
• Reason given: a series of deadly attacks on the kingdom
• New dates: organizers say they will be announced soon

Why has the conference been postponed?

Organizers attributed the decision to a series of deadly attacks on the kingdom. No further detail about those attacks is given in the announcement.

What is the FII conference?

The annual Future Investment Initiative, informally called "Davos in the desert", draws some of the world's leading financiers. It serves as a platform for Saudi Arabia to attract billions of dollars in investment for its economic transformation plans, particularly in tourism, sports and technology, while reducing its dependence on oil and gas.

What this means for travellers

Anyone who had planned to travel to Riyadh for the event between 26 and 29 October 2026 should treat the conference as postponed and wait for the organizers' announcement of the replacement dates before fixing travel plans. The announcement covers the conference dates only; no information about registration, hotels or travel arrangements is included.

Organizers say the new date will be announced soon, and the event is now expected to be held sometime in 2027.