Saudi Arabia cancels next week’s ‘Davos in the Desert’ conference after series of Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia has canceled its upcoming Future Investment Initiative conference, widely known as Davos in the Desert, scheduled for next week in Riyadh. The decision follows a series of escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting the kingdom. Authorities also ordered government staff to work from home as security concerns mounted. The marquee event, which was set to draw top Wall Street executives and global investors, has been pushed back to 2027.
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- ✓ Saudi Arabia canceled the upcoming 'Davos in the Desert' investment conference scheduled for next week in Riyadh.
- ✓ The event has been postponed to 2027 following a series of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
- ✓ Authorities ordered government staff to work from home amid the security escalation.
What changed
Saudi authorities officially postponed the marquee investment event until 2027 and ordered government employees to work from home following security threats.
Live updates
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Saudi Arabia Cancels Davos in the Desert Due to Houthi Attacks
Saudi Arabia has canceled its upcoming Future Investment Initiative conference, widely known as Davos in the Desert, scheduled for next week in Riyadh. The decision follows a series of escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting the kingdom. Authorities also ordered government staff to work from home as security concerns mounted. The marquee event, which was set to draw top Wall Street executives and global investors, has been pushed back to 2027.
Why it matters
The cancellation represents a significant disruption to Saudi Arabia's broader economic modernization plans, which rely heavily on attracting foreign capital and high-profile international business leaders. Escalating regional hostilities and direct security threats to Riyadh have upended the kingdom's efforts to showcase stability and economic reform.
What is confirmed
- Saudi Arabia canceled the upcoming 'Davos in the Desert' investment conference scheduled for next week in Riyadh.
- The event has been postponed to 2027 following a series of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
- Authorities ordered government staff to work from home amid the security escalation.
Still unconfirmed
- Some Wall Street leaders were already weighing whether to bail on the conference prior to the official cancellation announcement.
What to watch next
- Official announcements regarding rescheduled 2027 dates for the Future Investment Initiative summit
- Further security assessments and military developments involving Houthi attacks on Riyadh
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (19)
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- WSJ — Exclusive | Some Wall Street Leaders are Weighing Bailing on ‘Davos in the Desert’ After Attacks on Riyadh
- The New York Times — Saudi Arabia Postpones Its Marquee Investment Event After Houthi Attacks
- CNN — Saudi Arabia cancels next week’s ‘Davos in the Desert’ conference after series of Houthi attacks
- Bloomberg.com — Saudis Push Flagship FII Summit to 2027 After Houthi Attacks
- Reuters — Saudi Arabia postpones its 'Davos in the Desert' conference after attacks
- CNBC — Saudi Arabia postpones big investor conference to 2027 as Iran-backed Houthis escalate attacks on kingdom
- The Hill — Saudis postpone investment conference until 2027 amid fighting with Houthis
- Al Jazeera — Saudi Arabia cancels 2026 ‘Davos in the Desert’ amid Houthi attacks
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