Saudi Arabia postpones 2026 ‘Davos in the Desert’ amid ongoing Houthi strikes

What happened

Al Jazeera Yemen reports that Saudi Arabia has canceled its 2026 Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, informally known as ‘Davos in the Desert,’ postponing it until 2027 due to ongoing deadly attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis. The conference, scheduled for October 26–29, was delayed as the Saudi government also ordered staff in the capital Riyadh to work from home amid the escalating threat.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The FII event is pivotal for Saudi Arabia’s effort to attract billions of dollars in investments to shift its economy away from hydrocarbons towards sectors like tourism, sport, and technology. The tenth edition of the conference was expected to host major global figures, including senior executives from Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock, as detailed on the FII website. The official statement cited a commitment to partners and delegates in ensuring the event meets its high standards.

The escalation of conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, who govern parts of Yemen and have Iranian backing, has led to repeated strikes on Saudi military, energy, and civilian infrastructure, including Riyadh’s international airport. Al Jazeera reports at least 18 fatalities and hundreds injured in these attacks, significantly impacting security in the Saudi capital.

Known from the source

• Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative 2026 conference postponed to 2027.
• The postponement is attributed to ongoing deadly Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
• At least 18 people have reportedly been killed by Houthi strikes targeting Saudi infrastructure, including Riyadh’s international airport.
• Saudi government agencies in Riyadh have ordered employees to work from home amid these attacks.
• Prominent companies and offices in Riyadh’s financial and business districts have issued similar remote work instructions.

What remains unclear

Government agencies in Riyadh, including those housed in prominent towers like the Kingdom Centre which hosts the IMF’s regional office, have communicated work-from-home orders for their employees. Sources told AFP that several financial and international companies in the King Abdullah Financial District have similarly instructed remote work as precautionary measures against the Houthi attacks.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of casualty figures and independent confirmation of attack details. Official confirmation from Saudi authorities regarding the postponement and remote work instructions. Verification of the casualty toll and damage extent from reliable sources beyond Al Jazeera and AFP.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Yemen. Open the source.