Saudi investment forum offers routes after attacks: sources

Saudi Arabia plans to go ahead with a major investment conference in Riyadh despite Houthi attacks, while offering virtual attendance and alternative travel routes, diplomatic sources told AFP.

The Future Investment Initiative Institute's annual forum, known as “Davos in the desert”, is scheduled for October 26 to 29 in Riyadh. It usually attracts foreign leaders and senior business figures.

Diplomatic sources said organisers had contacted embassies and foreign companies to explore hybrid participation, allowing officials and executives to attend in person or online. They said organisers had also discussed arrangements for participants to fly by private jet to Dhahran airport in eastern Saudi Arabia and then travel by road to Riyadh.

A diplomat from an Asian country said attendees were offered the option of travelling to Manama or Doha, the capitals of Bahrain and Qatar, and then driving to the Saudi capital.

Riyadh's international airport, described as a main target for Houthi attacks, suspended operations last week after 13 people were killed in a strike there. No clear timeline has been given for reopening air traffic. A total of 18 people have been killed at the airport in attacks since October 7, and two people were killed in a strike on Abha International Airport.

One western diplomat said only one executive from their country had been expected to attend this year's conference, and that the transport-sector executive had cancelled because of the security situation. Another western diplomat said they did not think anyone would risk their life to attend an investment conference.

Saudi Arabia has also cancelled several recent events, including the MDLBEAST Soundstorm festival and the Red Sea Film festival.