Saudi economic ambitions under strain

Saudi Arabia postponed its flagship investment conference, known as “Davos in the Desert,” on Monday as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels continued attacks on the kingdom.

Jack Dutton
Jack Dutton
Oct 21, 2026
Participants arrive to attend the annual Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2024. — FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

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It has been another tough week for Saudi Arabia, which has had to cancel a handful of international events due to Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s airport and other key infrastructure. Meanwhile, Gulf oil exports have surged higher than prewar levels and French President Emmanuel Macron has been in the region to shore up energy supplies. 

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Jack (@jackvdutton)

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