What to expect at Saudi Arabia's eighth Davos in the Desert
This year's Future Investment Initiative focuses on tech, energy and investment as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons.
DUBAI — Driving investment to such key sectors as artificial intelligence (AI) and enabling growth in the Global South are set to dominate the agenda this month at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Saudi Arabia.
Dubbed Davos in the Desert, the annual forum kicks off in Riyadh with a preliminary event on Oct. 28, focusing on Africa and women in the economy, and from Oct. 29–31 will hold discussions on energy, technology and investment.
FII, now in its eight iteration, is an annual showcase for the vision of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his efforts to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil and toward new sectors, such as technology, including AI, and minerals and mining. Turning Saudi Arabia into a financial hub is also part of his plan.
Who's who
