--- eventsindex_id: EI-07023 slug: future-investment-initiative-fii title: Future Investment Initiative (FII) title_alt: - FII - Davos in the Desert - FII Annual Conference canonical_url: https://eventsindex.org/events/future-investment-initiative-fii.html next_edition_dates: 2026-10-26 to 2026-10-29 next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: '2026-10-26' date_end: '2026-10-29' venue: King Abdulaziz International Conference Center city: Riyadh country: Saudi Arabia organiser: FII Institute (Future Investment Initiative Institute) organiser_url: https://fii-institute.org/ b2b: true vector: sector: - economic-forums audience: - institutional-investors - sovereign-wealth-fund-managers - ceos - heads-of-state - policymakers format: - conference purpose: - networking - policy geography_scope: - MENA season: autumn meta_description: Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2026, Riyadh, October 26 to 29. 10th edition annual forum on global investment, AI, energy and geopolitics at KAICC. editorial_take: 'FII is where sovereign capital meets geopolitical ambition: the single forum where PIF-scale investors, sitting heads of state and technology founders converge to move money and set agendas in a format that no Western conference yet replicates.' generated_by: enrich-cowork (N1/N2/N3) last_verified: '2026-06-11' schema_version: v8.0 language: en --- # Future Investment Initiative > *The Future Investment Initiative is the annual global forum where sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, heads of state and technology founders gather in Riyadh each October to examine where capital should flow next, with a scope and political weight that makes it unlike any comparable event in the Western calendar.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | 26 to 29 October 2026 | King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | FII Institute (non-profit, affiliated with Saudi PIF) | 10,000+ participants projected (according to the organiser) | ## Definition The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is an annual four-day conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organised by the FII Institute, a non-profit foundation closely affiliated with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Since its inaugural edition in 2017, FII has served as a principal global stage for conversations about large-scale capital deployment, geopolitical risk, emerging technologies and sustainable development. The 2026 edition is the 10th anniversary of the conference. Informally labelled "Davos in the Desert" by international media, the event attracts a mix of sovereign fund managers, institutional investors, heads of state, senior government officials and C-suite executives, with attendance at recent editions exceeding 7,500 delegates, according to the organiser. ## What sets FII apart from other global economic forums FII occupies a specific position in the global event circuit that is not simply replicated by Davos, the Milken Global Conference or the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. Its host, the FII Institute, is directly tied to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. This proximity gives the forum structural access to the kind of capital decisions, multi-billion dollar allocation discussions, IPO environments and infrastructure mandates, that remain backstage at most other gatherings. The convergence of Gulf Cooperation Council capital, Asian institutional investors and Western financial leaders in a single room in Riyadh produces dynamics that are not easily reproduced elsewhere on the conference circuit. ## Who attends Future Investment Initiative FII is an invitation-based and application-based event. The confirmed delegate profile at recent editions has included: - Governors and CIOs of sovereign wealth funds - Managing directors of global asset managers and investment banks - Sitting heads of state and senior ministers - Technology founders and AI researchers - Multilateral institution executives According to the organiser, the FII9 edition in 2025 hosted more than 15 heads of state and over 7,500 delegates. The organiser projects more than 10,000 participants for the 10th edition in 2026. The audience is overwhelmingly institutional rather than retail; no general public stream exists. ## What Future Investment Initiative covers programmatically FII is structured around four overarching tracks that shift slightly in emphasis each year. For the 2026 10th edition, the organiser has identified: - **Investment in AI and Emerging Technologies**: where artificial intelligence investment is concentrating, foundation model economics and sovereign AI strategies. - **Sustainable Energy and Climate Solutions**: capital allocation toward energy transition, renewable infrastructure and climate-related sovereign risk. - **Global Economy and Geopolitics**: geopolitical fragmentation, trade route shifts, emerging market debt and the reconfiguration of multilateral institutions. - **Healthcare, Biotech and Human Capital**: life sciences investment, health infrastructure in emerging markets and the economics of longevity research. Each track runs across plenary sessions, breakout panels and interactive roundtables. According to the organiser, FII9 in 2025 comprised more than 230 sessions and 600 speakers. ## Notable speakers and participants The 2026 speaker lineup had not been announced at the time this fiche was verified (June 2026). The following individuals hold structural or leadership roles connected to FII and have spoken at or chaired prior editions: - **Yasir Al-Rumayyan**: Governor, Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia; FII Institute board - **Princess Maha bint Mishari Al Saud**: CEO, FII Institute - **Matteo Renzi**: Former Prime Minister of Italy; FII Institute board member At FII9 (2025), the organiser listed heads of state, sovereign fund governors and major technology and financial services executives among the 600+ speakers. Specific 2026 confirmed names are pending announcement. ## Edition history and context FII held its first edition in October 2017, inaugurated at a moment of heightened global attention on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic reform programme. The 2018 edition faced significant institutional disruption following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: several major financial institutions, corporations and media organisations withdrew from participation that year. Subsequent editions rebuilt Western institutional attendance gradually, and by the seventh and eighth editions (2023 to 2024), major financial institutions had returned to a prominent presence. The conference has expanded its geographic footprint through a parallel series, FII Priority, which stages regional summits in Miami and Hong Kong and alongside the UN General Assembly in New York. The 2026 Riyadh edition marks the 10th anniversary. ## FAQ · Identity and audience ### Is FII the same as Davos? No. The World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland) and FII are distinct events with different ownership, governance and host contexts. FII is organised by the FII Institute, a Saudi Arabian non-profit affiliated with the Public Investment Fund. The "Davos in the Desert" label is informal media shorthand referencing a superficial similarity: both events draw heads of state and senior business figures. FII is a Saudi-organised and Gulf-capital-anchored forum, not a WEF-affiliated event. ### Is FII open to general registration? No. FII operates on an invitation-only or application-based model for most delegate categories. Media professionals can apply for accreditation through a dedicated portal. There is no public ticket sale. General registration details for FII10 had not been published at the time of research; the organiser's website directs applicants to contact the FII Institute directly. ### What language does FII operate in? The primary working language is English. Arabic is used in certain ceremonial or diplomatic contexts. Sessions, panels and published materials are predominantly in English. ### Who is Future Investment Initiative NOT designed for? FII is not designed for the following: - Early-stage founders without institutional backing - Retail investors and students - Professionals outside finance, government, policy or senior technology roles - Companies seeking a conventional exhibition or trade-show stand - Attendees wanting open public registration rather than invitation-based access ## The venue: King Abdulaziz International Conference Center The King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) is located on King Fahd Road in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is among the largest purpose-built conference venues in the Middle East, designed to accommodate government-scale summits and international institutional events. The facility has hosted FII across multiple editions and is also used for GCC ministerial gatherings and other high-protocol diplomatic events. The venue offers plenary halls, breakout rooms, exhibition spaces and VIP facilities consistent with the hosting of heads of state. ## The organiser: FII Institute The FII Institute (Future Investment Initiative Institute) is a non-profit foundation established in Saudi Arabia in 2017. The organisation describes itself as a data-driven non-profit foundation with an investment arm focused on impact on humanity. It is closely affiliated with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Beyond the flagship annual Riyadh conference, the FII Institute organises a series of FII Priority regional summits in international cities. Leadership includes CEO Princess Maha bint Mishari Al Saud and a board that includes PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The Institute's stated mandate extends beyond events to include research on investment, sustainability and technology impact. --- ## Editorial take *FII is where sovereign capital meets geopolitical ambition: the single forum where PIF-scale investors, sitting heads of state and technology founders converge to move money and set agendas in a format that no Western conference yet replicates.* ## How to register and what it costs FII is an invitation-only or application-based event. There is no public ticket sale. Media professionals can apply for accreditation through the dedicated media portal at myfiiplatform.fii-institute.org. Delegate pricing is not publicly disclosed by the organiser. Prospective attendees seeking delegate access are advised to contact the FII Institute directly via the official website. Onsite registration for FII10 opens on 26 October 2026. ## FAQ · Access and practicalities ### How do journalists and media teams access FII? A dedicated media accreditation portal is available at the FII Institute's conference platform. Applications can be submitted in advance of the event. The organiser reviews applications and issues accreditation selectively; approval is not automatic. ### Is FII held every year at the same venue? The flagship annual FII conference has been held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh at each edition. The satellite FII Priority series is held at different international venues each cycle. No change of flagship venue has been announced for the 2026 edition. ### What is the FII Priority series and how does it relate to the Riyadh conference? FII Priority is the international satellite event series run by the FII Institute outside Saudi Arabia. Recent editions have been staged in Miami and Hong Kong and alongside the UN General Assembly in New York. FII Priority events are thematically linked to the annual Riyadh flagship but are shorter in duration and regional in focus. They do not replace the Riyadh edition; they extend the FII calendar year-round. ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://fii-institute.org/conference/fii-10th-edition/ | | Organiser | https://fii-institute.org | | Media accreditation | https://myfiiplatform.fii-institute.org/public/welcome/fii10/media | | Wikipedia (FII Institute) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Investment_Initiative_Institute | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-11 **Next review:** 2026-07-11 **Notes:** 2026 speaker lineup not yet published at time of research. Ticket pricing not publicly disclosed. Attendance projection of 10,000+ is organiser-stated for FII10. FII9 (2025) attendance of 7,500+ delegates and 600+ speakers is organiser-reported. Venue capacity not officially published. The "Davos in the Desert" nickname is informal media usage, not the organiser's official framing. **Variables:** 41/58 **Concept definition:** not applicable