Organisers of two prominent Saudi investment and energy events say both gatherings remain on schedule for this month, and they have assured visitors that security will be tight. The reassurance follows missile attacks on Riyadh’s airport that killed four people and badly damaged an airliner this week.
Conference plans and security assurances in Riyadh
The World Petroleum Congress, which will draw top oil executives and policymakers from Sunday to Thursday, will go on with foreign leaders and ministers expected to attend, according to an email sent to delegates. The message said the organisers’ main concern was their comfort and pointed to alternative routes, including a four-hour drive from Dammam on the eastern coast.
The Future Investment Initiative, which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a decade ago as the kingdom’s flagship investment conference, is also set to run from October 26 to 29. In a statement, FII chief executive Maha Al Saud said safety and wellbeing remain the top priority, and that thorough security steps would apply at Riyadh’s airports, conference venues and official hotels.
On Friday, Italy’s energy minister, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, said he would skip travelling to the kingdom for a ministerial session of the International Energy Forum and would take part remotely.
Airline cancellations and travel advice after the Riyadh strikes
The attacks caused widespread flight disruption, pushing travellers toward overland routes or roundabout flights. Britain, France and Germany have urged their citizens to avoid Riyadh. Lufthansa has paused its Riyadh flights until October 16, while Etihad Airways and Flydubai have cancelled flights linked to the capital that were scheduled for October 10.
Houthi airspace warnings and Saudi strikes on missile sites
Riyadh is keeping its plans even as its conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis in neighbouring Yemen escalates, with the kingdom struck dozens of times in recent weeks. The Houthis have told airliners to avoid Saudi airspace, describing it as a military operations zone after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive against the group earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia has responded with strikes on missile launcher sites, pledging to protect the kingdom, and says it has intercepted many ballistic missiles the group fired.
