SAUDI ARABIA’s drive to position itself as one of the world’s leading destinations for international conferences, exhibitions and investment forums is facing its most serious test yet after a series of deadly attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport triggered widespread flight disruptions, travel warnings and growing uncertainty around major business events.
An event planner working on projects across the Middle East has told MIX of growing uncertainty surrounding major business events in the region while at the same time a determination among Saudi leaders to go ahead with events or postpone.
Despite the attacks and the temporary closure of the airport, organisers of several flagship events have insisted their gatherings will proceed as planned, underlining the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)’s determination to project business as usual even as delegates, exhibitors and sponsors weigh the risks of attending.
The planner, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity surrounding event operations, said the situation was giving rise to a “start, stop-start sequence” for organisers attempting to deliver events in the capital Riyadh.
The airport attacks, widely attributed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300, making them among the deadliest incidents to hit the kingdom in more than a decade. Authorities subsequently extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport, while airlines across Europe, Asia and the Gulf suspended or reduced services to Riyadh.
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Tensions remain high after Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry yesterday reported a missile attack on the headquarters of oil company Saudi Aramco in the east of the country. No casualties were reported.
The overall disruption is creating immediate challenges for Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing business events sector, which has become a cornerstone of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 efforts to diversify the economy and attract international investment.
“Event works within Riyadh and to a lesser extent Jeddah are caught in a start, stop-start sequence… with an international airport attacked and closed, this has a direct impact on the major exhibition season and affects from exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees,” the planner said.
Among the highest-profile events affected are this week’s World Petroleum Congress (WPC) and the Future Investment Initiative (FII), October 26-29, often dubbed “Davos in the Desert”. The events are expected to attract senior government officials, global chief executives and institutional investors. Organisers are reported to have confirmed that both events will proceed.
However, travel complications are already affecting participation. Reports have also indicated that some major energy executives have withdrawn from in-person participation, while firms continue to monitor the security situation.
After the Riyadh attacks, news surfaced of organisers preparing alternative travel plans for delegates with long car journeys across desert. With the attacks on sites such as the Saudi Aramco HQ, however, the planner said more caution will be the order of the day.
The coming weeks may provide a crucial test of market confidence but, as one international executive told the Financial Times, the Saudis tend to “remember who their friends are” in such difficult situations, making business relations more promising going forward, however risky.
The Middle East event planner pointed to Cityscape Global, one of the kingdom’s largest real-estate exhibitions, as a potential bellwether. The event is scheduled for November 16-19.
Cityscape, which although having a strong international dimension to it, is largely focused on the in-country consumer and commercial markets, will probably serve as a good case study on ultimately the health of the industry.”
“It’s scheduled to open mid next month and almost all space is sold and offsite works by the various exhibitors is well advanced and committed. But will people show up?”
That question is likely to preoccupy event organisers across the Gulf as they assess not only exhibitor commitments but also delegate willingness to travel amid continued security warnings.
The governments of Britain, France and Germany have advised citizens to avoid Riyadh, while US authorities have cautioned airlines and travellers about operating in Saudi airspace. Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and other carriers have suspended services, further complicating travel logistics, while Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific curtailed flights to the region as the US-Israeli war with Iran erupted.
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Beyond Saudi Arabia, the situation highlights broader vulnerabilities for the Gulf’s business events industry, where connectivity and reliability are central to the region’s attractiveness as an international meetings destination.
For Saudi Arabia, the stakes are particularly high. Over the past decade the kingdom has invested heavily in convention centres, exhibition venues, hotels and mega-events to attract associations, trade shows and corporate meetings from around the world.
Industry observers note that while conferences may proceed, attendance levels, exhibitor participation and international media coverage could all be affected if travel remains difficult or delegates choose to participate virtually rather than attend in person.
Yet organisers and government officials appear determined to maintain momentum. “The nation will want to project business as usual as KAS never cancels, it only ‘temporarily’ pauses or reschedules ambitions,” the Middle East planner said.
