Future Investment Initiative: A New Era in the Global Economy

The capital city of Riyadh is witnessing the biggest event in the world of finance and investment with the launch of the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative, which brought together an elite group of global leaders and decision-makers to launch a new phase of innovation and economic partnerships.

This year’s conference was distinguished by the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the third day, which gave special momentum to the event and reflected Saudi Arabia’s position as a global center for smart investments and shaping the future of the economy with a modern and comprehensive strategic perspective.

Historical context and strategic importance Since the Future Investment Initiative was founded in 2017, the platform has witnessed the signing of investment deals worth more than US$250 billion across eight previous editions, making it one of the most important global investment platforms.

FII has earned the nickname "Davos in the Desert" in reference to the famous Swiss Davos Forum, which reflects its pivotal role in shaping the global economy.

The FII platform holds a unique strategic importance in the context of Saudi Vision 2030, as it reflects the Kingdom’s orientations towards economic diversification and enhancing its role as a global center for capital and investment . Its status has gone beyond being merely a platform for signing deals, and it has become a global laboratory for testing investment strategies, innovation, and sustainable economic solutions.

The main topics and strategic visions discussed at the conference In its ninth edition, the Future Investment Initiative conference addresses a range of important topics, including:

1- Artificial Intelligence and Technology Artificial intelligence is the main focus of discussions at FII9, with a radical shift in the composition of the speakers. Richard Attias, Executive Chairman and CEO of the FII Foundation, noted that 52% of the speakers come from the technology sector, reflecting the sweeping impact of artificial intelligence on all economic sectors.

The dialogue sessions opened with vital topics including:

The impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on productivity and changing the labor market. Cryptocurrency infrastructure and the redefinition of the global financial system. Quantum computing and future returns. The most notable announcement in this area was the launch of HUMAIN ONE, an AI-driven operating system for enterprises, which provides AI proxy capabilities to automate administrative tasks and complex processes.

2- Balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz stressed that energy sustainability is the foundation of the new economy, and revealed ambitious plans that include:

Saudi Arabia will enter the global battery sector strongly in 2026. Achieving an energy storage ratio of 28% of total energy used. Currently, 40% of the electricity grid is automated, with expectations of a significant increase in the future. Reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030 (the target was raised from 30%). These statements translated a profound strategic vision of how to build a sustainable economy that combines economic growth and environmental responsibility.

3. Inequality and wealth: Geopolitical challenges The sessions of the Changemakers Council focused on wealth creation amidst increasing inequality, and the discussions touched upon:

Geoeconomic implications of resource scarcity: managing scarcity of water, energy, and rare minerals. Demographic shifts and the formation of the future workforce. Economic sovereignty and independence in the face of geopolitical pressures. Building new economic models that prioritize fairness and sustainability. 4- Innovation and technological disruption Multiple sessions were presented on how explosions in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are opening up new opportunities while also highlighting regulatory and ethical challenges.

Prominent figures and leaders at the Future Investment Initiative conference Many prominent figures and leaders are participating in the conference:

Saudi leaders Yasser bin Othman Al-Rumayyan (Governor of the Public Investment Fund and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the FII) The conference began with a powerful opening speech, in which it was announced that $250 billion in investment deals had been made through the FII platform in less than a decade.

He stressed the need for the platform's impact to reach higher levels, explaining that governments and the private sector must work as true partners to achieve new global prosperity.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (Minister of Energy) He delivered a session dedicated to improving competitiveness in the energy sector, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s role as a reliable and efficient global energy supplier, and announced raising the renewable energy target to 50% by 2030.

Amin Nasser (President and Chief Executive Officer of Aramco) He announced a bold $2 billion investment plan to boost the company’s digital arm over two to three years, noting that Aramco had already invested $6 billion in technology in just two years.

Regional leaders Shama bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei (Minister of State for Youth Affairs - United Arab Emirates): She participated in the conference representing the United Arab Emirates and is considered one of the prominent figures in the region in the field of development, youth and innovation.

Global leaders Han Zheng (Vice President of China) He delivered a strategic speech emphasizing the importance of mutual cooperation and shared prosperity, praising Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its green initiatives, and affirming China’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the region in the fields of energy, finance, investment and innovation within the Belt and Road Initiative.

Other world leaders: Several heads of state and government participated, including:

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif (Prime Minister of Pakistan). Paul Kagame (President of Rwanda). Ahmed Al-Sharaa (President of the Syrian Republic). Yuriko Koike (Governor of Tokyo). Rachel Reeves (British Treasury Advisor). Muhammad Yunus (winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize). Mark Rutte (NATO Secretary General): gave a session on: Global Security in an Age of Turmoil on October 29.

Private sector and investment leaders Jamie Dimon (Chairman of JPMorgan Chase): “Geopolitics is not an obstacle, but an opportunity,” he said during the key Changemakers Council session. Lawrence Fink (President of BlackRock): announced that " artificial intelligence will require $1 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2030." Eric Schmidt (former Google president) warned that "countries that do not invest in AI will be like countries without electricity in 1920." Evan Spiegel (Snap founder): He emphasized the need to restore trust and genuine communication on social media. Ray DeLeo (founder of Bridgewater Associates): Participated in a discussion about the direction of humanity. Other investment and industry leaders were also present, including Jane Fraser (Citibank President).

David Solomon (Chairman of Goldman Sachs), and a number of leaders of major financial and investment institutions.

Egyptian actors Dr. Rania Al-Mashat (Minister of Planning and Economic Development) I participated in a session of the Change Makers Council on public-private partnerships, and I emphasized that the Egyptian economy achieved a growth rate of 4.4% in 2024/2025 with a growth rate of 5% in the last quarter.

She added: Egypt is ready to receive $10 billion in foreign direct investment in 2026.

Hassan Al-Khatib (Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was present and participated in the conference activities and sessions dedicated to investment and economic development.

Key deals and agreements signed The deal

value

the details

stc and AST SpaceMobile

-

A ten-year strategic agreement for direct satellite communication with smartphones (D2D) in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and Africa. The service is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026 via low orbit (LEO) satellites, and the value of the contract may exceed 9% of stc’s revenues for 2024 (7 billion riyals/1.87 billion dollars).

Aramco Digital

$2 billion

A new investment to enhance Aramco Digital's digital capabilities over the next two to three years follows a cumulative $6 billion spent on technology over the past two years. This includes the use of artificial intelligence in drilling, automation, and increasing production efficiency.

PIF + SoftBank

$3.2 billion

The largest artificial intelligence data center in the Middle East is being established in Riyadh through a partnership between the Public Investment Fund and SoftBank.

Lucid + Public Investment Fund

$1.1 billion

An investment to establish an electric vehicle battery factory in Jeddah, with production expected to begin in 2027.

HUMAIN + Google Cloud

-

Collaboration to train the ALLAM-2 model (a multi-modal Arabic language model) on 100,000 GPUs in integration with Google Cloud technologies.

stc + Vodafone - Agreement to test and deploy advanced 5G technology in remote areas of Saudi Arabia. Digital technologies and innovations at FII9 HUMAIN, the AI company backed by the Public Investment Fund , announced a range of products during the conference:

ALLAM-2: An advanced instant translation model that supports Arabic with an efficiency of 98%, in partnership with Google Cloud. HUMAIN ONE : An intelligent enterprise AI operating system to facilitate purchasing, financial planning, and management processes. HUMAIN Connect: An AI-powered integrated video conferencing solution, launching in the fourth quarter of 2025. The daily program and key sessions of the Future Investment Initiative Day 1: Monday, October 27 (closed sessions) This day was limited to private sessions between senior investors and decision-makers, discussing strategic topics such as:

Carbon accounting and environmental sustainability. Cryptocurrencies and digital financial infrastructure. Quantum computing and its future applications. Developing leaders and building the competencies of the next generation. Day Two: Tuesday, October 28 (Official Opening) The conference kicked off in a symbolic atmosphere, opening with a humanoid robot holding the key to prosperity, and the main sessions included:

The Change Makers Council: Includes Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chase), Lawrence Fink (BlackRock), and Lubna Olayan. Strategic Trade : Led by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (World Trade Organization). Public-private partnerships. The future of global financial markets. Session: Is Humanity Headed in the Right Direction?: Moderated by Richard Attias with the participation of heads of state from Pakistan, Rwanda, Guyana, Colombia and Albania. Energy and Sustainability: With Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. China's speech: delivered by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Day Three: Wednesday, October 29 (Advanced Programs and Investment) The third day featured prominent events and specialized sessions attended by global leaders, most notably:

The presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Prime Minister, and his participation in private sessions with heads of state and decision-makers, and his focus on the Saudi Vision 2030 and the promotion of economic and investment cooperation. AI Capital: Advanced discussions led by Laurence Fink and Eric Schmitt, with warnings from Dr. Vivi Li about super-intelligence. Sovereign Wealth Fund Strategies: A session with Yasser Al-Rumayyan on sovereign wealth fund investment strategies. Climate Finance Summit: Focus on mechanisms for financing sustainable projects. Global Security: Session: Global Security in an Age of Turmoil, led by Mark Rutte (NATO Secretary General). Sectoral sessions on tourism, sports and defense. Day 4: Thursday, October 30 – Investment Day The final day is dedicated to turning discussions into concrete deals, and is considered the climax of FII9 where visions materialize into real investments, and the programs expected so far:

Project showcases: More than 200 startups are showcasing solutions in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and financial technology. Bilateral meetings: More than 1,500 meetings between investors, sovereign wealth funds, and global financial institutions . Expected deals to be signed: an additional $10–15 billion (according to Richard Attias, October 29). Final forecast for deal size Initial estimates indicate that the total value of deals and investment projects announced during the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) conference is expected to reach $80 billion by the end of the conference.

The figure surpasses the Davos 2025 forum, which recorded $55 billion in deals, by a difference of more than 45%, proving the high leadership of the FII platform and reflecting the extent of Saudi Arabia’s ability to transform international dialogues and discussions into real investments that support sustainable growth and innovation in the Gulf and global markets.

FII Priority Compass 2025 Report During the third day's events, Yasser Al-Rumayyan announced the launch of the fourth edition of the FII Priority Compass report, which is one of the world's largest studies on investment trends and the aspirations of people and decision-makers.

The report involved more than 60,000 people from 32 countries, representing a broad cross-section of the world's population, and the main findings were:

68% of participants: consider artificial intelligence the most important opportunity for shaping the future of the global economy . 72% expressed concerns about rising social and economic inequality in their countries. 81%: They confirmed their preference for investing in projects that adhere to environmental and social sustainability when making future investment decisions. Key messages emerging from the conference The discussions and sessions of the Future Investment Initiative conference produced a clear set of strategic messages that will shape the future of global investment:

Artificial intelligence is becoming a major focus and compass guiding investments, with international consensus on its importance as an engine for growth and economic transformation. Sustainability: Green and social investment is no longer an optional extra but an absolute necessity, and universities, international funds, and companies are focusing on it. Economic justice: The widening social gap motivates decision-makers to direct investment towards closing these gaps and achieving a balance in the distribution of wealth. Saudi Arabia's role: The Kingdom has emerged as a regional and international leader in investment innovation and cross-border partnerships, and Riyadh has become a global hub for investors and policymakers to meet. With the conclusion of the third day's events and final expectations for Investment Day, the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) conference proves that it is no longer just a local or regional platform; rather, it has become an international laboratory for establishing innovative and sustainable investment concepts, and a destination for shaping the future of the global economy .

Saudi Arabia has succeeded in bringing together an elite group of leaders and innovators, and in transforming open dialogue into actual partnership agreements and massive technology projects, so that Riyadh remains an international center for investment decision-making.

With the announcement of the next edition in Tokyo, the momentum of investment is heading towards new horizons, establishing a new era of international cooperation, where the modern economic vision that establishes profitability, sustainability and fairness becomes the standard of the world of the future.