Saudi Arabia says World Economic Forum postpones Jeddah meeting

DUBAI - Saudi Arabia's state news agency said on Tuesday that the World Economic Forum had postponed its Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting, originally set for April 22-23 in Jeddah, following consultations with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, citing current regional developments.

It did not give another date.

The announcement, issued jointly by Saudi officials and the WEF, marks the latest major international business and diplomatic event to be delayed as the conflict enters its fourth week.

The two-day gathering — titled “Building Common Ground and Reviving Growth” — was set to bring together more than 1,000 global leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss geo-economic challenges, technological transformation, and sustainable growth.

In a brief statement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning said that “due to the current regional situation and in coordination with the World Economic Forum, the Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting scheduled for April has been postponed to a later date to be announced. The Kingdom remains committed to hosting this important platform once conditions allow for safe and productive engagement.”

The decision mirrors a growing wave of event cancellations and reschedulings across the Gulf triggered by the war that began on 28 February. Iranian retaliatory strikes have repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure and military sites in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring states, while the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the worst global energy crisis in four decades, with oil prices hovering near $110 per barrel.

Organisers cited practical concerns including disrupted international air travel, heightened insurance costs, reduced attendance from Western and Asian executives, and the risk of further missile or drone attacks on Gulf cities. The postponement follows similar moves: Saudi Arabia and Bahrain’s Formula 1 races were cancelled outright, the UAE’s flagship LEAP technology conference was pushed from April to late August, and multiple energy and finance summits in Dubai and Riyadh have been rescheduled.