RIYADH: The World Economic Forum has postponed a meeting scheduled in Jeddah next month on global cooperation and growth, citing current regional developments.
The event, planned for April 22–23 and organized in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning, will be rescheduled to a later date, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting was set to convene policymakers, business leaders and international organizations to discuss economic growth, energy and global collaboration.
The ministry said the decision was made at the forum’s request, in light of current regional developments, to ensure the meeting is held at a time that achieves the desired impact, the SPA report added.
The postponement comes as the US-Israel war with Iran disrupts travel, logistics, and large-scale events across the Middle East, prompting organizers to reassess timelines to ensure participation.
“The ministry noted that the Kingdom has always been fully prepared to host the international meeting in Jeddah, drawing on its extensive experience and high organizational capabilities in hosting major international events, and its established position in recent years as a leading global platform for dialogue,” the SPA report stated.
The WEF said the international meeting on cooperation and growth represents a key platform for fostering constructive global dialogue and that, following coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Planning, it decided to reschedule the meeting to maximize its benefits and enhance its global impact.
It added: “The ministry looks forward to holding the international meeting at a later date, which will be announced subsequently.”
This is not the first major event in the region to be disrupted by the ongoing conflict. Several high-profile gatherings have already been postponed or rescheduled, including Saudi Arabia’s LEAP technology conference, which has been pushed from April to late August to ensure stronger international participation.
The fifth edition of LEAP will take place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center in Malham after organizers said the revised timing followed consultations with partners and stakeholders to ensure strong international participation and a full program of speakers, investors, and technology companies.
The Arabian Travel Market has also been delayed by three months due to safety and well-being concerns. The major international tourism and trade show, which marks its 33rd edition, will now take place from Aug. 17 to 20, remaining at the Dubai World Trade Center.
Formula 1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were also canceled over safety concerns tied to the regional conflict, highlighting wider disruption to global events, with the Grands Prix originally set for April 12 and April 19 and no replacement races scheduled.
