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Saudi Arabia to Host Regular World Economic Forum Global Meeting

A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Getty Images)
A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Getty Images)
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Saudi Arabia to Host Regular World Economic Forum Global Meeting

A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Getty Images)
A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia will host a regular high-level World Economic Forum (WEF) global meeting in Riyadh, with the first slated for the Spring of 2026.

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and WEF President Børge Brende, made the announcement on Friday - the final day of the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The global WEF meeting in Riyadh will serve as a vital platform for global leaders, experts, policy- and decision-makers from diverse fields including the public and private sectors, academia, international organizations, and civil society to convene and address the challenges defining the world.

“Hosting a regular global World Economic Forum meeting in the Kingdom is a testament to the global platform for dialogue, collaboration and innovation that Saudi Arabia has become, and that the World Economic Forum continues to be. This meeting represents a significant opportunity to further unite the world in capturing the immense potential that lies ahead,” said Alibrahim.

“In this critical juncture for the global economy, we are not only inspired by the opportunities before us, but also deeply confident that our collective efforts will forge a brighter, more inclusive and more prosperous future for all. We look forward to welcoming the global community again in Saudi Arabia in the spring of 2026,” he added.

For his part, Brende said: “The World Economic Forum is looking forward to coming back to the Kingdom in 2026. To close the 55th World Economic Forum with this announcement puts us on a strong course for the years ahead. Years that will have immense consequences. Because the progress we make over the coming months will not only deliver results in the near term, but will shape our course for years to come.”

Building on the success of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting held in Riyadh in April 2024, this new development solidifies Saudi Arabia’s position as a central player in shaping the global agenda. The Kingdom’s bold leadership and determination to foster global dialogues between developed and developing economies and drive inclusive global growth make it an ideal host to address complex global challenges with the WEF community.

The World Economic Forum Global Meeting in Riyadh is set to become a cornerstone event in the global calendar, reflecting the Kingdom’s position as a key bridge between the north and south, east and west, and a beacon for constructive dialogue and action.

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Billionaire Financier Bessent Confirmed as Trump’s Treasury Chief 

US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2025. (AFP)
US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2025. (AFP)
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Billionaire Financier Bessent Confirmed as Trump’s Treasury Chief 

US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2025. (AFP)
US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2025. (AFP)

Billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent won Senate approval Monday to become US Treasury secretary, placing him at the forefront of implementing Donald Trump's economic agenda -- which is already triggering global jitters.

Bessent, a Wall Street veteran who was born and raised in South Carolina, has defended the Republican president's tax cutting and tariff proposals while urging efforts to secure supply chains and the dollar's global status.

On Monday, he cleared a confirmation vote with a comfortable margin of 68-29, with bipartisan support.

As Treasury chief, Bessent will have a hand in the administration's tax policies and its budget, confronting the debt limit and steering plans that could lead to fresh tariffs.

Mike Crapo, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said Monday that Bessent was "committed to restoring the prosperity and opportunity" seen under Trump's leadership.

But Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the committee, warned it was unclear that Bessent would serve as a check on Trump's economic plans, which could weigh on consumers and small businesses.

Bessent, 62, has said he would back tougher sanctions on Russian oil majors as a way to end the war in Ukraine, while signaling a hawkish approach on China.

Trump returned to the White House this month vowing lower taxes to aid Americans squeezed by high costs of living, and tariffs to pressure other countries to align on US concerns.

The president has warned of tariffs on allies and adversaries - including major trading partners Mexico and Canada on February 1.

Now all eyes are on how his Treasury chief walks the line between supporting these efforts and avoiding tensions that may roil the world economy.

At his hearing, Bessent disagreed that Trump's proposed duties on imports would be paid for domestically, noting that levies can be used in negotiations, to remedy unfair trade practices or to boost revenues.

He also took aim at government spending and high budget deficits.

He will have to grapple with Trump's promised tax cuts - alongside their consequences for the US economy - as he begins his role.

The Treasury Department has oversight across areas from federal finances to bank supervision. It also oversees US sanctions.

- Family friend -

Bessent has known the Trump family for three decades and was friends with the president's late brother Robert, he previously said.

"I was all-in for President Trump," he said on Trump ally Roger Stone's radio show.

Bessent attended Yale University and served as chief investment officer of Soros Fund Management, the macroeconomic investment firm of liberal billionaire George Soros.

In 2015, he raised capital, including $2 billion from Soros, to start his own hedge fund.

More recently, Bessent said he had not spoken to Soros in years.

Bessent is chief executive at Key Square Group, but has committed to resigning from the position at the hedge fund and divesting his partnership share upon confirmation.

- 'Only-in-America' -

During his confirmation hearing, Bessent recounted taking an internship in finance -- a job that came with an office pullout sofa, allowing him to live in New York rent-free.

"I've been involved in the financial markets ever since," he told lawmakers. "My life has been the only-in-America story that I am determined to preserve for future generations."

Urging for all tools to be used "to realign the economic system to better serve the interests of working Americans," Bessent has criticized "unfair distortions" in global trade.

He previously floated the idea of Trump nominating a "shadow Fed chair" to dilute the influence of Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell.

But he has since dropped the idea and stated that he supports the central bank's independence in policymaking.

"President Trump is going to make his views known, as many senators did," Bessent said in his hearing on January 16.

He added that on monetary policy, the Fed's rate-setting committee "should be independent."