FII 6th Edition Kicks off on Oct. 25, to Discuss ‘Enabling a New Global Order’

Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, speaks during a press conference organized on Monday by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Convention Center in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, speaks during a press conference organized on Monday by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Convention Center in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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FII 6th Edition Kicks off on Oct. 25, to Discuss ‘Enabling a New Global Order’

Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, speaks during a press conference organized on Monday by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Convention Center in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, speaks during a press conference organized on Monday by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Convention Center in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference will be held in Riyadh on Oct. 25-27, under the slogan “Investing in Humanity - Enabling a New World Order”.

Over 6,000 CEOs, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, Nobel Prize laureates and young leaders from across the globe are expected to attend the international event, with the aim to develop sustainable solutions to the economic and humanitarian challenges facing the world.

In a press conference organized on Monday by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Convention Center in Riyadh, Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, said that the three-day conference would bring together around 500 speakers, who will participate in 180 sessions, 30 workshops and four mini-summits.

He added that major topics would be discussed, including the balance between and sustainability, the rise of geo-economics and equality in the world, efforts to address the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the intractable and unexpected challenges.

Economic system

Attias said the first day of the conference would feature discussions by a group of Nobel laureates, who will try to find sustainable solutions to meet the basic needs of the world’s population.

He noted that talks would revolve around the challenges posed by the new world order, as well as the opportunities, such as creating an economic system that improves the quality of life for citizens around the world.

The first summit will be held on Oct. 25, under the theme, “The Conflict of Generations”.

He indicated that the second day would include the “New Energy Economy” summit, with the participation of senior speakers, who will present their vision on the current state of the finance sector and the global economy, and the role of some countries, such as Japan, in financing sustainable energy.

Crypto currency

Attias told the press conference that the third day would witness mini-summits on the rise of digital currencies and the future of Africa, with the participation of a number of speakers from China and Hong Kong.

Discussions will focus on the importance of partnership between China and the Middle East.

Another session will review the future of environmental and social governance.

Private sector participation

Attias stressed the importance of the participation of the public and private sectors in the international event.

He highlighted in this regard the approach adopted by the Saudi government in its large projects, which have brought about a great change through cooperation between the two sectors.

Moreover, he noted that speakers would address during one of the sessions the energy sector, the rising prices and the global health economy, with the participation of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Minister of Energy, and a number of international stakeholders.

Sustainable environment

According to Attias, Saudi Arabia focuses on the well-being of the people and the creation of a sustainable environment. He said that this was clearly reflected in the NEOM project, which was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the aim to achieve a qualitative leap for the country’s future.

He added that the Kingdom is constantly launching new projects that take into account the quality of life.

Attias went on to say that the Future Investment Initiative was based on four main pillars, including education, artificial intelligence, health care, and solutions that guarantee sustainability.

He noted that the conference would be the first of its kind in the world to identify and address priorities in the new world order.

Activate advanced technologies

According to Attias, the sixth edition of the conference would address the most important risks and challenges and examine the opportunities and the new horizons, through a number of dialogue sessions and various workshops.

The Future Investment Initiative is a leading international investment platform and annual forum, bringing together investors, innovators and leaders from around the world, who have the power to shape the future of global investment.

The initiative aims to benefit from investment opportunities to drive economic growth, enable innovation and activate advanced technologies, in addition to exploring and addressing global challenges.

Since its launch in 2017, the Future Investment Initiative has been seeking to build an effective network of the most important stakeholders in the global arena, in addition to shedding light on emerging sectors that will shape the international investment landscape and the future of global economy.



Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
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Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)

Türkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) has signed a partnership agreement with Shell to carry out exploration work in Bulgaria's maritime zone, the Turkish energy ministry and British oil major said on Wednesday.

European Union member Bulgaria, which had been totally dependent on Russian gas until 2022, has been seeking to diversify its gas supplies and find cheaper sources, Reuters reported.

TPAO and Shell will jointly explore the Khan Tervel block, located near Türkiye's Sakarya gas field, and will hold a five-year licence in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

Shell will continue as operator of the block, while TPAO will take a 33% interest in the licence, a Shell spokesperson said.

Since the start of this year, TPAO has signed energy cooperation agreements with ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP for possible exploration work in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

In April, Shell signed a contract with Bulgaria's government to allow the oil major to explore 4,000 square metres in the block.


Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
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Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA

Saudia Airlines has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City, becoming the official premier partner exclusively in the airline category.

As part of the partnership, Saudia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions. The collaboration also brings the spirit of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City to the skies through special aircraft branding across Saudia’s fleet, SPA reported. 

Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group Khaled Tash said in a press release: "Saudia is committed to supporting national development projects as part of its contribution to Vision 2030, aligned with our strategy to bring the world to the Kingdom. Partnerships of this scale with national partners play a key role in positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for entertainment and tourism."

Park President of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City Brian Machamer added: "Our partnership with Saudia not only reflects a shared ambition to connect the Kingdom to the world through world-class entertainment experiences, but strengthens our ability to attract visitors from around the world and realize our vision of setting a new global benchmark for immersive, world-class theme park entertainment and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global tourism stage."

Six Flags Qiddiya City sets a new benchmark for exceptional entertainment regionally and globally. Spanning six iconic themed lands, the theme park takes visitors on an immersive journey across 28 rides and attractions designed to world-class standards. Beyond the scale and diversity of its offerings, Six Flags Qiddiya City stands out for pushing the boundaries of engineering and entertainment, featuring five exclusive, record-breaking rides that have redefined global benchmarks. Leading these innovations is Falcons Flight, the roller coaster that has captured global attention as the fastest, tallest, and longest in the world.

Aquarabia Qiddiya City delivers a distinctive aquatic entertainment experience, offering 22 rides and water attractions, along with a man-made river designed for both relaxation and family-friendly water fun. For guests seeking privacy and elevated comfort, Aquarabia features 91 luxury cabanas, positioning the destination as a fully integrated leisure offering that redefines water-based entertainment to the highest international standards.

Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains near Riyadh, Qiddiya City is an emerging destination bringing together entertainment, sports, and culture. Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City form part of its entertainment offering.


Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
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Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Moody’s Corporation announced that it has established its regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting ongoing commitment to support the development of the Kingdom’s capital markets and economy.

“This investment aligns to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative and underscores its dynamism and growth,” Moody’s said in a statement this week.

The new regional headquarters marks an expansion of Moody’s presence in Saudi Arabia, where the company first opened an office in 2018, and reflects its longstanding commitment to the Middle East.

“The headquarters will strengthen Moody’s engagement with Saudi institutions and enable broader access to Moody’s decision grade data, analytics and insights,” said the statement.

“Our decision to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh reflects our confidence in Saudi Arabia’s strong economic momentum, as well as our commitment to helping domestic and international investors unlock opportunities with our expertise and insights,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s Rob Fauber.

“We are well positioned to provide the analytical capabilities and market intelligence that investors and institutions need to navigate evolving markets across the Middle East,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Mahmoud Totonji will lead the regional headquarters as General Manager.