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There is no doubt that the Future Investment Initiative forum, now in its ninth edition, has become an annual event eagerly awaited among international economic circles. Held in Riyadh every October, the FII has evolved into a landmark global gathering, with major investors, institutions and international organizations making it a priority to attend and participate.
As a journalist who has covered the forum from Day 1, I can remember unforgettable moments that served as clear indicators of ��������’s direction. And, speaking now as a Saudi citizen, I proudly place myself among that 90 percent referred to in this year’s FII by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman: those who firmly believe the Kingdom is on the right path.
I vividly recall 2017, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a commitment to restore �������� to moderate Islam, declaring he would not allow another 30 years to be lost in dealing with extremist ideology. Today, we are witnessing that promise fulfilled through an efficient technocratic government that safeguards the holy place of religion from those who seek to exploit it.
Indeed, plans to welcome ever-growing numbers of pilgrims and Umrah visitors are integrated with structural governmental, social and economic reforms, to align in perfect synchronicity. In reality, you are far less likely to encounter extremism in the Kingdom today than you are in Western cities or within the halls of Israel’s current far-right government, which contains the likes of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is both wanted by the International Criminal Court and was described as a terrorist by his own former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a recent Arab News interview. This observation, by the way, echoes that of celebrated writer Thomas Friedman, who made a similar argument just over a year ago in his piece “Israel and �������� Are Trading Places.”

Hosting Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa as a lead speaker at the forum highlights Riyadh’s commitment to supporting the country’s recovery.

Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief

I recall when the crown prince declared in 2018 that his dream is to see the Middle East become the new Europe. Indeed, day by day, we are witnessing the Kingdom’s sustained efforts to resolve conflicts and promote greater integration among the nations of the region. Perhaps the best illustration of this approach is the embrace of the Syrian Arab Republic and the efforts for the benefit of the Syrian people, who have long suffered under tyranny and sanctions. The Saudi leadership leveraged US President Donald Trump’s visit as his first international destination to announce the lifting of curbs following the fall of the Assad regime at the end of last year.
In light of these developments, dedicating a special FII session to discuss the Syrian economy and hosting President Ahmad Al-Sharaa as a lead speaker at the forum highlights Riyadh’s commitment to supporting the country’s recovery. This confirms Riyadh’s determination to provide an ideal platform for stimulating communication with leading businessmen and international investors, promoting opportunities, and contributing to economic growth.
The crown prince’s personal presence at the session featuring Al-Sharaa also reflects the Kingdom’s leading international role in bringing to the table key initiatives, and backing efforts aimed at supporting the legitimate government and the Syrian people.
These efforts reflect the Kingdom’s broader initiatives to assist Syria, including backing salary payments, contributing to the repayment of Syria’s arrears to the World Bank Group amounting to about $15 million, and providing assistance to the Syrian energy sector through the supply of 1.65 million barrels of crude oil.
��������’s initiatives are not motivated by praise or prestige, but by a firm conviction that, as the late US publisher Stan Lee famously said: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Riyadh’s efforts continue its historical role, harnessing its religious, geopolitical, and economic influence for the benefit of the region and the world. In this spirit, we look forward to seeing leaders of a free and independent Palestine, a resurrected Lebanon, a united Sudan, a peaceful Libya, and other countries on the FII platform in the presence of the crown prince in the coming years.

• Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas