Davos | BETH – January 23, 2026

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially announced today, January 23, 2026, from Davos that it will host the World Economic Forum (WEF) International Meeting on Cooperation and Growth, under the theme “Building Common Ground and Advancing Growth,” to be held in Jeddah on April 22–23, 2026.

The announcement was made at the conclusion of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. During the closing session, Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal F. Alibrahim outlined details of the first regular high-level international WEF meeting to be hosted in the Kingdom—an initiative first announced during the WEF Annual Meeting in 2025.

In his closing remarks, Minister Alibrahim emphasized the importance of sustaining dialogue to accelerate global growth, and invited participants to actively engage in the upcoming Jeddah meeting. He noted that the event will build on the momentum generated by the WEF Special Meeting hosted in Riyadh in 2024, underscoring that Saudi Arabia has emerged as a global hub for pragmatic approaches and pivotal decision-making.

For his part, WEF President Børge Brende highlighted the depth of the partnership between the Forum and the Kingdom, stating:
“We are pleased to return to Saudi Arabia in 2026 to continue the discussions that began at our Annual Meeting in Davos, and to provide a platform for leaders to work together, build trust, and ensure that dialogue leads to meaningful cooperation and tangible action.”

The announcement of Saudi Arabia hosting the WEF International Meeting on Cooperation and Growth reflects the continued success of the Forum’s Special Meeting held in Riyadh in April 2024, further cementing the Kingdom’s position as a trusted global partner in promoting economic stability and strengthening bridges between advanced and emerging economies to address shared global challenges.