The 9th Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh began with a resounding call for unity and shared purpose
Under the powerful theme “Key to Prosperity,” the first day of the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) unfolded in Riyadh as a call to unity, courage, and shared destiny. World leaders, CEOs, and investors came together to confront the great paradoxes of our age — innovation and inequality, progress and fragmentation, power and purpose.
Opening the summit, H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund and Chairman of the FII Institute, set an ambitious tone: “Two hundred and fifty billion dollars of deals have been made through this platform in less than a decade. But this year, we must take our impact to the next level. Governments and the private sector must act as true partners. We need a new model — a new era of collaboration for global prosperity. And FII is the place to make it happen.”
In his welcoming remarks, Richard Attias, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Acting CEO of FII Institute, reminded the audience of the human spirit behind this movement: “When FII was born, our dream was simple — to bring together the world’s decision-makers not to compete, but to collaborate. FII belongs to all of us. Its power comes from our collective action.”
The Board of Changemakers on Geoeconomics and the Balance of Power gathered financial titans — Jamie Dimon, Larry Fink, Lubna Olayan, and Stephen Schwarzman — to decode a shifting world order. “The GCC is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic destinations for global capital,” said Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO at BlackRock noting unprecedented investor appetite for Saudi infrastructure and innovation.
In a second Board of Changemakers, H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, declared with confidence: “Our GDP has doubled, driven by the non-oil economy. Ninety percent of foreign investment now comes into non-oil sectors. While the world faces uncertainty, in Saudi Arabia there is certainty.”
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt, underscored the value of alignment between governments and investors, while Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, called Saudi Arabia “a beacon of public–private partnership for the world.”
Financial leaders, including Rachel Reeves, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Ali Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Finance, debated how to safeguard national sovereignty while embracing global integration. “Britain remains open — open for trade, investment, and innovation,” affirmed Reeves.
Technology then took the stage. Ruth Porat of Google, Mike Sicilia of Oracle, and Tareq Amin of HUMAIN explored the global race for AI supremacy. “True leadership,” Porat said, “will belong to those who set the ethical and regulatory standards.”
Dr. Fei-Fei Li and Dr. Eric Schmidt cautioned that digital superintelligence could either elevate humanity or destabilize it entirely, while Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap Inc., urged a return to authenticity: “The next generation of social technology must restore trust, empathy, and real human connection.”
In a profound roundtable moderated by Richard Attias, presidents and prime ministers from Rwanda, Guyana, Colombia, Albania, and Pakistan joined global investors such as Ray Dalio and Gianni Infantino to confront a defining question: Is humanity heading in the right direction?
H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy,reaffirmed the Kingdom’s leadership in shaping an inclusive, secure energy transition, while H.E. Han Zheng, Vice President of China, closed the day with a message of shared responsibility: “Prosperity can only be sustainable if we pursue it together.”
A New Chapter Begins
Day 1 of FII9 set a powerful tone, a world in transformation, united by purpose. From AI ethics to financial innovation, from green energy to economic diplomacy, the message was clear: The key to prosperity lies in collaboration.
FII PRIORITY Compass 2025 revealed global sentiment:
· Cost of living remains the world’s #1 concern (up 10 points YoY)
· 77% want national AI strategies
· 73% value healthy longevity
· 75% prioritize affordable energy
· In Saudi Arabia: 89% believe the nation is heading in the right direction; 87% report life satisfaction; 74% view AI as a positive force.
· Full report: https://fii-institute.org/publication/fii-priority-compass-2025-full-report
Supporting Publications & Initiatives
· What Is Prosperity? Book: https://fii-institute.org/publication/what-is-prosperity
· Balancing the Megawatts: Energy Trilemma Solutions: https://fii-institute.org/publication/can-we-solve-the-energy-trilemma-impact-report
· Healthy Humanity Blueprint Report: https://fii-institute.org/publication/healthy-humanity-blueprint-report
· Economic Case for Healthy Longevity (with McKinsey) Study: https://fii-institute.org/publication/the-economic-case-for-investing-in-healthy-longevity
· Global Future of Work Series 4 – Africa Youth & AI Report: https://fii-institute.org/publication/global-future-of-work-series-4
