News DeskDavos, Switzerland – Saudi Arabia will host a major World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting focused on strengthening global cooperation and reviving economic growth, it was announced at the close of the Forum’s 56th Annual Meeting in Davos.
The WEF Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting: Building Common Ground and Reviving Growth will take place in Jeddah on 22–23 April 2026, marking the Kingdom’s latest high-level engagement with global political and economic leaders.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal F. Alibrahim, confirmed the details of the gathering, positioning it as a platform for practical cooperation at a time of mounting geopolitical and economic fragmentation.
Addressing an audience of international leaders, Alibrahim stressed that global stability must be treated as a foundational priority rather than a transactional outcome.
“Stability can’t be quickly built, and it can’t be bought,” he said. “Stability needs to be founded, nurtured, protected, reinforced, and guided. Stability is non-negotiable.”
He underscored the importance of sustained dialogue in tackling structural global challenges, cautioning that no single meeting can solve complex international problems. Instead, he framed such convenings as opportunities to strengthen the culture of cooperation that enables long-term progress.
“No single convening, no matter how well intentioned, will resolve every global challenge. But each time, there is an opportunity for us to be resolute and deeply invested, and for us to build the culture that allows cooperation to function in the first place,” Alibrahim said, highlighting the need to unlock the global economy’s potential “in all its diversity.”
The Jeddah meeting will build on momentum from a previous WEF Special Meeting held in Riyadh, with Alibrahim describing Saudi Arabia as emerging as “a global capital of pragmatism and of consequence.” He added that the initiative aims to translate dialogue into tangible outcomes by setting clear expectations and reinforcing accountability.
WEF President Børge Brende welcomed the announcement, pointing to the Forum’s expanding partnership with the Kingdom.
“We are pleased to return to Saudi Arabia in 2026 to carry forward the conversations started at our Annual Meeting — creating space for leaders to work together, build trust, and ensure dialogue leads to meaningful collaboration and action,” Brende said.
The upcoming meeting reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in convening developed and developing economies alike, as it seeks to position itself as a reliable partner in fostering international dialogue, strengthening stability, and supporting shared prosperity amid a challenging global economic landscape.
