[Published: Wednesday October 17 2018]
 Mass cancellations at 'Davos of the Desert'
RIYADH 17 Oct (ANA) - More than 10 of the largest and most prominent attendees have said they will no longer go to the summit of the Saudi economic Future Investment Initiative (FII) following the disappearance and alleged murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
Nicknamed "Davos in the Desert" after the world economic forum in the Swiss city of Davos, the elite get-together is a brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and aims to forward the de facto ruler's plans to diversify Saudi's economy by 2030.
However, with the disappearance and alleged murder of Khashoggi, a host of companies - ranging from tech companies Google and Uber, to banking giants JP Morgan Chase, Credit Suisse and HSBC, to media organisations such as CNN, The New York Times and Financial Times - have said they will not attend the FII this year.
All companies cited worries about the kingdom's alleged involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi on October 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul - and never reemerged.
The summit, from October 23 to 25, is expected to look at investing in transformation, technology as an opportunity and advancing human potential.(ANA)
FA/ANA/17 October 2018-------
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UK/Houthis