Riyadh hosts two of the region's largest business events this autumn, three weeks apart: the Future Investment Initiative (FII10) at the end of October and Cityscape Global in mid-November. They are at different venues, a long way from each other, and both draw large crowds. Here is how to get there and stay connected.
Dates and venues
| Event | Dates | Venue | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| FII10 | October 26 to 29, 2026 | King Abdulaziz International Conference Center | fii-institute.org |
| Cityscape Global | November 16 to 19, 2026 | Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, Malham | cityscapeglobal.com |
Dates and venues are from the official event sites, checked in October 2026. Cityscape Global lists its opening hours as noon to 10 pm, Monday to Thursday. Check the official sites for final schedules and any changes.
Before you book: flights to the Gulf
Air travel across the Gulf has been disrupted in 2026. UK travel advice reports strikes and retaliatory attacks in a number of locations across the region since July and warns that airspace can close at short notice, and several foreign airlines have suspended their flights to the UAE. Check your government's current travel advice for Saudi Arabia, confirm your flight with your airline shortly before you travel, and check the official event sites for any change to the program. Our guide to flying to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in late 2026 has the airline notices we checked for the UAE.
From the airport to the venues
Most international visitors arrive at King Khalid International Airport (RUH), north of the city.
FII10, King Abdulaziz International Conference Center
The conference center is inside the city. By taxi or ride-hailing, the ride from the airport usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and longer at rush hour, which in Riyadh can be heavy. Uber and Careem both operate in the city, as do official airport taxis. Riyadh's metro, which opened in stages from late 2024, has a line serving the airport: check whether it suits the route to your hotel.
Security at FII is thorough. Arrive early on the first day, with your registration ready on your phone.
Cityscape Global, Malham
The Malham venue is well outside central Riyadh, to the north. Allow about an hour or more by road from the city, depending on where you stay and on traffic. Check the official site before you travel for any shuttle buses from the city, and plan your return trip in the evening too, when many people leave at once.
On a long drive out of the city, a working phone matters: ride-hailing, maps and messages all need mobile data.
Staying connected
The local networks
Saudi Arabia's three main mobile networks are stc, Mobily and Zain. Coverage in Riyadh is strong, and the main roads out of the city are well covered. A travel eSIM connects to a local partner network.
App calls
Saudi Arabia lifted its block on internet voice and video calls in 2017, and calls over apps such as WhatsApp have generally worked since. Rules and app behavior can change, so test an app call when you land before you rely on it for something important. Messaging, maps and ride-hailing apps work normally.
Venue Wi-Fi will be busy
Large events strain venue Wi-Fi, and the mobile networks right around the halls can slow down at peak times too. Your own data is still the most dependable way to pull up a badge, find a meeting room or answer a message between sessions.
Hotspotting a laptop
If you need to work between sessions, hotspot your laptop from your phone. Turn off cloud backups and app updates on the laptop first, and keep the phone charging while it shares.
Bring a power bank
Maps, messages, badges and hotspotting drain a phone long before an evening reception. At a venue as far out as Malham, a charged power bank matters even more, since your ride home depends on your phone.
Install before you fly
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: the 30-second check.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi: iPhone or Android.
- When you land at RUH, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only, and keep it off on your home SIM.
Which coverage fits
Saudi Arabia has its own country plans in our catalogue, with daily data plans of up to 30 days and unlimited plans of up to 7 days. If you attend both events and stay in Riyadh in between, a longer daily plan covers the whole stay. If you fly in twice, one plan per trip is simpler. See fixed, daily or unlimited data for how each type behaves.
If you also go to the UAE, for ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi or Dubai Design Week, you will need a separate UAE plan for that leg. See our ADIPEC guide.
Compare our Saudi Arabia eSIM plans and install one before you fly.
FAQ
Are FII10 and Cityscape Global at the same venue?
No. FII10 is at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in the city. Cityscape Global is at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of the city.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Saudi Arabia?
They have generally worked since internet calls were allowed in 2017. Test one when you land before you rely on it.
Which networks will my eSIM use?
A travel eSIM connects to one of the local networks (stc, Mobily or Zain) as a partner. All three cover Riyadh well.
Can one plan cover both events?
Yes, if you stay in Saudi Arabia between them and choose a plan long enough for the whole stay.
Event details checked on the official sites in October 2026. Check the official sites for any later changes.