Saudi Arabia pauses star-studded Red Sea film festival as Houthis hit kingdom

The postponement arrives as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants are increasingly disrupting the kingdom’s economy and could also impact other high-profile international events.

Samuel Wendel

Sep 21, 2026

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Saudi Arabia postponed its flagship Red Sea International Film Festival on Monday, citing logistical challenges associated with staging the event. 

The development is a setback to Riyadh's ambition to become a global entertainment hub as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants are increasingly disrupting the oil-rich kingdom’s economy and arrives as hostilities could imperil other high-profile international events — including October’s glitzy Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, known as "Davos in the Desert." 

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