Story perspectives

Saudi energy congress opens as airport attacks remove CEOs

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman opened the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh despite airport attacks.
Attacks on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, the deadliest in a decade.
CEOs of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP were removed from the congress agenda.
Prince Abdulaziz warned the attacks could harm Vision 2030 diversification and pledged Saudi oil supply will continue.

History

Historical Context

During Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the Gulf War saw Iraqi forces launch 46 Scud missiles at Saudi targets between 18 January and 26 February 1991, striking Dhahran and Riyadh. The Dhahran attack destroyed a U.S. barracks, killing 28 American soldiers, while the missile campaign threatened Saudi oil infrastructure and underscored the region’s vulnerability to security shocks.

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Story summary

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman opened the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh despite airport attacks.
Attacks on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, the deadliest in a decade.
CEOs of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP were removed from the congress agenda.
Prince Abdulaziz warned the attacks could harm Vision 2030 diversification and pledged Saudi oil supply will continue.

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