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FII Institute
The FII Institute was founded in 2019 under the chairmanship of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and is headquartered...
FII Institute
The FII Institute was founded in 2019 under the chairmanship of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and is headquartered in Riyadh. CEO Richard Attias, a former public events producer who previously led the Clinton Global Initiative and Davos forums, oversees its operations. The institute functions as a non-profit foundation with a mandate to translate investment discussions into tangible action (per the FII Institute, 2019). The institute focuses on six priority areas: climate change, technology, health, education, space, and energy transition. It does not deploy capital directly as a fund; instead, it hosts the annual FII Conference — known as 'Davos in the Desert' — where sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors meet to co-invest. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and SoftBank's Vision Fund have announced multiple technology and infrastructure deals at FII events, including a $45B SoftBank-PIF joint venture in 2017 that predates but aligns with the institute's deal-flow facilitation (per Bloomberg, 2018). The institute employs a small core team in Riyadh, supplemented by a global advisory board that includes former heads of state and corporate CEOs. It operates no separate philanthropic foundation, as its non-profit status already serves that purpose. May 2024: The institute held its 8th annual FII Priority Summit in Miami, emphasizing AI and climate investment across the Americas (per the FII Institute, May 2024). The FII Institute's structural differentiator is its hybrid model: a non-profit that functions as a deal origination platform for the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. Unlike a traditional family office or conference organizer, it uses the convening power of its chair and CEO to direct capital flows without itself making direct investments — a unique position between a policy think tank and a capital intermediary.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2019
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Saudi Arabia
City
Riyadh
Corporate office
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Principals
Richard Attias
CEO
Yasir Al-Rumayyan
Chairman
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the FII Institute?
The FII Institute does not make direct investment decisions — it is a non-profit conference organizer. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, serves as chairman. CEO Richard Attias, former producer of the Clinton Global Initiative, oversees the institute's event strategy and priority setting (per public record).
How does the FII Institute source proprietary deal flow?
Deal flow is generated through the annual FII Conference and regional priority summits, where PIF, SoftBank, BlackRock, and other institutional allocators network and announce co-investments publicly. The institute provides the platform but does not act as an intermediary or receive carried interest (per Bloomberg coverage of FII events).
Is the FII Institute structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
It is neither. The FII Institute is a non-profit foundation under Saudi law and does not vehicle capital. It functions like a think tank and conference producer with explicit ESG-style investment priorities (climate, tech, health). Its closest structural analogue is the Milken Institute, not a family office or fund (per the institute's own description).
What investment stages does the FII Institute typically target?
Not applicable — the institute does not commit capital. Deals catalyzed at its events span late-stage venture to infrastructure mega-deals. PIF-linked investments have included both early-stage tech (Magic Leap via SoftBank) and multibillion-dollar infrastructure (NEOM) (per Bloomberg, 2018–2024).
Which sectors does the FII Institute explicitly avoid?
The institute does not publicly state any exclusion list, but its six priority pillars omit cannabis, gambling, alcohol, and defense — consistent with Saudi sovereign wealth norms. No negative screening has been formally published (per FII Institute website).
How is the FII Institute related to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia?
PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan chairs the FII Institute, and PIF provided its founding endowment. The institute is legally separate — a non-profit foundation, not a subsidiary — but operates as a soft-power platform that supports PIF's global investment narrative (per the institute's incorporation filings).
Does the FII Institute maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The entire institute is a non-profit; it operates no separate charitable arm. Its annual budget is funded by endowment income and conference sponsorships. Philanthropic initiatives are embedded within its priority pillars rather than managed through an independent giving vehicle (per the institute's public reporting).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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