Saudi Arabia on outer
Western business leaders, including Virgin Group founder Richard Branson and tech investor Steve Case have distanced themselves from Saudi Arabia over the disappearance and alleged murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Their statements are a setback for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has portrayed himself as a reformer intent on modernising Saudi society and opening it to more foreign investment. The Turkish government has told US officials it has audio and video recordings proving that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul this month.
Branson said he was suspending his work as a director of two Saudi tourism projects, and suspending discussions with the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund about a proposed investment in the space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit.
‘‘I had high hopes for the current government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and it is why I was delighted to accept two directorships in the tourism projects around the Red Sea,’’ Branson said in a blog post.
‘‘What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi Government.’’
Case said he was putting on hold plans to attend a big investment conference in Riyadh later this month, and to participate in a Saudi tourism project. He tweeted: ‘‘I was looking forward to returning to Riyadh this month to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference, and participate in a Red Sea Project meeting. In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi.’’
The website for the Future Investment Initiative conference, taking place from October 23-25 in Riyadh, shows dozens of top Western business officials scheduled to attend as speakers.
One scheduled speaker, Viacom chief executive Bob Bakish, said through a spokesman he would no longer be attending.
More than 30 US and European companies and executives listed as sponsors or speakers, including MasterCard, McKinsey and Deloitte, did not respond to requests for comment.