As Saudi Arabia positions itself at the centre of the global investment conversation, new research from the FII Institute reveals a world demanding economic security, responsible technology and a more inclusive vision of prosperity.
For all the trillions being invested in artificial intelligence, the extraordinary pace of technological innovation and the ambitions of governments to reinvent their economies, the world’s most pressing concern remains remarkably ordinary: the cost of everyday life.
That is the central finding of the fifth FII PRIORITY Compass, released by Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, which surveyed 61,200 people across 32 countries representing 66% of the global population. For the fifth consecutive year, the cost of living topped the global agenda, offering a powerful reminder that economic progress means little if ordinary families cannot afford to participate in it.
The findings arrive at a defining moment for Saudi Arabia, whose transformation from an energy powerhouse into an increasingly influential investment and innovation hub has placed Riyadh at the heart of conversations about the future of global capital. Through the FII Institute, the Kingdom is helping to shape a debate that extends beyond financial returns to the fundamental question of what prosperity should deliver.
And the answers are revealing.
Perhaps the most striking finding is the widening optimism gap between developed and emerging economies. Nearly half of respondents in the Global South believe the world is moving in the right direction, compared with just 15% in the Global North. While established economies grapple with stagnant expectations and economic anxiety, emerging markets appear considerably more confident about their future.
“The Compass serves as a practical guide for investors and decision-makers, helping direct policy and capital toward solutions that generate sustainable returns while improving lives.”
HRH Princess Dr. Maha Bint Mishari Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, CEO, FII Institute
For global investors, this divergence represents more than an interesting sociological observation. It suggests that the next great opportunities for growth may increasingly emerge from societies where expectations of progress remain strong and demand for better infrastructure, services and economic mobility continues to accelerate.
Artificial intelligence presents another fascinating paradox. Although most respondents acknowledge that AI has already improved their lives, an overwhelming 85% want international rules governing its development and deployment. The message is not a rejection of technological progress but a demand that innovation advance alongside accountability.
The distinction matters enormously as governments and corporations commit unprecedented capital to automation, robotics and intelligent systems. People may welcome machines into their homes, but enthusiasm diminishes when technology assumes more intimate responsibilities, particularly caregiving.
Economic insecurity is also reshaping something far more consequential than consumer behaviour: the future of families. More than half of those surveyed say living costs and debt prevent them from having as many children as they would like, exposing a demographic challenge with profound implications for labour markets, public finances and long-term economic growth.
For the FII Institute, these findings reinforce the importance of connecting investment decisions with the realities of human experience.
“The Compass serves as a practical guide for investors and decision-makers, helping direct policy and capital toward solutions that generate sustainable returns while improving lives,” said HRH Princess Dr. Maha Bint Mishari Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, CEO of the FII Institute. That ambition gives the research particular significance. At a time when the global investment narrative is dominated by technological breakthroughs and geopolitical competition, Riyadh is helping bring the conversation back to the people whose lives those investments are ultimately supposed to transform.
The message from the world’s citizens is unmistakable: the future must be technologically ambitious, economically accessible and, above all, human.
The real measure of progress will not simply be how much wealth the world creates, but how widely its benefits are felt.
Photo credit – B.alotaby
