RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Hundreds of CEO and finance moguls are expected in Riyadh from Tuesday for a Davos-style investment conference that analysts say will highlight Saudi Arabia's geopolitical muscle despite strained ties with the United States.

The Future Investment Initiative was launched in 2017 as an economic coming-out party for the world's largest crude exporter, which is trying to diversify away from oil under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

More than 6,000 delegates and 500 speakers, 200 more than the previous high, have been invited to FII, which runs Tuesday to Thursday.

Participants include business leaders from Latin American countries that in past years have had no representation, as well as "a huge delegation from China" with more than 80 Chinese CEO, FII Institute CEO Richard Attias said.