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Saudi Arabia accelerated its drive toward semiconductor independence with a strategic industry forum in Riyadh that brought together global technology leaders and government stakeholders to chart the Kingdom’s path in advanced manufacturing.
Strategic Forum Aligns Industry Leaders
The Semiconductor Forum of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia convened senior government officials, global technology companies, investors, academia, and industry experts to develop a coordinated roadmap for semiconductor localization and digital sovereignty under Vision 2030. The one-day gathering focused on local content development, advanced manufacturing capabilities, workforce development, and investment frameworks essential for building a competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
Leading global and regional technology players participated in the forum, including Qualcomm, Lenovo, Amazon Web Services, HUMAIN, EPIC Semi, JLL, Datavolt, Go Telecom, and UltraSense. This broad participation reflects strong cross-sector alignment toward the Kingdom’s semiconductor ambitions and demonstrates international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation.
National Hub Charts Localization Strategy
Dr. Naveed Sherwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Semiconductor Hub of Saudi Arabia, delivered a keynote address titled “A Call for a Saudi Semiconductor Localization,” highlighting the strategic importance of building domestic semiconductor capabilities. The forum examined Saudi Arabia’s evolving role across the semiconductor value chain, with particular emphasis on powering artificial intelligence, data centers, cloud infrastructure, advanced computing, energy systems, and smart industries.
Discussions centered on creating a resilient semiconductor ecosystem that supports the Kingdom’s digital sovereignty goals while contributing to global supply chain stability. The gathering served as a platform to align stakeholders on investment priorities and development timelines for semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure.
Vision 2030 Industrial Diversification
The semiconductor initiative represents a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, moving beyond oil dependency toward high-tech manufacturing and innovation. The forum underscored the Kingdom’s commitment to building advanced industrial capabilities that can compete globally while serving domestic technology needs. Semiconductor localization is viewed as critical for supporting the Kingdom’s ambitious digital transformation projects, including smart city developments and AI initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom continues attracting foreign investment across multiple sectors, with companies like Al Ghurair expanding automotive operations through the world’s largest EXEED showroom in Riyadh, spanning 5,000 square meters and reflecting growing demand for premium mobility solutions.
What’s Next
The forum established a foundation for coordinated semiconductor development efforts, with stakeholders expected to advance specific investment and manufacturing initiatives in the coming months. The National Semiconductor Hub will likely play a central role in implementing the localization strategy outlined during the gathering.
Sources: Saudi Gazette
