Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In an article published in June 2025 in EE Times, we highlighted how countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman are building a local semiconductor industry as part of a bigger plan to reduce their economies’ dependence on oil revenues and create high-tech industries that can drive future growth. These countries are thinking long-term, investing in talent, infrastructure, and partnerships to develop homegrown capabilities in chip design and manufacturing.
EE Times caught up with Naveed Sherwani, CEO of the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH) in Saudia Arabia, on what's been happening in Saudi Arabia since we last spoke to him in January 2025. We get his report card on the progress with the 20 or so companies admitted into the first NSH cohort.
We also talk about his thoughts on the need for collaboration across the Middle East region to make semiconductor technology accessible for the Middle East, Africa and the global south, where they can build chips rather than just buy chips.
Watch the interview with Naveed Sherwani here.
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In an article published in June 2025 in EE Times, we highlighted how countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman are building a local semiconductor industry as part of a bigger plan to reduce their economies’ dependence on oil revenues and create high-tech industries that can drive future growth. These countries are thinking long-term, investing in talent, infrastructure, and partnerships to develop homegrown capabilities in chip design and manufacturing.
EE Times caught up with Naveed Sherwani, CEO of the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH) in Saudia Arabia, on what's been happening in Saudi Arabia since we last spoke to him in January 2025. We get his report card on the progress with the 20 or so companies admitted into the first NSH cohort.
We also talk about his thoughts on the need for collaboration across the Middle East region to make semiconductor technology accessible for the Middle East, Africa and the global south, where they can build chips rather than just buy chips.
Watch the interview with Naveed Sherwani here.
-----
🎙 Listen to EE Times On Air podcasts on power, embedded, AI, and more: eetimes.com/podcasts/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎥 Don't miss an episode and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@eetimes747
Stay up to date with the latest news in the electronics industry
➡️ EE Times: eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Power Electronics News: powerelectronicsnews.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Embedded: embedded.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ EDN: edn.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📰 Subscribe to our newsletters: aspencore.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=EventSubscription&pk=youtube
🖥️ Attend free tech webinars: eetimes.com/webinars/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📈 Download free industry white papers: eetimes.com/techpapers/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎤 Check out our virtual events on EE Times: events.eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎉 Interested in advertising opportunities? Reach out to sales@aspencore.com
