On February 5, the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center will host the Saudi International Franchise Exhibition, which will run for three days, The exhibition’s organizing committee has invited entrepreneurs and new business founders to participate in face-to-face meetings with international companies taking part in this global event. It also announced the launch of an online platform to coordinate meetings between young entrepreneurs and international experts, as well as an educational program featuring seminars, workshops, and lectures.
On this occasion, Ahmed Al-Rifai, the exhibition’s director, urged those interested in developing their businesses and projects through franchising to take advantage of this international event, which is one of the initiatives of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, which facilitates collaboration with leading global franchising entities and local stakeholders in the field, and serves as a business platform for franchisees seeking to grow within the Kingdom, and fosters an environment that promotes entrepreneurship, where ambitious entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to network with exhibiting companies offering franchise rights that showcase a wide range of products and services.
Al-Rifai noted that the exhibition—which has garnered the attention of Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment, and brings together a number of leading countries in the franchising sector—includes a business matching program specifically designed to schedule meetings and facilitate interactions between visitors from the business sector with exhibitors from various industries, as well as an educational program comprising seminars, workshops, and lectures aimed at those new to franchising, covering topics such as franchise laws, business ownership, and how to develop local brands for expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and around the world.
Al-Rifai emphasized that the international exhibition, organized by Al-Sunaidi Exhibitions and Conferences, will help raise awareness among Saudi youth about the franchise system “franchising,” which grants local entrepreneurs and small business owners the right to invest in well-known brands—both domestic and international—in exchange for a percentage of profits or revenue for the brand owner, The system also offers projects benefits such as marketing support, the backing of a well-known brand, and technical and marketing expertise. He noted that the Saudi franchising market remains below expectations, as it has not exceeded 4 billion riyals, despite the fact that the Kingdom is home to more than 300 foreign companies operating within its borders. He expects the coming years to witness a major boom in the franchise sector, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020.
