Monsha'at: 56 brands mull granting franchises in Saudi Arabia

Expanding Franchise Opportunities: 56 Companies Consider Franchising in Saudi Arabia

The Small & Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) has announced that 56 companies are currently exploring franchise opportunities following the second round of the Saudi government’s franchise program.
This initiative aims to boost growth and expand investment prospects for businesses in the local market, as reported by Al Eqtisadiah newspaper.

Saudi Arabia is home to over 1,143 franchising brands, comprised of 474 local and 669 foreign brands.
The government’s program, which involves eight entities, seeks to establish more than 200 franchise brands by the end of its rounds in 2026.
Monsha'at also indicated that it will conduct the franchise round in the Qassim region, which marks the third phase of a total of 14 locations across Saudi Arabia, scheduled for September 9-10, 2025.

According to data from Argaam, the initial franchise round began on August 12-13 in Al-Khobar Governorate, aiming to introduce various services and programs within the franchise sector, in line with Vision 2030 objectives.

Monsha'at noted that the current round will cover five cities and governorates: Al-Khobar, Abha, Qassim, Hail, and Jeddah. Next year, the program will expand to seven additional cities and governorates, with activities concluding in two regions by 2026.