The inaugural Floating International Franchise Expo set sail from Jeddah yesterday, bringing together leading entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives from both Saudi and global brands. Held aboard the Aroya Cruise—an initiative of the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—the three-day event merges business, investment, and tourism to support the expansion of Saudi franchises both locally and abroad, while encouraging collaboration across the franchise ecosystem.
The event opened with a video presentation outlining the goals of the National Franchise Committee, which include fostering franchise-ready brands and boosting their presence in the Saudi market.
Dr. Khalid Al-Ghamdi, Chairman of the Committee, highlighted the sector’s rapid growth and increasing investor confidence, framing the floating expo as a platform to globalize Saudi franchises in alignment with Vision 2030’s objectives of economic diversification and investment attraction.
Dr. Al-Ghamdi also unveiled three major initiatives: the establishment of a national company dedicated to franchise exports, the launch of a digital platform to streamline international expansion for Saudi brands, and the creation of an investment fund to support global outreach. He emphasized the growing international appetite for high-quality Saudi products, noting that over 204 Saudi trademarks are currently listed on the franchise platform, with franchise restrictions surging by 866% over the past three years to reach 1,788.
The expo also featured the signing of strategic agreements between the National Franchise Committee and key partners, including the Social Development Bank, Monsha’at, and the Restaurant and Cafe Owners Association, aimed at strengthening cooperation among franchise development stakeholders.
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