The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority "Monsha'at" concluded the 10th Franchise Tour, held in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah from February 9 to 10, with the aim of introducing specialized services and programs in the franchising sector to support entrepreneurs and SMEs in growing and expanding their businesses.

The 10 Franchise Tours attracted nearly 7,000 visitors, while 1,180 participants benefited from the panel discussions. In addition, 683 consulting sessions were held, providing direct support services to entrepreneurs, alongside the participation of more than 3,000 beneficiaries in the workshops. The tours also featured 237 brands and 54 enabling entities, resulting in the signing of 24 franchising agreements.

Al Madinah tour included a panel discussion on the role of franchising in supporting the local economy, highlighting promising investment opportunities and the services provided by government entities to support investors and entrepreneurs. The session featured Eng. Ghassan Samir Jammal, General Manager of Local Content Development Programs at the Madinah Region Development Authority; Mohammed Sanad Al Yousef, Deputy Secretary-General for Economy and Investment at Al Madinah Chamber; Dr. Areej Saad Al Shamrani, Head of the Marketing Department at the College of Business Administration at Taibah University and a researcher specializing in franchising; and Wael Khaled Daqal, an investor in several franchising brands.

The tour also showcased numerous success stories from brands across various sectors and offered advisory and guidance sessions in franchising to encourage expansion and investment through the franchising business model. In addition, 19 brands participated in presenting their investment opportunities to entrepreneurs and interested attendees.

The tour witnessed the participation of six enabling entities from both the public and private sectors, in addition to the presence of consultants and experts in various franchising fields to support visitors and answer their inquiries regarding the franchising model.

Monsha'at continues to strengthen the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the franchising sector through specialized initiatives and programs, given its vital role in supporting SMEs. Interested participants can register for upcoming tours through the following link: https://franchisesa.monshaat.gov.sa/step1