The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at” announced the continued growth of Saudi Arabia’s franchising sector, with the total number of franchise brands operating in the Kingdom reaching 1,514 by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Local brands account for 744 of these, representing 49.1% of all franchise brands in the Saudi market.

Monsha’at noted that this growth reflects the sector’s significant progress since the establishment of its Franchise Center in 2020. At that time, the Saudi market had approximately 692 franchise brands, including 93 local brands, which represented around 13% of the total. The latest figures highlight the remarkable expansion of homegrown franchise brands over the past several years.

Monsha'at added that the Franchise Center has directly supported the conversion of 214 Saudi brands into franchise businesses, accounting for more than 28% of all local franchise brands currently operating in the market. In addition, the Center has assessed the franchise readiness of 2,636 brands as part of its efforts to strengthen the capabilities of local businesses and support their expansion through franchising.

Monsha’at also highlighted the diversity of Saudi Arabia’s franchising market, with opportunities spanning key sectors such as food and beverage, retail, education, healthcare, services, and entertainment. This broad sectoral presence reflects the growing investment opportunities available to entrepreneurs and investors. Available franchise opportunities can be explored through the Franchise Center’s website.

As part of its efforts to promote franchising and support brand development, Monsha’at has organized 11 Franchise Tours across different regions of the Kingdom. The tours featured accompanying exhibitions showcasing franchise brands and available investment opportunities, supported the participation of more than 258 brands, and attracted over 7,102 visitors who benefited from the awareness programs, events, and services offered during the tours.

Monsha’at reaffirmed its commitment to further developing the Kingdom’s franchising ecosystem by enhancing the readiness of Saudi brands and supporting their expansion both locally and internationally. These efforts contribute to the growth of SMEs and strengthen their role in Saudi Arabia’s economic development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.