The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) announced the results of its online consultation to identify priority training needs for the commercial franchise sector, conducted from Sept. 15 to 18, 2026, across social media platforms to boost national workforce capabilities and support investment growth.

The consultation asked franchisors and franchisees to select their most needed skill areas, revealing a close breakdown: "Brand Development and Operations" topped the list with 35% of responses, followed by "Growth and Expansion" at 33%, and "Establishment and Franchise Fundamentals" at 32%.

Monsha'at aims to leverage these findings to enhance digital engagement and design targeted training programs that address the expectations of brand owners and investors, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to expand both domestically and internationally.