محمد يحي
- Monsha’at Announces Sponsorship of FRANEX 2026 to Support the Franchise Market
The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at” of Saudi Arabia is sponsoring, in its capacity as a strategic partner, the Egyptian–Saudi International Franchise Exhibition, scheduled to be hosted in Cairo from April 8 to April 10, under the title FRANEX 2026, under the patronage of Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, and in cooperation with the SME Development Agency for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MESMDA”.
- The exhibition helps investors and brands open new investment channels and expansion opportunities.
- Egypt will host the Egyptian–Saudi International Franchise Exhibition in cooperation with MSMEDA
The exhibition is considered the first of its kind in terms of Egyptian–Saudi coordination within the franchise market in Egypt. The event is organized by Franchise International, one of Saudi Arabia’s national franchise companies.
The exhibition will feature a group of brands and investors from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf countries, and international markets.
The exhibition targets Egyptian brand owners seeking to expand into the Saudi market and the Gulf region through integrated franchise systems. It also contributes to opening direct investment channels between Egyptian brands and qualified investors from the Saudi and Gulf markets.
Franchise Accelerator Program
The first professional Franchise Accelerator Program in Egypt has also been officially launched, marking a qualitative shift in the country’s franchise ecosystem.
The accelerator represents a professional foundation stage for Egyptian brands to transition from traditional operations to fully integrated and scalable franchise systems at both the regional and international levels.
Ten brands have been selected to benefit from the program completely free of charge, including participation in the exhibition and registration with Monsha’at in Saudi Arabia without any fees.
In addition, 20 other brands will participate for nominal, program-supported fees to ensure practical and effective expansion.
This comes as part of a joint ambition between the SME Development Agency and Franchise International to reach 100 Egyptian brands within the next two years.
Program Participation Requirements
Projects wishing to participate in the program (the accelerator and the exhibition) are required to have at least two operating branches. Participation is also open to suppliers from various sectors, as well as financing entities, to serve a wide range of sectors within the Saudi market.
Abeer Jleih, Chairwoman of Franchise International, stated:
“The exhibition represents a real gateway for Egyptian projects seeking to access the Saudi market,” adding that “the accelerator accompanying the exhibition represents a professional foundation stage for Egyptian brands across various sectors to transition from traditional operations to integrated and scalable franchise systems at the regional and international levels”.
Brands will be aligned with the requirements of Monsha’at – the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises in Saudi Arabia – enhancing their readiness to enter the Saudi market in an organized and institutional manner, while opening broader financing and investment opportunities as part of the company’s strategy to support regional expansion.”
The exhibition offers young Egyptian brand owners a promising opportunity to join and benefit from the expertise, capacity-building programs, and support provided by strategic partners in Saudi Arabia. Applications can be submitted through the following link:
The exhibition aims to strengthen economic cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the franchise sector and showcase promising opportunities for brands to expand and scale in regional and international markets.
It will also include direct business meetings between investors and brands, introductory sessions on franchise concepts and regulations, and presentations of best practices and successful franchise models from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region, and global markets.
