JEDDAH, 4 January — There are renewed efforts to boost investment in Saudi franchises, currently estimated to exceed $250 million. Franchises currently exist in 30 business categories ranging from do-it-yourself, fashion, and real estate, to fast-food, travel, and health and fitness.
A number of experts from around the world will address a three-day franchise investors forum being held in cooperation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry starting next Tuesday, Sary M. Hamway, managing director of the Jeddah-based Franchise Development Services (FDS), told Arab News.
Six experts will conduct various sessions on Jan. 9 and 11 at Hotel Crown Plaza, where face-to-face meetings will be held between potential franchisees and international franchising companies. A main event will be held at the Ismail Abu Dawood and Ali Reza halls at the JCCI on Jan. 10, featuring presentations by experts in the presence of JCCI Secretary-General Majed Al-Qasabi and Talal Badkook, master franchiser FDS-Middle East.
"The forum promises to be another interesting and important event in the history of Middle East franchising, with a wealth of global franchise knowledge gathered under one roof. This will be a genuine opportunity to learn from the legends of international franchising," enthused Roy Seaman, managing director of the UK-based Franchise Development Services Ltd., one of the six experts guiding the deliberations.
The meetings aim to provide a comprehensive guide to investors on how to become a master franchisee or area developer for one or more of the brands being offered. The local FDS represents 10 companies from the US, UK, Canada, Sweden, France and Turkey, Hamway said.
A team of international speakers, experts in franchising areas as diverse as automotive repair services and cinnamon rolls will be addressing delegates.
According to experts, franchising in the region is growing at the rate of 27 percent annually. The expansion is attributed to the continuous influx of international brand names, largely made possible by government investment for the development of the economic infrastructure.
In the US, some eight million people are employed in the franchise market, which is adding more than 170,000 new jobs every year.
