From 30 September to 2 October 2025, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in partnership with the Federation of Saudi Chambers, is staging the Omani–Saudi Franchise Exhibition at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat. More than 100 trademarks from Oman, Saudi Arabia and international firms will showcase franchise opportunities across food security, retail, industry, finance, legal and intellectual-property services, part commercial marketplace, part investment roadshow.
Franchise diplomacy: Why Oman is using franchising to drive jobs and regional trade
Oman’s push to host a bilateral franchise fair signals a deliberate strategy: use franchising as a low-risk way to scale domestic brands, attract Saudi capital, and knit deeper commercial links across the Gulf. The OCCI’s broader franchising program which has already taken Omani brands to shows in India and Iraq and aims to internationalize dozens of homegrown trademarks frames this exhibition as a practical step toward Vision 2040 goals of diversification and job creation. The event is therefore as much about policy and pipelines as it is about storefronts.
Event details: dates, venue, exhibitors and what sectors are on show
The three-day exhibition runs daily in the afternoon and evening (organizer hours list 13:00–21:00 Muscat time) and will host exhibitors from both countries plus international delegates. Organizers say more than 100 trademarks will be present, representing sectors such as food and retail, industrial services, financial and legal consulting, intellectual property and wider service categories. The show expects thousands of visitors including investors, franchisors, franchisees and trade delegations, an audience that organisers hope will convert interest into expansion agreements across the GCC.
Investor outlook
What matters for investors and brands is not the number of booths but the pipeline that follows. Look for three immediate outcomes: memoranda of understanding and agency deals that allow Oman and Saudi brands to open regional outlets; concrete franchise-development services (training, IP support and standardisation) from OCCI and partners; and follow-on financing or master-franchise agreements that turn exhibitor interest into on-the-ground outlets. Oman has precedent: OCCI’s recent international engagements have already produced agreements to expand Omani food brands abroad, showing how an exhibition can quickly translate into branch openings when paired with targeted follow-up.
How brands and visitors should approach the exhibition
If you are a franchisor, use the exhibition to present a clear, investible package: audited P&L, standard operations manual, training modules and IP protections. Saudi investors will be scanning for scalable concepts with strong unit economics and local adaptation plans. For franchise seekers and entrepreneurs, the show is a chance to meet master-franchise holders, learn about territory rights, and compare service-provider offers (legal, IP and financial consulting) all in one place. Organizer pages list on-site registration and stand-booking options; expect the usual trade-show rhythm pitches, B2B meetings, and sector panels and plan follow-ups immediately after the fair. Seen from one angle this is a business expo; from another, it’s franchise diplomacy, a curated marketplace where Oman seeks investment, capacity and regional linkages without waiting years for greenfield projects. If effective, the exhibition will accelerate brand exports, create franchise jobs, and deepen Omani-Saudi commercial ties across several high-growth sectors. Watch for post-event MoUs and expansion announcements as the true measure of success.
