Thursday 02 / July / 2026
Muscat: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), represented by the Commercial Franchise Centre, showcased commercial franchise opportunities for 12 Omani brands during its participation in the Egyptian-Saudi International Franchise Exhibition. The event, held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, continues until Friday.
The Chamber's participation aimed to introduce the investment opportunities provided by the commercial franchise sector in the Sultanate of Oman. It also sought to promote Omani brands capable of local and regional expansion, and enhance communication with investors and specialised entities in developing commercial franchise systems. This contributes to supporting the competitiveness of the Omani private sector and opening new markets for national companies.
Eng. Hamoud Salim Al Saadi, Second Vice Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors and Head of the Commercial Franchise Committee at the Chamber, headed the delegation.
He explained that the exhibition represents an important platform that brings together brand owners, investors, and supporting entities in one place, providing real opportunities to build partnerships, exchange expertise, and explore expansion possibilities.
He stated that the Chamber's participation in this exhibition comes within the framework of its efforts aimed at supporting the commercial franchise ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman and enhancing the presence of Omani brands in foreign markets.
He noted that commercial franchising has become one of the effective tools for business growth, transferring expertise and knowledge, and expanding the scope of private sector investments.
He indicated that the Chamber is working to enable Omani companies to benefit from this promising investment model in a manner consistent with economic diversification targets and Oman Vision 2040.
Al Saadi called on Omani brand owners to leverage the events accompanying the exhibition, enhance communication with investors and entrepreneurs, and explore opportunities for expansion and commercial partnerships. He also encouraged them to participate in specialized workshops and panel discussions that highlight the latest practices and trends in the commercial franchise sector.
For his part, Khalifa Rashid Al Shamsi, Deputy Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Arab Republic of Egypt, explained that the OCCI's participation in the exhibition reflects the interest in developing the commercial franchise sector and enhancing its role in supporting economic diversification and empowering the private sector. This is in addition to highlighting investment opportunities and Omani brands capable of competing and expanding in regional and international markets.
He pointed out that the exhibition serves as a significant platform bringing together investors, business owners, brands, and entities supporting the commercial franchise sector. This contributes to enhancing economic partnerships and opening new horizons for investment and expansion. He noted that such events acquire significance due to the opportunities they provide to support economic cooperation and trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt, granting private sector institutions in both countries the chance to explore new investment opportunities and build partnerships that achieve mutual interests.
Furthermore, Hamad Salim Al Harthi, Head of the Business Hub at the Development Bank and Vice Chairman of the Commercial Franchise Committee at the OCCI, clarified that the center continues its efforts to spread the culture of commercial franchising, develop Omani brands, and qualify them for expansion according to the best international practices. He stated that participating in the exhibition allows for reviewing successful international experiences and building direct relationships with investors and companies specialized in the commercial franchise sector.
He added that the upcoming phase requires enhancing the readiness of Omani brands to enter new markets and benefit from the available opportunities in the region. He pointed out that the exhibition provides an ideal environment for establishing partnerships and exploring investment and expansion opportunities that support the growth of Omani companies and their transformation into competitive regional brands.
The exhibition witnessed wide participation from government entities, institutions supporting the commercial franchise sector, brands, and investors from various countries. It also featured the organisation of numerous bilateral meetings between investors and brand owners, as well as panel discussions and specialised workshops. These sessions addressed the reality and future of commercial franchising, mechanisms for regional and international expansion, financing tools, legislation regulating the sector, and building cross-border investment partnerships.
