The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has launched the fifth edition of the Franchise Programme.

Dr Khamis bin Saif bin Hamoud Al Jabri, Minister of Economy, presided over the ceremony.

The Franchise Programme forms part of the OCCI’s strategic directions to improve the business environment, broaden the economic diversification base and contribute to the economic development of the Governorates, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

The programme aims to promote and spread a culture of franchising among business owners in the Sultanate of Oman, support scalable Omani brands, enhance investment opportunities and commercial partnerships, enable small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and expand into regional and international markets, create job opportunities and stimulate the national economy.

Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the OCCI, said the launch of the fifth edition of the Franchise Programme reflects the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening the competitiveness of Oman’s private sector and enabling small and medium-sized enterprises and national brands to achieve sustainable expansion and growth. This is in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to broaden the economic diversification base and increase the private sector’s contribution to economic development.

He explained that the programme is one of the Chamber’s strategic initiatives to develop the franchising ecosystem in Oman and transform promising Omani brands into success stories capable of expanding locally, regionally and globally.

He said the programme helps create new investment opportunities, improve the efficiency of national companies and strengthen their ability to apply global best practices and standards. This contributes positively to the growth of the national economy and creates further commercial and investment opportunities.

He called on Omani business owners and brands to benefit from the high quality opportunities provided by the programme and invest in the franchise model as a promising pathway for growth and expansion. He said the Chamber will continue to provide initiatives and programmes that improve the readiness of Omani companies and consolidate their position in regional and global markets, contributing to the development of a more competitive and sustainable economy.

Engineer Hamoud bin Salim Al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Franchise Centre Committee, highlighted the latest developments in the Franchise Programme. He said it focuses on providing evaluation and consultancy services, preparing operating manuals, developing financial models, marketing investment opportunities and delivering training programmes and specialised workshops.

He noted that the programme underwent an important organisational transformation following the decision to establish the Franchise Centre Committee at the Chamber and the approval of the executive regulations governing its work. This strengthens governance and improves the efficiency of services provided to investors and brands.

He explained that the centre aims to empower 300 targeted brands, with a focus on raising the market value of Omani franchisor and franchisee brands to OMR 1 billion and preparing them for local and regional expansion. This will strengthen their competitiveness and business sustainability.

The programme has also been divided into successive implementation phases. It began with the first phase, followed by expansion phases covering six brands in the second phase, 23 in the third, 25 in the fourth and 26 in the fifth.

Eng. Al Saadi reviewed the programme’s key milestones since its launch and the comprehensive package of services it provides. These include assessing brand readiness, examining operating models, preparing franchise manuals, developing contracts and operating systems, providing legal and financial consultancy, preparing feasibility studies, promoting brands and connecting them with investors. The programme also organises training courses and specialised qualification programmes for franchisors and franchisees. It conducts field studies, analyses markets, evaluates investment opportunities and develops brand databases to support investment decision making.

He also revealed the programme’s expanding international presence, aiming to reach 22 countries worldwide, build a network of more than 150 international franchisors and attract over 220 investors and partners from different markets. This will enhance opportunities for Omani brands to expand outside Oman.

Zakaria bin Abdullah Al Saadi, CEO of the OCCI, said the launch of the fifth edition of the Franchise Programme reflects the Chamber’s commitment to continuing its role in building an integrated ecosystem that supports the private sector and enables Omani companies to adopt innovative business models capable of achieving sustainable growth and expansion.

He explained that the Chamber plays a central role in the programme’s regulatory and supervisory aspects. This includes coordinating with strategic and technical partners, establishing the necessary frameworks and criteria for selecting eligible companies and supervising the implementation of training and consultancy programmes. These efforts help achieve the programme’s objectives and enhance the readiness of Omani brands to expand locally, regionally and globally. He said the programme is one of the high quality initiatives that contributes to establishing a culture of franchising in Oman.

He also said that the successes achieved in previous editions of the programme, including the expansion of Omani brands within and outside Oman, demonstrate the importance of continuing to develop the franchising ecosystem and strengthen partnerships with relevant bodies. This contributes to achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and supports the Chamber’s strategic directions.

The ceremony included the signing of three memoranda of cooperation and support. The OCCI, represented by the Franchise Centre, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Oman Oil Marketing Company to support the Franchise Programme. The company will provide 10 locations at its filling stations across the Governorates of Oman for businesses emerging from the programme. It will also provide advertising space on the digital screens at its filling stations to promote the programme’s participating brands.

They also signed a framework support agreement for small and medium-sized enterprises with Shell Oman Marketing Company. The agreement provides USD 5,000 to support the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Egypt Franchise Expo. It also allows businesses emerging from the Franchise Programme to operate at 19 locations within the company’s filling station network.

The Chamber, represented by the Centre, also signed a cooperation agreement with Oman Commercial Centres Company to support the Franchise Programme. The agreement includes studying the possibility of providing between five and 12 commercial units at Al Muzn Mall and Nizwa Grand Mall for eligible Omani brands participating in the programme. It also includes exploring additional opportunities at Barka Grand Centre and Salalah Grand Mall.

The ceremony also included the signing of 62 franchise agreements for a number of Omani brands in seven countries: the Sultanate of Oman, the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Ecuador, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait.

The ceremony featured the success story of entrepreneur Asaad bin Saud Al Akhzami, founder of the Nomad Inn brand. He highlighted his experience in building and developing the brand, the challenges he faced and the lessons learned during his entrepreneurial journey. He explained how the Franchise Programme helped him transform accumulated operational experience into clear systems and procedures, improve the company’s readiness to expand through the franchise model and strengthen confidence in its ability to build a scalable Omani brand.

Investor Syed Iqbal of Shaheen Group reviewed the group’s experience in expanding the presence of the Seven Fries brand in the United States through the signing of a master franchise agreement with Al Saleh Ideal Projects Company. He said this step reflects the ability of Omani brands to expand into global markets through franchise models.

Sari Hamwi, Strategic Partner at Riwaq Training Institute, presented a paper on the details of the fifth edition of the Franchise Programme. He said the programme aims to develop 26 Omani brands. It is scheduled to begin in September 2026 and will run for eight months, including in person lectures and workshops as well as dedicated consultancy sessions for eligible companies.

Mahmoud bin Hamdan Al Mujrafi of the Development Bank also presented a paper on the “Alama” Franchise Financing Programme. He reviewed the financing solutions offered by the programme to support the growth of Omani brands and enable them to expand through the franchise model.

He said the financing falls within the category of small and medium-sized enterprise loans allocated to the franchise sector. It covers the development sectors approved by the Bank, with a financing ceiling of up to OMR 100,000 and a subsidised financing return of 3 percent. The repayment period is up to seven years, with a grace period of up to 12 months.

The programme also provides technical and advisory support from the OCCI to help applicants select a suitable franchise and gives them access to training programmes before taking over the project.

The ceremony was attended by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber, and officials, members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and business owners.