• Nour Al Tamimi: The Abu Dhabi Chamber's support enhances the association's efforts to empower the franchise model.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates : As part of its commitment to expanding its international presence and strengthening the UAE's position in the franchise sector, the Emirates Franchise Association announced the organization of a UAE pavilion as part of its participation in the 23rd Franchise and Commercial Agencies Exhibition, hosted by the Turkish capital, Istanbul, from October 16 to 19, 2025, under the theme "Be Franchised . "

The Association represents the UAE in this international event, through organizing an integrated national pavilion that witnesses the wide participation of a number of representatives of the UAE Chambers of Commerce, and a number (14) of private sector companies working in the field of commercial franchise, in addition to entities that support entrepreneurs such as the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, and others, which indicates the great interest in developing the national franchise system in the country and the combination of institutional efforts to enhance its presence regionally and internationally .

In this context, Her Excellency Noor Al Tamimi, President of the Emirates Franchise Association, said: "Participating in this international exhibition represents an important step towards consolidating the UAE's position as a leading destination in the franchise sector. She affirmed the Abu Dhabi Chamber's support for the association's efforts to empower the franchise model, as it is an integrated economic system that contributes to job creation, stimulates innovation, and enables individuals to launch projects with higher success rates than independent projects. Therefore, we see today restaurant chains, service centers, and retail stores that have transformed from local concepts into global brands thanks to this system."

Association Strategy

Al Tamimi emphasized that the UAE, with Abu Dhabi at the forefront, has become a global destination for this sector, reshaping its rules according to innovative visions that keep pace with the rapid changes in the global economy . The franchise sector in the country has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade, with recent estimates indicating the presence of more than 600 franchise companies and over 2,000 franchised brands operating under a franchise system, with revenues exceeding AED 100 billion, with an annual growth rate estimated at approximately 15% . These figures not only reflect the dynamism of the sector, but also translate the country's ambitious economic vision, which has made economic diversification and entrepreneurship empowerment fundamental pillars of its development process.

The President of the Emirates Franchise Association indicated that organizing the UAE pavilion at the Turkish Franchise Expo falls within the association's strategy to support the growth of the local franchise sector and empower it regionally and internationally, by spreading the culture of franchising and enhancing the presence of Emirati brands at specialized international events. The association also aims to enable national companies to access new and promising markets, showcase their excellence to a global audience of investors, franchisees, and professionals, and open up horizons for building partnerships and exchanging expertise, which will contribute to diversifying the national economy and enhancing its competitiveness .

Turkish markets

Through its participation in the international exhibition "Be Excellent 2025," the association seeks to strengthen its presence in the Turkish market, where the spread of Emirati brands through franchising remains relatively limited. According to 2023 data, approximately 600 Emirati companies operate in Turkey, most of whose activity is concentrated in the fields of investment, infrastructure, finance, energy, and real estate, rather than the consumer franchise sector. This comes at a time when the Emirati market is witnessing a growing presence of Turkish brands in various sectors, including restaurants, cafes, fashion, consumer products, and others, reflecting the depth of economic and investment relations between the two countries .

The exhibition coincides with the remarkable growth of the Turkish franchise sector. The market size reached approximately $50 billion in 2023, with expectations of exceeding $55 billion in 2024. It includes more than 3,700 brands and 66,000 franchise outlets, providing more than 300,000 job opportunities, primarily in the fashion, retail, food and beverage, and other industries.

Turkish franchise in the UAE

According to the Turkish Investment Office, Turkish franchise brands have established a strong presence in the UAE in recent years. More than 400 Turkish companies operate in the UAE across various sectors, many of which are consumer-facing Turkish franchisees. By 2023, approximately 405 Turkish franchise brands had expanded globally, with a significant portion targeting nearby regions such as the Gulf. Popular Turkish chains in the food, beverage, confectionery, and retail sectors—such as Mado, Hafiz Mustafa, and Simit Sarayi Cafe, as well as fashion stores such as Koton and LC Waikiki—have opened franchise outlets in the UAE. Industry reports indicate that Turkish brands view the Middle East (including the UAE) as a promising market. Major franchise deals in the Gulf countries increased by nearly 25% during 2023-2024 as Turkish franchisors accelerate their regional expansion. Dozens of Turkish-origin franchise companies operate in the UAE, capitalizing on the country’s strong consumer spending and shopping mall culture to expand their international footprint.

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