The Franchising Middle East (FME), a dedicated trade exhibition for the franchise industry, opens today (Monday) in Dubai  providing a platform for numerous business opportunities across a wide spectrum of sectors.

FME, this year, is 30 per cent larger than previous editions. It will see exhibitors from across the Mena region and internationally, the debut participation from Russia will be a show highlight, said International Expo-Consults (IEC), the event organisers.

“Not only will this year’s show be our largest in terms of covered floor space, it is also our most international, with representation from across the GCC, Russia, Germany, Turkey, the UK and South Africa. This shows continued confidence in the Middle East as a viable market for franchised brands,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, IEC chairman.

The show will welcome franchise brands from across the world, such as Charley’s Grilled Subs, New York Fries, Subway and Whittard’s of Chelsea Tea & Coffee. Home-grown portfolios and brands, including Emarat, ENOC and Gulf Greetings, will also have a strong presence.

Franchise consultancies will also be on hand to offer advice to local entrepreneurs looking to take their brands global. FranCorp, FranExcel and MEFranchising will all be hosting pavilions at the event.

Industry education will also play a strong role, with the third annual World Franchise Forum complementing this year’s FME. The theme for this year’s World Franchise Forum is ‘Master Franchising’.

The forum will feature a world-class speaker line up, including franchise company CEOs, as well as interactive sessions to cater to all levels of experience in the franchise industry, including theory, practice and legal overview.-TradeArabia News Service