The 5th edition of the International Franchise Conference and Exhibition started in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with more than 300 local and international companies from 28 world countries participating to expose their brands to the booming UAE economy and expand their business in the Middle East.

The event was opened by Ebraheem Mahmood Mohamed Al Mahmood, First Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is organising this year's edition of the exhibition.

This year's edition has 40 UAE brands and participants from local and international companies specialising in a variety of fields, including tourism, hospitality, trade, health, education, food and beverage and retail, joined by franchise societies, associations and experts from various countries around the world, including UAE.

Al Mahmood expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnout garnered by this year's edition, saying that franchise is an aggressively competitive industry and a key business tool for investors and entrepreneurs. He added that the chamber's organisation of the event for the fifth year running in collaboration with the UAE Franchise Development Association, comes as part of its efforts to provide fresh investment opportunities to entrepreneurs and businesses in the UAE.

Mohammed Helal Al Muhairi, Board Chairman of the UAE Franchise Development Association, expressed appreciation of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, for their constant support for the Chamber and the UAE private sector in general.

"The UAE Franchise Development Association is the first franchise entity across the GCC to join the World Franchise Council, which is a new achievement that is likely to add value to this sector by creating partnerships with different departments concerned with this industry across the world, specially in developed countries with long experience in this industry," added Al Muhairi Hazem Hussein / Hatem Mohamed