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Goal: We sought to understand how Brazilian franchise networks, in their internationalization strategy, deal with aspects of the political and legal institutional environment of a Middle Eastern country, knowing that the conditions that drive the diffusion of these networks do not always meet the most favorable profiles. desired for international expansion, such as geographic and cultural proximity, in addition to the existence of legislation that deals directly with franchising and the political stability of the region. Method: We used qualitative research of an explanatory nature and a single case study, represented by the Brazilian franchise chain Chilli Beans with operations in Kuwait. Main results: It was identified that even with important institutional distances, legal aspects are dealt with globally, political aspects can be mitigated based on the strategic choice of the local franchisee and the main attraction and continuity factor is taking advantage of market opportunities. Relevance / Originality: It was found that, although a franchise network operates in a country with large institutional distances, it is possible to reduce them through expansion strategies, such as the precise choice of the local franchisee, the governance mode that preserves the characteristics destination country, or even a business model that facilitates cross-border transactions. Theoretical contributions: Enrich internationalization theories from an institutional perspective, specifically for the political and legal dimensions and in regions with wide institutional distances, such as Kuwait in relation to Brazil. Managerial contributions: Subsidize the franchisor with strategic alternatives for choosing the mode of entry into foreign countries and highlight market opportunities in institutional environments different from the Brazilian one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]