LexiconExpansion
Stage gates
بوابات المراحل
Definition
Stage gates are the nine evidence tests that divide expansion into seven stages, from proving the unit to entering the GCC. Each gate names its objective, metrics, decision rule and tool, and no stage is funded until the previous gate is passed; stages may overlap, gates may not, and “not yet” returns the capital to the next-riyal list.
In plain words
Checkpoints on the road to expansion: you do not move to the next stage before passing the one before.
Saudi usage
- At Monsha'at: نموذج المراحل والبوابات (opens in a new tab) Accessed
Also searched as
- expansion sequence
- stage-gate model
- expansion gates
- seven stages, nine gates
- بوابات المراحل
Canonical thresholds
| Threshold | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Reference cohort's actual payback | Within 30 months |
| Existing branches at peak | At or above 80% utilization |
| Founder | Reference units ran a full quarter without him in daily operations |
| Threshold | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Stage 5 passed in at least two Saudi cities | Before entry |
| Pilot passes Gate 3 and reaches the GRI floor by month 12 | Expand in that market; otherwise apply the kill criteria written at entry |
Source: Playbook §2 · Gate 9: GCC entry
Where it is used
In the Doctrine and the Playbook
Related terms
Should I open a new branch? Run the numbers
How to cite this definition
Alhajj, S. (2026). “Stage gates”. In The Revenue Engineering Lexicon, version 1.0. Riyadh. https://seiflden.com/lexicon/stage-gates/