Expansion, Growth & Revenue Projected for MENA Fitness Market

BOSTON, MA—May 18, 2022—IHRSA and the Global Health & Fitness Alliance collaborated with Ken Research to produce the Assessment for Direct and Indirect Impact of Health and Fitness Clubs to MENA Economy - Outlook to 2025 report. While the report highlights timely current information on the state of the MENA health and fitness industry, it also provides crucial future market projections such as industry size by revenue.

The report includes individual country reports for Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Oman, and Qatar. A comprehensive analysis of the MENA health and fitness industry insights and outlook through 2025 provides:

• market size,

• the number of facilities and active members,

• direct and indirect economic impact,

• socioeconomic implications,

• consumer preferences and trends analysis,

• government initiatives,

• a look at COVID’s impact, and more.

Driven by increasing health concerns resulting in the addition of health clubs and gyms in the MENA region, key findings from the report include:

• An 18.1% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) with considerable expansion in the number of boutique and budget fitness facilities directly contributes to the economy to drive market growth.

• Millennials and Gen Z make up the most participants in fitness classes and are motivated by workout experiences that deliver on balance, routine, and prevention.

• Even with considerable growth, compared to the U.S. and the U.K., the MENA fitness market is relatively immature as 1.4% of the population visits fitness facilities. This finding provides an opportunity for the industry to grow across the region.

• The MENA market is undergoing transformation and disruption as Saudi Arabia and Israel make up the two largest fitness markets—contributing more than 50% to the total 2020 revenue. Israel takes the lead with the highest penetration rate, followed by UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“The importance of this report is second to none for the health and fitness industry, governments, and workplaces in the MENA region, as it clearly shows the economic impact of inactivity through evidential data. This is a milestone for the industry," said Andrea Bell, chair of the GHFA Advisory Council and co-founder, director, and chief people officer of Inspire Brands Asia.

"We can now put an economic value to inactivity and equate this to the positive impact health and fitness facilities have on reducing the healthcare costs for governments and companies.

"In our commitment to helping the World Health Organization’s agenda to reduce global physical inactivity by 15% by 2030, the GHFA is focused heavily on advocacy for decision makers to recognize our industry as a critical contributor and valuable solution provider.”

The Assessment for Direct and Indirect Impact of Health and Fitness Clubs to MENA Economy - Outlook to 2025 report is available to purchase on the IHRSA and GHFA websites. All IHRSA members will receive 50% off.

About IHRSA

IHRSA, the Global Health & Fitness Association, is a not-for-profit trade association representing the global fitness industry of over 200,000 health and fitness facilities and their suppliers. Founded in 1981, IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical for peak health and to fight the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases.

As the world's leading authority on the commercial health and fitness club industry, IHRSA’s mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, while providing its members with benefits and resources. IHRSA is the publisher of Club Business International, the leading monthly magazine for the global fitness industry. IHRSA's 41st International Convention & Trade Show will be hosted from June 22-24, 2022, in Miami Beach, FL. To apply for a complimentary media pass, fill out this form.

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About the GHFA

The Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA) was founded by IHRSA in November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its mission is to reposition the health and fitness sector in the eyes of global governments and health bodies, definitively confirming it as an essential and vital service and a key contributor in the preventative healthcare continuum.

The GHFA is a proactive, globally representative alliance that brings together CEOs, C-suite industry stakeholders, and influencers from across the health and fitness sector.

The Alliance represents the entire global health and fitness club industry while funding research and advocacy to ensure the sector’s essential role is first recognized and then realized, working as a team and in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The GHFA is led and operated by IHRSA and supported by worldwide organizations—ICREPS, national industry associations, club companies, and suppliers—but operates as a fully inclusive alliance open to all who meet the criteria. All applications are reviewed to ensure global representation, thought leadership, and authority move at pace.

About Ken Research

Ken Research is a global aggregator and publisher of market intelligence, equity, and economy reports. Ken Research provides business intelligence and operational advisory in 300+ verticals underscoring disruptive technologies, emerging business models with precedent analysis, and success case studies.