Business | General
Mideast fitness industry to double in two years
People in the region spend $74b each year on health and well-being
- By Cleofe Maceda, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:17 March 27, 2008
Dubai: As more people try to adopt a healthier lifestyle, the wellness industry in the region has witnessed a tremendous expansion and will double its growth in the next two years, officials said on Wednesday."In a high-stress environment like the UAE, adopting a proper fitness regime is definitely on the rise," said Air Miles Middle East chief executive officer Dave Battison.
According to Rania Boucher, founder of Middle East Health and Fitness (Mefit) Summit, which begins on Thursday people in the Middle East are spending over $74 billion a year on health and wellness.
"The Middle East wellness industry is witnessing tremendous growth year on year and the UAE is one of the few countries that mirror the growth of fitness industry across the world," Boucher told Gulf News.
"With new health and fitness clubs opening, we have seen many areas where the sky is the limit," she added.
The number of people going to the gym has also seen double-digit growth, but Rania said there are many residents who have not made the commitment yet. Only seven per cent of the UAE population is engaged in physical activity, compared to 30 per cent in other countries.
"On a positive note, we have world-class facilities already open or due to open their doors in the UAE, but we are failing to recognise as an industry that we have only seven per cent of the population who actually exercise," Rania said.
"As more investors and international fitness club chains look to enter the market, we as an industry need to recognise that we can all survive in this competitive marketplace if we can lift the activity level by even two per cent."
Nevertheless, Rania said they expect the health and fitness industry to double over the next couple of years. "Fifty per cent growth in two years is huge but the initiatives and educational events such as Mefit summit will help the leaders and decision makers in the market to invest in the right place on the right resources."
Mefit is the region's biggest fitness forum held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain. It will be on until March 29 at Dubai Aviation Club and targets top market brands, personal trainers, group exercise instructors, coaches or anyone who goes to a gym.
As more investors and international fitness club chains look to enter the market, we as an industry need to recognise that we can all survive in this competitive marketplace if we can lift the activity level by even two per cent."
Rania Boucher, Founder of Middle East Health and Fitness
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