People all over the world are becoming more aware of their lifestyle choices and want to live a healthier lifestyle. The idea of staying in shape has taken the world by storm, and the fitness industry is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative in the world. The fitness industry has grown by 8.7% worldwide, and this growth is expected to continue for a longer time.
Unlike most Gulf Cooperation Countries, the United Arab Emirates has one of the most open economies. This has been made possible by the large number of ex-pats who have come to stay and start businesses in the country. With the addition of new businesses to the area, residents now have more disposable income to spend on staying fit and healthy.
The establishment of new businesses has also increased the number of cases of conditions such as hypertension, obesity, stress, cardiovascular disease, and many other conditions that are caused by a lack of fitness and wellbeing, as well as the fitness equipment market, gyms, and nutritionists' business opportunities.
GLOBAL SCENARIO
People are increasingly preferring a healthier lifestyle, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of wellness and fitness-related businesses. At the moment, the global fitness industry is worth over $100 billion. According to a report published by the International Health, Racquet and Sports-club Association, the number of people who joined a gym or fitness boutique jumped by nearly 121 percent between 2013 and 2017.
The combined global fitness and health club market was valued at $85.20 billion in 2017, and the industry's goal is to achieve a minimum of $105 billion by 2025. This enormous demand has created new opportunities in the field of personal fitness, as well as a large market for fitness equipment.
As we all know, the United Arab Emirates has one of the most open and diverse economies in the world, which will give the Middle East's fitness industry a huge boost.
PAST
People in the United Arab Emirates were not as knowledgeable about their fitness in the beginning because they were preoccupied with other issues such as the region's environment, society's thinking, and so on. The public gradually became aware of the advantages of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Many companies were established in the country, which accounted for a large portion of the increase in demand for fitness services. In the United Arab Emirates, the fitness industry has been steadily growing, and it is expected to continue to do so.
Even the government has offered numerous benefits to the country and provides a variety of incentives to those who start a business in the industry. A rise in medical conditions among people, such as Stress, Diabetes, and Obesity, as well as an increase in medical costs, are also major factors driving increased demand and supply in the industry.
The UAE is a potential market for fitness-related businesses, which is aided by the growing healthcare tourism industry. The UAE's healthcare sector has also grown significantly in recent decades, and it is a major reason for attracting businesspeople and entrepreneurs from all over the world.
PRESENT
The United Arab Emirates has faced numerous challenges in the areas of healthcare and fitness in past years. Obesity and diabetes are two of the most serious issues. People are primarily affected by these issues as a result of their unhealthy lifestyles.
The government has recognized the source of these issues and is taking steps to assist the citizens of the region in becoming more active. Dubai's Fitness Challenge is a fitness challenge program launched by the government. More than one million people participated in the 2018 edition of this challenge.
More than 8,000 free classes were offered in 250 venues across the emirate of Dubai as part of this challenge. The Color Run, Daman City Swim, the Z3JR Triathlon, and the Emirate NBD Unity Run were among the 30 events added to the program.
The Dubai Muscle Show is held by the government, and it is one of the main reasons for bringing fitness enthusiasts together. Initially, the country took a one-size-fits-all approach to fitness and health, but that philosophy is slowly dying. The Dubai Muscle Show recently debuted a new segment called Dubai Active.
This section gives emerging companies in the industry a platform to showcase their unique and innovative approach to fitness and well-being.
Fitness Industry Benefits
The thriving real estate market, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the presence of dedicated places to start a business give younger and smaller businesses a huge boost. The fitness industry is expected to expand shortly, as the ancillary industries of healthcare and medical tourism have grown.
The following are some of the major benefits of establishing a fitness industry in the UAE:
1. Growing Demand of the Industry
Because of the growing awareness of people all over the world, the fitness industry has become a very profitable and beneficial business to pursue in the United Arab Emirates. A large number of people are attempting to make their lifestyles healthier now that they are aware of the advantages of doing so.
2. A Wide Range of Business Development Options
In the United Arab Emirates, a businessman has a variety of setup options. One can either purchase a business franchise, form a partnership with another company in the industry, or start their own company. The type of business structure to use should be determined by the business needs and the activity to be done.
3. Target Audience
Everyone, regardless of the job they do, needs to be physically fit. Physical and mental health are important for both children and adults. This implies that the Industry has a sizable target market.
4. Business Opportunities
The target market, as previously stated, is vast and diverse. This indicates that there is a fantastic business opportunity. The opportunity could take the form of a fitness resort, a gym, or any other new and innovative concept that keeps people's health in check.
5. A Reliable Source of Income
The majority of companies pay their executives a salary every year, but this is not the case in the fitness industry. Regardless of whether or not a person uses the services, he or she must pay the monthly fees. This ensures that the company has a steady stream of revenue.
6. Flexible Size
A company is established to expand it. A fitness business requires fewer resources to expand, and it can easily expand in terms of services offered or company size when required.
7. A Growing and Stable Industry
No matter what the situation is, a person's fitness is paramount. Specific industries experience ups and downs in business as a result of the country's economy. There has been an increase in the number of people buying fitness club memberships over the last few decades, and it is believed that this trend will continue.
FUTURE
The United Arab Emirates is one of the biggest and most promising fitness and related business markets in the world. The country has taken steps to bring more foreign companies to the country because it recognizes the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's economic growth. There is a significant demand for fitness-related services and equipment as the ex-pat population grows.
Fitness centers are in high demand in the United Arab Emirates, and the Fitness Services market is primarily driven by the health-conscious population aged 15 to 64. These fitness centers provide a variety of services to their members, such as a swimming pool, an on-site juice bar, a tennis facility, and a variety of other amenities.
The shift in the behavior of the resident population, which includes the ever-increasing ex-pat population, is one of the most important reasons for the fitness industry's growth in the United Arab Emirates. People are more concerned with staying fit and healthy. This has aided in the growth of group exercises like Zumba, Pilates, Crossfit, Martial Arts, Power Yoga, and other types of group exercises. The number of gyms and other bodybuilding centers in the United Arab Emirates has also increased significantly.
One of the six pillars of the UAE National Agenda, which is in line with the UAE Vision 2021, is to provide world-class healthcare to the people of the United Arab Emirates and to ensure their health and fitness. The UAE government has also launched three projects that will play an important role in promoting the well-being of UAE citizens. Establishing the UAE Well-being Model for Residential Communities, implementing a Community Well-being Nutrition Program, and implementing the Community Program for Active Lifestyle are all part of this plan.
The Community Wellbeing Nutrition Program initiative will encourage well-being by developing standards for consumers, manufacturers, and suppliers, as well as promoting a series of motivational and educational community nutrition programs and activities for people of all ages.
The Community Program for an Active Lifestyle aims to create a national program that encourages people from all walks of life to exercise and improve their lifestyles. It also aims to provide community members with access to UAE public and covered facilities, as well as work to increase and grow their numbers.
Many health experts are urging Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to reward people who live a healthier lifestyle. This decision was made in response to rising obesity rates and other health issues caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of exercise. With this in mind, Dubai has launched a Fitness Challenge to transform Dubai into the world's most dynamic city.
National Wellbeing Strategy 2031
The UAE cabinet has approved the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which is chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This approach aims to make the United Arab Emirates a world leader in terms of resident quality of life, as well as focusing on the well-being of the people of the UAE.
The UAE Centennial 2071 and Vision 2021 are all supported by the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2013. The National Strategy will consist of 90 programs that will focus on more than 40 priority areas. It will track a variety of indicators and provide regular reports to the UAE cabinet. Following its review of the report, the committee will make recommendations for training programs that will assist people in living a healthier lifestyle.
The UAE's National Wellbeing Strategy 2031 will have an impact on both the national and community levels. On the federal level, the plan will ensure that the economy is thriving and that the government is operating at peak efficiency. The people of the country will be in better shape as a result of this approach, allowing them to work more efficiently and profitably while also reducing the total amount of resources used by a business.
The plan would foster a cooperative community and positive values in the country on a community level. The strategy would aid in the creation of positive work and educational environments, the empowerment of people and the provision of opportunities for growth and development, and the creation of safe, meaningful, and positive digital communities.
Above all, the National Wellbeing Strategy for 2031 will encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as good mental health, positive thinking, and practical life skills.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
The following are some of the government of the United Arab Emirates' programs that will aid in achieving the strategy's goal:
Campaign to raise awareness about leading a healthy life
One of the main goals of this approach is to raise community awareness about the importance of physical activity, eating healthy, and not smoking. The strategy would aid in increasing the community's ability to adopt healthy lifestyles and in creating a supportive healthcare environment for UAE residents. Local communities and civil society groups will be encouraged to participate in health awareness programs as part of this plan.
You make the Change Campaign
This campaign is one of many projects initiated by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to combat the country's obesity epidemic. People are attempting to raise awareness about obesity and the dangers it poses to human health through this campaign. The National Agenda 2021 is aligned with this initiative.
Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC)
The Dubai Fitness Challenge, also known as Dubai 30X30, is an annual event that celebrates all aspects of a person's physical and mental fitness in Dubai. This initiative, which began in 2017, challenges everyone in the city to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 30 days. The DFC's mission is to help people develop fitness-focused mindsets and live a healthier, more active lifestyle.
MA’KOM Initiative
This initiative is a public awareness campaign that will educate the people of the United Arab Emirates about the advantages of engaging in physical activity. This campaign also aims to dispel the misconception that physical activity is limited to gyms. This campaign aims to inspire Emiratis to exercise and participate in physical activities, as well as to promote a healthy and simple lifestyle.
Art of Health Competition
The ‘Art for Health' competition is a new and innovative way to raise awareness about healthy lifestyle choices and to encourage the country's youth to participate and live a simpler and healthier lifestyle. The government of the United Arab Emirates is supporting this competition.
Initiative for Healthy Restaurants
This is a one-of-a-kind program spearheaded by the UAE government and the Dubai government. This program allows restaurant owners to offer healthy eating options in their establishments. As a result, the restaurant would be able to contribute to the health of the country's citizens. The UAE government has also launched several other projects aimed at making the country's population healthier and fitter. The government's numerous programs shortly to expand have aided in the creation of various business opportunities for companies entering the country.
Business Opportunities in Fitness Industry
As the demand for high-end gyms with professional equipment grows, there are more opportunities in the fitness industry. Apart from gyms, complementary services such as gym equipment, nutritionists, fitness spas, health clubs, and any other business-related to people's fitness and well-being are in high demand. The cardio training fitness equipment segment accounts for a significant portion of the overall fitness equipment market share in the UAE. The majority of gyms and health clubs are located in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the other emirates are catching up. The majority of revenue is generated by gyms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and this revenue is expected to grow in the coming years.
Boutique fitness studios, healthy eateries, and the spa industry are all in high demand. The steadily declining cost of sessions, as well as people's growing disposable income, are driving increased interest in these fitness entities.
The use of apps and wearables is one of the most recent additions to business opportunities. These apps and wearables are becoming more popular, and more people are using them to stay fit and healthy.
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