ACE Expands Growth in Middle East Region
Posted: March 2, 2022 in Suppliers
ACE
SAN DIEGO, CA – American Council on Exercise (ACE) expands its partnership with Inspire Fitness Academy, which will serve as ACE’s new international agent. Inspire Fitness Academy will expand ACE’s growth and impact in the Middle East region, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. This is ACE’s first-ever agent in the region and builds upon ACE’s global effort to increase physical activity and fitness around the world.
“Advancing our efforts with Inspire Fitness Academy, to get more people moving in these countries, is an exciting educational opportunity,” said Anthony J. Wall, ACE senior director of global business development and professional education. “With the region’s growing focus on fitness and addressing challenges associated with physical inactivity, it’s an ideal time to provide resources and guidance to promote more active and healthy lifestyles.”
Inspire Fitness Academy provides science-based educational programming to exercise professionals, health coaches, amateur athletes and other individuals seeking the highest quality resources to guide and help clients become more fit, healthier and happier.
“With locations in Beirut and Dubai, we are honored to continue and deepen our partnership with ACE,” said Patrick Bejjani, director of the Inspire Fitness Academy. “Together, we will raise education standards for exercise and health professionals to build healthier communities.”
Inactivity and related conditions are prevalent in the Middle East and North African region, where half of women in the Middle East are deemed physically inactive based on WHO guidelines (NIH, 2017; WHO, 2018). Many countries in the Middle East and North African region are experiencing increased demand for health and fitness. Some highlights of recent growth in the Middle East region include:
- Saudi Arabia – Health club operators expanded during the first year of the pandemic unlike other organizations across the world who were forced to close permanently (IHRSA, 2021). In addition, the Saudi Arabian government began to allow female-only gyms in 2017, which also helped the market swell (Report Linker, 2021).
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) – The UAE fitness industry is expected to exceed $600 million by 2025 (Sportz Business, 2021).
- Egypt – The Egyptian fitness market is projected to grow 8.8%, bolstered by government initiatives to combat its population’s high rates of obesity (Ken Research, 2021).
