Anytime Fitness Expands to UAE

Renowned financier Mark Mobius is leading an investment group set to introduce Anytime Fitness® to the United Arab Emirates, as announced by the gym brand’s parent company, Self Esteem Brands.

The umbrella franchisor manages a diverse portfolio of health and wellness brands.

The global health and wellness market is primed for growth through 2030 and beyond, according to Precedence Research.

Its figures indicate the combined Latin America, Middle East and Africa health and wellness markets will experience a compound annual growth rate of 3.9% from now through 2030.

The market in those regions was valued at $539.6 billion in 2023 and should reach $700.4 billion by 2030, Precedence Research projects.

Mobius and Other UAE Investors

In a news release from Self Esteem Brands, Mobius stated that “being a longtime member of Anytime Fitness and having used the clubs around the world makes this investment a natural for me.”

Mobius, an influential money manager for three decades has often invested in emerging markets. 

The UAE Anytime Fitness master franchisor deal also includes John Ninia from Mobius Associates, along with two experienced Anytime Fitness franchise operators in the Philippines, Ben Matute and Richmond Sy. Matute and Sy intend to relocate to Dubai to establish multiple Anytime Fitness clubs throughout the Middle Eastern nation within the next eight years.

Dubai’s first Anytime Fitness club is scheduled to launch by the end of this year.

Self Esteem Brands Leaders’ Response

Sander van den Born, Executive Vice President, International at Self Esteem Brands, articulated his company's expansion strategy as follows:

"As we pinpoint areas where our presence and brands can truly impact and thrive, the UAE stands out as a primary focus. The fact that existing franchisees are willing to relocate from prosperous regions to contribute to our expansion in the Middle East is a strong testament to the robustness of the Anytime Fitness business model.

Our shared values and mission, particularly in light of the growing emphasis on health and wellness initiatives across the Middle East region, underscore our alignment."

Chuck Runyon, the CEO of Self Esteem Brands and co-founder of Anytime Fitness, sees Mobius’ participation as a vote of confidence, as stated in the news release.

"We have strong confidence in the double-digit growth projections for the $5.6 trillion global wellness economy over the next decade, as indicated by the Global Wellness Institute.

Investments play a vital role in advancing health and wellness in comprehensive and accessible ways," remarked Runyon.

"We eagerly anticipate the brand's rapid expansion in the region and its positive impact on people's lives."

About Anytime Fitness and Self Esteem Brands

With the expansion into the UAE, Self Esteem Brands will have Anytime Fitness clubs operating 24/7/365 in more than 40 countries and territories around the world.

Anytime Fitness is a fast-growing brand that serves nearly 5 million members at more than 5,200 clubs globally.

The brand is known for providing affordable health and wellness training, coaching, nutrition and recovery guidance for its members. 

In addition to Anytime Fitness, Woodbury, Minn.-based Self Esteem Brands’ portfolio includes Basecamp® Fitness, SUMHIIT Fitness, The Bar Method® and Waxing the City®.

The Self Esteem Brands affiliates Stronger U Nutrition, Healthy Contributions and Provision Security deliver direct-to-consumer and franchisee support services.

Source: franchisewire