UAE, Saudi Arabia and India Are Powering the Next Wave of Wellness Growth

The world’s biggest wellness economies are still the familiar names. According to Global Wellness Institute (GWI) rankings for 2024, the top five markets by size are the United States ($2.1T), China ($950B), Germany ($281B), Japan ($262B), and the UK ($261B).

Those top five account for nearly 58% of the global wellness economy, with the U.S. alone representing around 32%.

But the story that matters for fitness brands is not only who’s biggest. It’s who’s accelerating.

GWI’s country rankings highlight the fastest-growing wellness markets over the last five years as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Mexico, and Poland, followed by the UK, Netherlands, Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

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Why UAE, Saudi Arabia and India are pulling ahead

UAE: lifestyle-led wellness growth

GWI data shows the UAE’s wellness economy grew 14.3% annually from 2019 to 2024, more than double the global average, supported by increases in wellness tourism and personal care and beauty spending.

The UAE also climbed in GWI’s rankings, moving from #32 (2019) to #26 (2024).

Saudi Arabia: public health investment meets consumer demand

Saudi Arabia’s wellness economy expanded 12.2% annually (2019–2024), driven by higher public health spending plus growth in personal care and beauty.

Saudi Arabia also rose from #29 (2019) to #25 (2024) in the GWI rankings.

GWI additionally notes Saudi Arabia among a small set of markets that did not experience a pandemic-related decline in 2020.

India: traditional wellness, tourism, and a rising fitness market

India’s wellness economy posted 11.3% annual growth (2019–2024), with momentum linked to traditional and complementary medicine and wellness tourism, followed by personal care and beauty spending.

India also ranks #7 in 2024, up from 2019.

What this signals for fitness and wellness brands

The fastest-growing wellness markets are not growing through one channel. They’re expanding because multiple categories move together: fitness participation, recovery, tourism, beauty, and preventive health. When that happens, two things become true:

1. More first-timers enter the fitness space, so beginner confidence and access matter.
   
   

2. Convenience and value win, because consistency beats occasional intensity in real life.
   
   

If you’re building a sustainable routine locally, your best advantage is proximity and repetition. Explore GymNation gyms in the UAE to train consistently.

Or if you’re based in Saudi Arabia, find a club that fits your week through GymNation gyms in KSA.

Mexico and Poland are rising faster than most expect

GWI also flags Mexico and Poland as emerging wellness contenders, with both exceeding pre-pandemic growth levels substantially and recording over 9% annual growth from 2019 to 2024.

Source: athletechnews.com

The opinions shared in the blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.