Jeddah: Market potential of the Saudi Kingdom’s health and fitness-related projects valued at more $20 billion requiring fulfillment from suppliers of fitness equipment and infrastructure.
Sports retail is an $8 billion business with a healthy annual growth rate of eight percent. ISF Saudi is segmented into the Sport Life Zone and Sports Business Zone to service all elements of the market.
A new exhibition – Saudi International Sport and Fitness (ISF Saudi) powered by FIBO, the world’s leading fitness and wellness trade fair – will provide a platform and direct access to the region’s largest target market, and help to address pressing national concerns for a healthy population.
Taking place from 24 – 27 November 2014 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events, ISF Saudi will showcase international exhibitors and national and international partners. The show is sponsored by Delta Fitness Authority, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital and Green Vision and has already attracted participation from leading international sports and fitness brands. These include Life Fitness, Freemotion, Pavigym, Technobody, Gym80, HP Cosmos, Synergy, Airex, Digilock, Green Vision, Purmotion, Artisport, Technogym, Stex, and CrossFox Fitness.
The three key sectors represented within these segments are fitness – professional fitness equipment, sport and fitness services; retail – distribution and retail of sports, fitness and health equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories and infrastructure – sports and wellness facilities design and constructions, sports development and management.
According to Saudi Arabia’s 9th Development Plan, which was approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers to aid development across all sectors, 19% of the Kingdom’s budget, equating to $73 billion, has been committed to social and health initiatives between 2010 and 2014.
Major sports development projects, such as the $5 billion King Abdullah Sports City, have also received bumper budgets, and a further $1.3 billion is expected to be added to sports infrastructure investment in 2015. Private investment in the sports and fitness sector also continues to grow, and is fast approaching $1 billion with estimated year-on-year growth of 17%.
The deregulation of women’s participation in sports and fitness activities heralds further opportunity for improving the health and wellbeing of this fast-growing population. These Saudi government initiatives come as a result of the prevalent health risks in the Kingdom, most notably diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Obesity is widely documented, and currently affects 44 percent of women, 26.4 percent of men and 18 percent of children in KSA.
ISF Saudi will enable dialogue and relationship development between private organisations, industry brands and government bodies, to discuss and action solutions for the Kingdom’s health and fitness sector. The show also introduces the Hosted Buyer Program to facilitate direct and effective business networking and trading opportunities.
“It is clear from the significant commitment by Saudi Arabia’s government to develop social and health initiatives that this is at the top of the Kingdom’s agenda,” Simon Blaze by, Head of Exhibitions, Reed Sunaidi Exhibitions, said.
“The launch of ISF Saudi offers exceptional opportunities for products and services in sports, fitness and health to provide meaningful contributions to the development of the population’s future wellbeing.”