Running: Technogym and World Athletics team up to launch the Run X World Treadmill Championships

05 Jun 2026

Technogym has announced the launch of the Run X World Treadmill Championship, the first world ... more

Public sector: Charitable trust, Mytime Active, tackles loneliness

05 Jun 2026

Shocked by the UK loneliness statistics, charitable trust Mytime Active has been doubling down on ... more

Wellness: Tewinbury Farm Hotel launches fitness and wellbeing offering

01 Jun 2026

Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch ... more

Mixed-use: Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex

01 Jun 2026

Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, ... more

Breaking news: PureGym tackles doomscrolling with joy strolling

29 May 2026

PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, ... more

Health: Small lifestyle changes yield huge benefits for heart health, says research

29 May 2026

Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a ... more

Safety: UK Active delivers new defibrillator guidelines to empower staff to deal with cardiac arrests

21 May 2026

UK Active has published new guidance on defibrillators to help fitness and leisure operators deliver ... more

Public sector: Brio reopens historic Chester Northgate leisure centre after a £12 million investment

15 May 2026

Brio Northgate – formerly Northgate Arena in Chester – has officially reopened following ... more

Premium: Life Time increases the size of its clubs to accommodate premium features

14 May 2026

US athletic country club operator, Life Time, says its 2026 growth strategy and outlook are ... more

Collaboration: Everyone Active appoints Harry Aikines-Aryeetey as celebrity ambassador for You+

05 May 2026

Everyone Active has partnered with Team GB sprinter and TV personality, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, to be ... more

Research: Active Lives data shows positive impact from fitness sector

03 May 2026

Activity levels are still rising among English adults according to Sport England’s new Active Lives ... more

Research: Study shows its the brain that programmes endurance capacity, not the body

01 May 2026

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a potential brain-driven mechanism behind the physical ... more

Administration: Fusion Lifestyle calls in the administrators – councils appoint new operators

10 Apr 2026

After celebrating its 25th anniversary last year, Fusion Lifestyle has called in administrators after a ... more

Breaking news: The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026 shows the fitness sector has achieved record growth

09 Apr 2026

The newly published The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026 shows penetration has reached ... more

Research: Cognitive boost from exercise can extend until the following day, shows UCL study

09 Apr 2026

The cognitive boost from exercise can last until the following day according to a study ... more

Everyone Active reveals Bedworth Physical Activity Hub with 100-station gym

08 Apr 2026

The £30.6 million Bedworth Physical Activity Hub is now open, replacing a centre which dated ... more

Jenny Patrickson leaves Active IQ after 12 years – senior team to step up

08 Apr 2026

Managing director of awarding body, Active IQ, Jenny Patrickson, is leaving to focus on consultancy, ... more

Free gym membership for 11- to 16-year-olds in Manchester

07 Apr 2026

Manchester City Council has launched an ambitious programme to offer free gym memberships and access ... more

GLP-1: The global fitness industry unites to create a global framework to tackle obesity

01 Apr 2026

Trade associations from around the world have joined forces to lobby governments and health systems ... more

Breaking news: Duncan Jefford is the new MD of Everyone Active as David Bibby announces retirement

31 Mar 2026

Duncan Jefford has been announced as the new managing director of Everyone Active. Current MD, ... more

More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13969)

Middle East strikes Gold

By Tom Walker 10 May 2010

Gold's Gym International last month announced the signing of a master franchise that will expand its brand into the Middle East.

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG) has signed a deal with the Texas-based Gold's Gym chain to open 26 clubs in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

The deal also provides an option for Al Ahli to operate a further 66 clubs across a total of 13 additional countries in Africa and the Middle East. Al Ahli could potentially become the largest Gold's Gym master franchisee in the world.

Gold's Gym was founded in 1965 as a weightlifting shop in Venice, California, and has long been popular with celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Hilary Swank, Keanu Reeves and Jessica Alba. It now has 700 gyms in 28 countries.

AAHG is a family-owned company with interests in sectors from plastic manufacturing to printing and publishing, transportation, engineering and real estate and the Dubai Outlet Mall.