The US gym used by Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and golf superstar Tiger Woods is planning to expand into the Middle East and has signed a franchise deal to open 26 gyms in the region, its UAE-based partner confirmed this week.
The Abu Dhabi-based Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG) has signed a deal with the Texas-based Gold's Gym bodybuilding chain to open 26 gyms in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.
The agreement also gives AAHG the option to open a further 66 gyms in Africa and the rest of the Middle Eastern region.
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Gold's Gym was founded in 1965 as a weightlifting shop in Venice, California and quickly became popular with celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, 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.
The deal is described as the biggest franchise agreement in Gold’s Gym’s 45 years history, but neither AAHG nor Gild’s Gym released details of the financial agreement.
“AAHG did a remarkable job with their due diligence, looking into all aspects of the business and its viability on the Arabian Peninsula. We are proud to be working with them to grow the Gold’s Gym brand,” said Joel Tallman, senior vice president of franchising and global operations for Gold’s Gym International.
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