Equinox Partners with Alshaya Group to Bring Portfolio of Influential Lifestyle Brands to the Middle East

17 Dec 2019

Equinox, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness to enter the region beginning with Dubai in late 2020

Equinox Group, a high growth collective of the world's most influential lifestyle brands, today announces its first move into the Middle East through a multi-market partnership with Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, to bring three unparalleled fitness brands to the region: Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness. The partnership spans Alshaya's many operating markets, with initial opening plans focused on Dubai in late 2020.

Equinox is an innovative industry leader, masterfully connecting fitness, experiences and community across its portfolio of brands. Each brand will come to the market with a distinct proposition: Equinox Fitness Clubs offer bespoke results-focused programming and luxury amenities, SoulCycle, a unique studio-cycling experience and Blink Fitness, a premium yet affordable membership model. All three will answer the growing demand for world-class lifestyle brands in the Middle East.

This is a seminal moment for Equinox, marking a period of extensive global expansion," commented Harvey Spevak, Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox Group. "We are committed to answering the demand for the Equinox lifestyle, anticipating the needs of our community and meeting them in key cities around the globe. Partnering with Alshaya is key to our success, they are talented and discerning executors, whose philosophy and approach to luxury aligns perfectly with ours. Together, we will create a never-before-seen category of lifestyle destinations across the Middle East."

"We are very excited about our new partnership with Equinox Group which marks an important new diversification of our business," adds Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. "There is a growing demand in the region for innovative brands which reach beyond fitness and into health and well-being. We look forward to introducing Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink to new customers in the Middle East and beyond."

Equinox: Founded in 1991, Equinox was built on the notion that fitness can empower a life well-lived and foster a strong community of high-performance individuals. Nearly 30 years later, Equinox continues to lead and disrupt the category it singularly defined, operating over 100 full-service Clubs globally across major US cities including New York, LA, Miami and San Francisco as well as London, Toronto and Vancouver, each featuring bespoke design in an unparalleled luxury environment. Grounded in the core tenets of Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration and backed by a Health Advisory Board of industry-leading experts across these disciplines, the company offers a holistic approach to fitness, inclusive of Equinox signature group fitness classes, personal training, Pilates, spa services, apparel, experiential travel and food & beverage.

SoulCycle: SoulCycle transformed boutique fitness with the launch of its signature indoor cycling class in New York City in 2006, and has since continued to innovate and grow its community. There are currently more than 95 studios across North America, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to offering a one-of-a-kind experience, studios are popular retail destinations, and the brand recently launched its first proprietary apparel collection, Soul by SoulCycle. Website: www.soul-cycle.com Instagram: instagram.com/soulcycle.

Blink Fitness: Blink is a premium but affordable fitness brand that is challenging conventional fitness stereotypes. Through its revolutionary philosophy of Mood Above Muscle®, Blink celebrates how exercise makes you feel versus how it makes you look. Blink has 140 locations open or in development throughout the United States. Blink has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list three times, was recognized as one of the top health clubs by Club Industry and was selected as the best budget gym chain by Men's Health. Website: Blink Fitness.