Fitness Time, the largest network of sport and fitness clubs in Saudi Arabia, is embarking on an ambitious expansion drive which will see it open at least 70 new sites over the next five years.

The group currently has 138 active clubs and 2,600 employees across its portfolio in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

To help drive the growth, Fitness Time has signed a five-year, £50m contract with equipment supplier Technogym, which will see the Italian wellness giant kit out all of its new clubs.

Fitness Time is owned by Leejam Sports Company, which in September 2019 appointed industry veteran and former Bannatyne Group chief executive Justin Musgrove as its new CEO.

"We're looking to set a new benchmark for quality and value, with our mission to be the best and favourite health club chain in the region," Musgrove said.

Fitness Time was founded by fitness entrepreneurs Fahad and Abdulmohsen Alhagbani in 2007 and the brothers oversaw a rapid expansion of the brand.

The initial growth was aided by Investcorp, a private equity company, which took a 25 per cent share in the group in 2013.

Fitness Time went public in 2018, with an IPO which valued the business at £540m – at which point the Alhagbanis sold their shares in the company. To read a recent interview with Fahad Alhagbani, click here for HCM Issue 10/2020.

Fitness Time is the latest operator looking to expand on the growth of fitness in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, UK-based PureGym said it will take its budget fitness concept to Saudi Arabia and open 40 sites in the country, after securing a franchise partnership with Ektimal – a company specialising in fitness investments in the country.