Athleisure clothing has become the top fashion choice among Dubai residents as a surge of homegrown retailers emerge to meet the demand for this versatile and comfortable style.
“In [the] UAE, with the rise of fitness and health centres and new sports like paddle, athleisure has grown as a top fashion choice,” Karima Karmouzi, founder of athleisure brand IKASU, told Arabian Business.
“The UAE’s efforts towards building an active lifestyle for its residents through initiatives like the Dubai Fitness Challenge 30×30, as well as the recently announced UAE sports sector strategy for 2031, has propelled fitness to the forefront with many residents adopting a fitter lifestyle,” she added.
The athletic leisurewear market in the UAE has experienced explosive growth in recent years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic which created a greater emphasis on health and well-being among the population.
Revenue in the sports and outdoor market segment is expected to reach $258.10 million in 2023 and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.36 percent between now and 2027, according to Statista. By 2027, the market segment’s value is expected to be around $330.3 million.
“Athleisure is the new normal in fashion trends that gained recognition in a short time and is here to stay,” Swaleh Balala, founder of athleisure sportswear brand Somebody, told Arabian Business.
“Dubai is a big market for this kind of apparel since the city promotes a healthy lifestyle with initiatives such as Dubai 30×30, Gov-Games and others. There is always room for new brands, which is why I launched [my business],” he added.
Athleisure wear was worth around $60 billion globally in 2019, and this only continued to grow, hitting the $300 billion this year, leading to a rise in startups catering to gym-goers to influencers and multinationals launching new brands to jump on the athleisure bandwagon, Balala explained.
UAE-based retail conglomerate GMG signed an agreement with global sportswear retailer JD Sports in July this year to introduce it to the Middle East market, with planned store launches in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Under the 10-year deal, GMG will open around 50 stores across the region under the JD franchise by 2028, signallingthe growing demand for sportswear as consumers adopt a more health-conscious lifestyle.
“This is one of the most advantageous times [to launch] in UAE,” said Karmouzi.
“The trend is here to stay and will continue to grow especially after the pandemic which resulted in more people emphasizing on health and wellness in addition to an increased demand for athleisure wear to integrate comfort and fashion.”
Since 2020, several athleisure brands have launched in the UAE, including The Giving Movement, Gym Clothing Co, Glossy Lounge, and L’Couture, among many others.
“Today, individuals confidently sport athleisure attire not only during physical activities but also in daily errand runs and informal social gatherings,” said Balala.
“This trend is the perfect mix of comfort and style. The market has grown exponentially, and it has branched out to men’s wear as well.”
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