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UAE & Saudi Fitness Statistics 2026

This page collects the most useful, checkable numbers on fitness, physical activity and health in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Every figure links to the page that publishes it, with the year it covers, so you can quote it with confidence. We will update the page as new national surveys are released.

How to cite this page

Rigid Fitness, “UAE & Saudi Fitness Statistics 2026”, updated 30 October 2026. Please link to this page and to the original source listed next to each figure.

Key facts: 30 figures from 10 sources, each checked against the source page on 30 October 2026.

Obesity & health

Statistic	Figure	Where	Period	Source
22.4 per cent of UAE adults are living with obesity, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention national health survey.	22.4 per cent	UAE	MOHAP National Health Survey, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
Obesity prevalence in the UAE has declined by 14.8 per cent over the last fifteen years.	14.8 per cent	UAE	Last 15 years, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
54.2 per cent of UAE adults have high cholesterol and 25.9 per cent have high blood pressure.	54.2 per cent; 25.9 per cent	UAE	MOHAP National Health Survey, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
Vitamin D deficiency affects 49.3 per cent of UAE adults and nearly 70 per cent of children.	49.3 per cent; nearly 70 per cent	UAE	MOHAP National Health Survey, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
45.1 per cent of Saudis aged 15 and older are overweight and 23.1 per cent are obese.	45.1 per cent; 23.1 per cent	Saudi Arabia	GASTAT Health Determinants 2024 (reported November 2024)	Gulf News: Saudi Arabia: Over 45% of adults overweight, latest health survey reveals
33.3 per cent of Saudis aged 2 to 14 are overweight and 14.6 per cent are obese.	33.3 per cent; 14.6 per cent	Saudi Arabia	GASTAT Health Determinants 2024 (reported November 2024)	Gulf News: Saudi Arabia: Over 45% of adults overweight, latest health survey reveals
Only 10.2 per cent of Saudi adults eat the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.	10.2 per cent	Saudi Arabia	GASTAT Health Determinants 2024 (reported November 2024)	Gulf News: Saudi Arabia: Over 45% of adults overweight, latest health survey reveals

Physical activity

Statistic	Figure	Where	Period	Source
Physical activity levels in the UAE rose by 11.7 per cent over the last 7 years.	11.7 per cent	UAE	Last 7 years, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
Nearly 60 per cent of UAE adults do not meet recommended physical activity levels.	nearly 60 per cent	UAE	MOHAP National Health Survey, reported January 2026	Gulf News: UAE residents smoke less, embrace more active lifestyles: MoHAP National Health survey
66 percent of adults in the UAE do not get enough physical activity, according to a WHO-led study reported by AFP.	66 percent	UAE	2022 (study published June 2024)	Arab News (AFP): 'Wake-up call': third of adults not doing enough physical activity
The share of physically active individuals in Saudi Arabia increased from 13% in 2018 to nearly 60% in 2025.	13% to nearly 60%	Saudi Arabia	2018 to 2025	Saudi Ministry of Health: Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed: Physical Activity in KSA Rises from 13% to 60%
In 2024, 58.5% of Saudi adults over 18 did at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.	58.5%	Saudi Arabia	2024	Riyadh Daily: Community Sports Activities in Kingdom Rise 142% in 2024
In 2024, 18.7% of Saudi children aged 5 to 17 achieved at least 60 minutes of daily activity.	18.7%	Saudi Arabia	2024	Riyadh Daily: Community Sports Activities in Kingdom Rise 142% in 2024
In 2021, 29.7% of Saudi Arabia's population did at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, up from 20% in 2019.	29.7%	Saudi Arabia	2021	GASTAT: 29.7% Practice Moderate Physical Activity in KSA in 2021
In 2021, 48.2% of Saudi Arabia's population practised physical activity for at least 30 minutes per week.	48.2%	Saudi Arabia	2021	GASTAT: 29.7% Practice Moderate Physical Activity in KSA in 2021
In 2021, 36.1% of Saudi males and 20.3% of females met the 150-minutes-per-week activity level.	36.1%; 20.3%	Saudi Arabia	2021	GASTAT: 29.7% Practice Moderate Physical Activity in KSA in 2021
Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program targets raising the share of people exercising at least once a week to 40% by 2030.	40%	Saudi Arabia	Target for 2030	Saudi Sports for All Federation: Vision 2030 fifth anniversary statement
Nearly one third (31%) of adults worldwide, about 1.8 billion people, did not meet recommended physical activity levels in 2022.	31%	Global	2022	WHO: Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity
Global adult physical inactivity is projected to rise to 35% by 2030 if current trends continue.	35%	Global	Projection for 2030	WHO: Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity

Sports participation

Statistic	Figure	Where	Period	Source
Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025 concluded with a record participation of over 3 million people.	over 3 million	UAE	November 2025	Dubai Media Office: Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025 concludes
Dubai Run 2025 saw over 307,000 runners on Sheikh Zayed Road.	over 307,000	UAE	November 2025	Dubai Media Office: Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025 concludes
Dubai Ride 2025 welcomed a record 40,327 cyclists.	40,327	UAE	November 2025	Dubai Media Office: Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025 concludes
Over 16 million participants have joined the Dubai Fitness Challenge since its launch in 2017.	over 16 million	UAE	2017 to 2025	Dubai Media Office: Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025 concludes
Community sports participation in Saudi Arabia rose by 121% and the number of events grew by 142% in 2024 compared to 2023.	121%; 142%	Saudi Arabia	2024 vs 2023	Riyadh Daily: Community Sports Activities in Kingdom Rise 142% in 2024
Saudi community sports programmes engaged 155,000 citizens and residents in 32 cities and governorates in 2024.	155,000	Saudi Arabia	2024	Riyadh Daily: Community Sports Activities in Kingdom Rise 142% in 2024
Running was the most popular Saudi community sport in 2024, attracting over 50,000 participants across 30 programmes.	over 50,000	Saudi Arabia	2024	Riyadh Daily: Community Sports Activities in Kingdom Rise 142% in 2024
Community sports groups in Saudi Arabia grew from 50 in 2015 to 451 by the end of 2020.	451	Saudi Arabia	2015 to end of 2020	Saudi Sports for All Federation: Vision 2030 fifth anniversary statement
The Riyadh Marathon attracts more than 40,000 participants annually.	more than 40,000	Saudi Arabia	Annual, stated October 2025	Saudi Ministry of Health: Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed: Physical Activity in KSA Rises from 13% to 60%

Walking & steps

Statistic	Figure	Where	Period	Source
Participants in the Saudi Sports for All Federation's Move to Game programme had taken more than 10 billion steps.	more than 10 billion steps	Saudi Arabia	As of May 2021	Saudi Sports for All Federation: Vision 2030 fifth anniversary statement

Fitness market

Statistic	Figure	Where	Period	Source
As of 2024, Saudi Arabia had 2,423 licensed gyms and sports centers, 737 academies and 285 private clubs.	2,423	Saudi Arabia	2024	Arab News: Record licensing and new infrastructure drives unprecedented growth in Saudi sports sector

Notes on the data

Saudi activity figures come from different surveys and measure different things: at least 150 minutes a week (GASTAT), at least 30 minutes a week (GASTAT), about 180 minutes a week for adults and 60 minutes a day for children (Ministry of Health), or exercising at least once a week (the Vision 2030 Quality of Life target of 40%). Compare like with like: the 40% target uses the once-a-week measure, so it is not directly comparable with the 150-minute figures.
The two UAE inactivity figures come from different surveys with different definitions: the Ministry of Health national survey (nearly 60%) and a WHO-led global study of 2022 data (66%).
Gulf News reports the 2024 GASTAT obesity figures; the GASTAT page itself was not reachable when this page was compiled.