GET FIT TECH
Sign up for the FREE digital edition of Fit Tech magazine and also get the Fit Tech ezine and breaking news email alerts.
Not right now, thanksclose this window I've already subscribed!
We Work Well Events | Fit Tech promotion
We Work Well Events | Fit Tech promotion
We Work Well Events | Fit Tech promotion
FIT TECH News

Armah Sports reveals the first B_fit – a revolutionary smart health club concept using AI, VR, Amazon Alexa and the IoT

By
Armah Sports has launched a new health club concept for the Middle Eastern market
B_fit will operate as a full-service ‘Smart Club’, featuring a range of tech solutions. It's the first health club in the world to utilise Amazon Alexa technology
The first B_fit is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
B_fit is one of three new health club brands being brought to market by Armah – the others are high end Optimo and budget brand Lift

Armah Sports has launched a new health club concept for the Middle Eastern market, which it plans to roll out across the region – and beyond.

The first B_fit club opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this week and will operate as a full-service ‘Smart Club’, featuring a wide range of innovative tech solutions which integrate with a high-end gym offer.

Workout facilities at the 3,750sq m club include a large gym floor, cardio zone, performance cardio zone, personal training hubs, athlete factory area, six exercise studios (catering for functional, spinning, yoga, pilates, HIIT, and boxing).

There's also a 25m pool, indoor running track, a large co-working space, innovation lab, smoothie bar and retail area.

When it comes to tech, B_fit boasts an impressive array of solutions – starting with access to the club, which is implemented through touchless facial recognition.

B_fit will also be the first health club in the world to utilise Amazon Alexa technology in its operations, with members being able to book classes and check trainers’ bios and schedules by talking to Alexa.

Other smart tech solutions include the use of VR and AR which – according to Fahad Alhagbani, CEO of Armah Sports – creates "an integrated and seamless digital member experience".

"Virtual reality experiences are there for members and visitors to try in our Innovation Lab, where we demonstrate the future trends to educate our young Saudi generation about the future and gamification," Alhagbani said.

"We're adopting VR, AR and the Internet of Things as we grow. With the Metaverse on the horizon, there are no limits on how much experience we can create for our members.

"Initial feedback from visitors and members has been fantastic – comments such as 'out of this world', 'unlike anything else in Saudi', 'next level club', 'new standard of the industry' and 'a club from space' are common.

"Similar early feedback has been received from our peers and suppliers from around the world, with people commenting that B_FIT can not only compete with some of the best fitness club designs in the world, but also that it sets a new standard for club design and features.

'We're proud to present our B_fit model as a smart club to the world, a place that represents our knowledge, creativity, passion, dreams, research, ambition and teamwork.

"Our mission is to make Saudi a hub for innovation in the region for the fitness industry – we believe the days of the traditional fitness club are gone, it’s time for the new generation of fitness clubs, the clubs of the future."

B_fit is one of three health club concepts and brands being developed by Alhagbani and the team at Armah Sports. The others are luxury brand Optimo and budget offering Lift.

Alhagbani added that the company plans to open 11 B_fit smart clubs and three Optimo clubs in the next 18 months.

To read an exclusive interview with Fahad Alhagbani on Armah Sports' plans, click here for HCM Issue 10/2020.

More fit tech news
Egym, has signalled its intention to become a dominant force in the corporate wellness sector with the acquisition of UK-based ...
news • 27 Mar 2024
Egym, which raised €207 million last year in new investment, continues to build its top team with the appointment of ...
news • 21 Mar 2024
The UK government acknowledged in its recent budget that economic recovery depends on the health of the nation, but failed ...
news • 11 Mar 2024
Technogym is launching Checkup, an assessment station which uses AI to personalise training programmes in order to create more effective ...
news • 06 Mar 2024
Fitness On Demand (FOD) has teamed up with Les Mills, to offer an omnichannel fitness solution to operators. Fitness on ...
news • 04 Mar 2024
Samsung has unveiled a smart ring, packed with innovative technologies to aid health and wellbeing, which will be available later ...
news • 29 Feb 2024
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the ...
More HCM news
The ICO has ruled that eight leisure operators have been unlawfully processing the biometric data of their employees to be ...
news • 23 Feb 2024
More consumers are realising meditation is beneficial, but many give up because it’s difficult to master the mind. The Muse ...
news • 21 Feb 2024
Newcomer to the market, Lunar Health Clubs, is gearing up to open its first high-end club this April, in Marlow ...
news • 19 Feb 2024
University of Washington researchers have created a wireless wearable in the form of a thermal earring that continuously monitors a ...
news • 16 Feb 2024
Zumba, and virtual reality workout platform, FitXR, have joined forces to offer mixed-reality versions of Zumba's dance routines. The partnership ...
news • 13 Feb 2024
Triathlon legends, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, have launched a free conversational AI tool to share their vast training knowledge with ...
news • 07 Feb 2024
According to McKinsey’s latest report, The trends defining the US$1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024, the market for wellness ...
news • 24 Jan 2024
One of the most famous bodybuilders of all time – turned Hollywood actor – turned Californian governor – Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...
news • 23 Jan 2024
Egym has signalled its intention to become a major global player in the health club equipment space, signing up former ...
news • 19 Jan 2024
With pressure on medical services at an all time high, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is calling for ...
news • 17 Jan 2024
Sennheiser has teamed up with Polar Electro for the launch of its Momentum Sport earbuds which deliver Polar’s bio-sensing capabilities ...
news • 09 Jan 2024
The fitness industry is gearing up to engage with the medical profession according to the results of the American College ...
news • 05 Jan 2024
TikTok, has launched into the fitness market with a new hub called #TikTokFitness and a supporting consumer marketing push. The ...
news • 05 Jan 2024
Les Mills has released Les Mills XR Dance for the Meta Quest 3 headset. The release is the company's second ...
news • 20 Dec 2023
Equinox has appointed a Health Advisory Board of medical experts and academics to 'define new frontiers in the science of ...
news • 15 Dec 2023
Horizon Leisure is upgrading and investing in its new shopping-centre health hub – The Wellbeing Hub in Havant, UK – ...
news • 15 Dec 2023
Google has just released Gemini, a new multimodal AI which is being billed as a "ChatGPT Killer". Unlike ChatGPT, it ...
news • 06 Dec 2023
Survivalist, Bear Grylls has partnered with four mental health heavyweights and former TV producer, Neil Smith, to create an app ...
news • 06 Dec 2023
Sport Alliance has named Erwin Korst vice president sales international. The appointment comes as the company announces US$100m of new ...
news • 04 Dec 2023
Training provider, The Fitness Group, has teamed up with personal training app, My PT Hub, to make it easier for ...
news • 19 Nov 2023
The Maybourne Hotel Group – manager of iconic global hotels including Claridges, The Berkeley and The Connaught – has partnered ...
news • 17 Nov 2023
Timbaland, Platinum Grammy Award-winning producer, who's worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Drake ...
news • 15 Nov 2023
Connected fitness equipment supplier, Echelon Fitness, has signed a multi-year deal with Run Disney, the road race division of Disney ...
news • 14 Nov 2023
The first ever Siro hotel, marketed as the "ultimate fitness and recovery hotel", is now accepting reservations. Set to open ...
news • 09 Nov 2023
More fit tech news
Taylor Made Designs (TMD) is a ‘leisure specialist’ provider of bespoke leisure workwear, plus branded ...
FIBO pursues the vision of a strong and healthy society and as a global network ...
Cryotherapy
Lockers
Salt therapy products
Digital
Flooring
Taylor Made Designs (TMD) is a ‘leisure specialist’ provider of bespoke leisure workwear, plus branded ...
FIBO pursues the vision of a strong and healthy society and as a global network ...
Get Fit Tech
Sign up for the free Fit Tech ezine and breaking news alerts
Sign up
Cryotherapy
Lockers
Salt therapy products
Digital
Flooring

features

Editor's letter

Into the fitaverse

Fitness is already among the top three markets in the metaverse, with new technology and partnerships driving real growth and consumer engagement that looks likely to spill over into health clubs, gyms and studios
Ageing

Reverse Ageing

Many apps help people track their health, but Humanity founders Peter Ward and Michael Geer have put the focus on ageing, to help users to see the direct repercussions of their habits. They talk to Steph Eaves
App analysis

Check your form

Sency’s motion analysis technology is allowing users to check their technique as they exercise. Co-founder and CEO Gal Rotman explains how
Fit Tech people

Jamie Buck

Co-founder, Active in Time
We created a solution called AiT Voice, which turns digital data into a spoken audio timetable that connects to phone systems
Fit Tech people

Ali Jawad

Paralympic powerlifter and founder, Accessercise
Users can easily identify which facilities in the UK are accessible to the disabled community
App analysis

Going hybrid

Workout Anytime created its app in partnership with Virtuagym. Workout Anytime’s Greg Maurer and Virtuagym’s Hugo Braam explain the process behind its creation
Opinion

Building on the blockchain

For small sports teams looking to compete with giants, blockchain can be a secret weapon explains Lars Rensing, CEO of Protokol
Profile

New reality

Sam Cole, CEO of FitXR, talks to Fit Tech about taking digital workouts to the next level, with an immersive, virtual reality fitness club
Innovation

Bold move

Our results showed a greater than 60 per cent reduction in falls for individuals who actively participated in Bold’s programme
Profile

Sohail Rashid

The app is free and it’s $40 to participate in one of our virtual events
Research

Physical activity monitors boost activity levels

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have conducted a meta analysis of all relevant research and found that the body of evidence shows an impact
Profile

Fahad Alhagbani: reinventing fitness

Alexa can help you book classes, check trainers’ bios and schedules, find out opening times, and a host of other information
More features
FIT TECH News

Armah Sports reveals the first B_fit – a revolutionary smart health club concept using AI, VR, Amazon Alexa and the IoT

By
Armah Sports has launched a new health club concept for the Middle Eastern market
B_fit will operate as a full-service ‘Smart Club’, featuring a range of tech solutions. It's the first health club in the world to utilise Amazon Alexa technology
The first B_fit is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
B_fit is one of three new health club brands being brought to market by Armah – the others are high end Optimo and budget brand Lift

Armah Sports has launched a new health club concept for the Middle Eastern market, which it plans to roll out across the region – and beyond.

The first B_fit club opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this week and will operate as a full-service ‘Smart Club’, featuring a wide range of innovative tech solutions which integrate with a high-end gym offer.

Workout facilities at the 3,750sq m club include a large gym floor, cardio zone, performance cardio zone, personal training hubs, athlete factory area, six exercise studios (catering for functional, spinning, yoga, pilates, HIIT, and boxing).

There's also a 25m pool, indoor running track, a large co-working space, innovation lab, smoothie bar and retail area.

When it comes to tech, B_fit boasts an impressive array of solutions – starting with access to the club, which is implemented through touchless facial recognition.

B_fit will also be the first health club in the world to utilise Amazon Alexa technology in its operations, with members being able to book classes and check trainers’ bios and schedules by talking to Alexa.

Other smart tech solutions include the use of VR and AR which – according to Fahad Alhagbani, CEO of Armah Sports – creates "an integrated and seamless digital member experience".

"Virtual reality experiences are there for members and visitors to try in our Innovation Lab, where we demonstrate the future trends to educate our young Saudi generation about the future and gamification," Alhagbani said.

"We're adopting VR, AR and the Internet of Things as we grow. With the Metaverse on the horizon, there are no limits on how much experience we can create for our members.

"Initial feedback from visitors and members has been fantastic – comments such as 'out of this world', 'unlike anything else in Saudi', 'next level club', 'new standard of the industry' and 'a club from space' are common.

"Similar early feedback has been received from our peers and suppliers from around the world, with people commenting that B_FIT can not only compete with some of the best fitness club designs in the world, but also that it sets a new standard for club design and features.

'We're proud to present our B_fit model as a smart club to the world, a place that represents our knowledge, creativity, passion, dreams, research, ambition and teamwork.

"Our mission is to make Saudi a hub for innovation in the region for the fitness industry – we believe the days of the traditional fitness club are gone, it’s time for the new generation of fitness clubs, the clubs of the future."

B_fit is one of three health club concepts and brands being developed by Alhagbani and the team at Armah Sports. The others are luxury brand Optimo and budget offering Lift.

Alhagbani added that the company plans to open 11 B_fit smart clubs and three Optimo clubs in the next 18 months.

To read an exclusive interview with Fahad Alhagbani on Armah Sports' plans, click here for HCM Issue 10/2020.

More fit tech news
Egym, has signalled its intention to become a dominant force in the corporate wellness sector with the acquisition of UK-based ...
news • 27 Mar 2024
Egym, which raised €207 million last year in new investment, continues to build its top team with the appointment of ...
news • 21 Mar 2024
The UK government acknowledged in its recent budget that economic recovery depends on the health of the nation, but failed ...
news • 11 Mar 2024
Technogym is launching Checkup, an assessment station which uses AI to personalise training programmes in order to create more effective ...
news • 06 Mar 2024
Fitness On Demand (FOD) has teamed up with Les Mills, to offer an omnichannel fitness solution to operators. Fitness on ...
news • 04 Mar 2024
Samsung has unveiled a smart ring, packed with innovative technologies to aid health and wellbeing, which will be available later ...
news • 29 Feb 2024
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the ...
More HCM news
The ICO has ruled that eight leisure operators have been unlawfully processing the biometric data of their employees to be ...
news • 23 Feb 2024
More consumers are realising meditation is beneficial, but many give up because it’s difficult to master the mind. The Muse ...
news • 21 Feb 2024
Newcomer to the market, Lunar Health Clubs, is gearing up to open its first high-end club this April, in Marlow ...
news • 19 Feb 2024
University of Washington researchers have created a wireless wearable in the form of a thermal earring that continuously monitors a ...
news • 16 Feb 2024
Zumba, and virtual reality workout platform, FitXR, have joined forces to offer mixed-reality versions of Zumba's dance routines. The partnership ...
news • 13 Feb 2024
Triathlon legends, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, have launched a free conversational AI tool to share their vast training knowledge with ...
news • 07 Feb 2024
According to McKinsey’s latest report, The trends defining the US$1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024, the market for wellness ...
news • 24 Jan 2024
One of the most famous bodybuilders of all time – turned Hollywood actor – turned Californian governor – Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...
news • 23 Jan 2024
Egym has signalled its intention to become a major global player in the health club equipment space, signing up former ...
news • 19 Jan 2024
With pressure on medical services at an all time high, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is calling for ...
news • 17 Jan 2024
Sennheiser has teamed up with Polar Electro for the launch of its Momentum Sport earbuds which deliver Polar’s bio-sensing capabilities ...
news • 09 Jan 2024
The fitness industry is gearing up to engage with the medical profession according to the results of the American College ...
news • 05 Jan 2024
TikTok, has launched into the fitness market with a new hub called #TikTokFitness and a supporting consumer marketing push. The ...
news • 05 Jan 2024
Les Mills has released Les Mills XR Dance for the Meta Quest 3 headset. The release is the company's second ...
news • 20 Dec 2023
Equinox has appointed a Health Advisory Board of medical experts and academics to 'define new frontiers in the science of ...
news • 15 Dec 2023
Horizon Leisure is upgrading and investing in its new shopping-centre health hub – The Wellbeing Hub in Havant, UK – ...
news • 15 Dec 2023
Google has just released Gemini, a new multimodal AI which is being billed as a "ChatGPT Killer". Unlike ChatGPT, it ...
news • 06 Dec 2023
Survivalist, Bear Grylls has partnered with four mental health heavyweights and former TV producer, Neil Smith, to create an app ...
news • 06 Dec 2023
Sport Alliance has named Erwin Korst vice president sales international. The appointment comes as the company announces US$100m of new ...
news • 04 Dec 2023
Training provider, The Fitness Group, has teamed up with personal training app, My PT Hub, to make it easier for ...
news • 19 Nov 2023
The Maybourne Hotel Group – manager of iconic global hotels including Claridges, The Berkeley and The Connaught – has partnered ...
news • 17 Nov 2023
Timbaland, Platinum Grammy Award-winning producer, who's worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Drake ...
news • 15 Nov 2023
Connected fitness equipment supplier, Echelon Fitness, has signed a multi-year deal with Run Disney, the road race division of Disney ...
news • 14 Nov 2023
The first ever Siro hotel, marketed as the "ultimate fitness and recovery hotel", is now accepting reservations. Set to open ...
news • 09 Nov 2023
More fit tech news