Xponential Fitness has entered the Saudi Arabian gym market with the launch of five boutique studios in capital city Riyadh.

Each new studio will be operated under a different brand and the openings are part of a master franchise agreement signed with Ezdihar Sports in 2019, which will see more than 50 studios open across the country over the next few years.

The five studios – one each of Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, YogaSix, and AKT – will be housed inside a newly opened, full-service EVOX Club, which has separate facilities for both men and women

The EVOX Club for Women was created to serve the growing population of women seeking fitness options, following recent reforms in the country, and features studios for all five Xponential Fitness concepts.

The EVOX Club for Men features the CycleBar brand.

"These openings are not only a huge step forward for Xponential Fitness and its brands, but a cultural milestone in Saudi Arabia as we introduce its citizens to the exhilarating world of boutique fitness," said John Kersh, chief international development officer for Xponential Fitness.

"Notably, Xponential Fitness is excited to bring the benefits of boutique fitness to the women of Saudi Arabia, who are now able to pursue and embrace a lifestyle of health and wellness, which is a new development.

"We expect this will be one of hundreds more successful international openings for our brands."

Founded in 2017 by Anthony Geisler, Xponential Fitness currently operates eight franchised, boutique fitness brands – Club Pilates, CycleBar, StretchLab, Row House, AKT, YogaSix, Pure Barre and Stride.

Xponential is in the midst of an ambitious global expansion push, which began with the signing of a large-scale deal to open 165 Club Pilates studios in Japan. Since then, the group has signed deals to open studios in 11 countries, including Germany, Australia, South Korea, and Austria.

Ezdihar Sports – the master franchiser for Saudi Arabia – is one of the portfolio businesses of experienced industry leaders, the Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Company.

The Alhokair company is publicly traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange and operates in a range of industries including cinemas, food and beverage, construction and fashion retail.