Wellness and fitness have become a significant part of daily life in Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030’s focus on quality of life, preventive healthcare, and community involvement has helped a new wave of wellness and fitness influencers emerge across the country.
Certified trainers, sports coaches, nutritionists, and lifestyle advocates use Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube to reach and inspire people. They discuss topics such as women’s fitness spaces, modest workout clothing, home workouts, and family health, making global health trends easier to understand in a local context. Their posts often blend science with personal stories, helping people connect expert advice to daily life.
As gyms expand and marathons and community sports initiatives grow in popularity—one of them being the Riyadh Marathon—wellness influencers play an important role in shaping public perception around healthy living. A few well-known organisations include SFA (Saudi Sports for All Federation), Race Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), and the Saudi Cycling Federation.
These organisations and federations operate under the Ministry of Sports (MoS). Athletes and trainers associated with them work not only as motivators but also as educators and role models, supporting a broader cultural transformation in which strength and self-care are increasingly celebrated across Saudi society.
One such personality was kind enough to share her thoughts on fitness and wellness in Saudi Arabia. Amal Adnan Al-Fatta is a Life Coach and Fitness Trainer at Misk School, Riyadh. She is also a Trainer and Presenter at Les Mills Middle East.
In your opinion, how has the health and fitness culture in KSA changed in recent years?
Saudi Arabia’s fitness culture has shifted from optional to intentional. Movement is increasingly seen as a pillar of wellbeing, longevity, and quality of life, driven by Vision 2030, greater accessibility, and strong social acceptance across genders and generations.
What do you think is the biggest health challenge people in Saudi Arabia face today?
From my perspective as a clinical psychologist, one of the most underestimated challenges is sleep. Many people are simply not getting enough quality sleep, especially earlier at night, and this quietly affects everything—energy, mood, weight, focus, and even emotional balance. When this is combined with the daily stress of traffic and the fast rhythm of modern life, it creates constant pressure on both the body and the mind. Small lifestyle shifts, particularly around sleep and recovery, can make a profound difference in overall wellbeing.
As a fitness influencer, what responsibility do you feel when sharing health advice online?
As a fitness influencer, and based on my professional experience working closely with individuals, I deeply understand how advice can affect not just the body but also mindset and self-confidence. This is why I am committed to sharing guidance that is safe, realistic, and evidence-based, while promoting balance, self-awareness, and sustainable habits rather than unrealistic expectations.
What is one simple, realistic wellness habit you believe most people in Saudi Arabia should adopt?
I will not pretend it is complicated: walk 40 minutes a day and sleep by 9:30 pm on weekdays—because most “health problems” begin to fade the moment we stop sitting all day and arguing with bedtime.
In one sentence, what does “true wellness” mean to you?
It is the ability to live with a peaceful mind, move the body with intention, nourish it with clean food, and restore it through quality sleep.
Influencers and motivators inspire the general audience to actively work on themselves. They promote all-encompassing wellbeing across society. In this digital era, many people prefer saving workout and diet videos to watch later, which has made good health guidance more accessible to various sections of society. Here are a few individuals whose pages you could explore for fitness tips and much-needed motivation:
Khadejah Al Momin, CrossFit enthusiast & gold medallist (Saudi Weightlifting, 2021)
Coach Haila, BodyCombat instructor
Nat Bristowe, Mindset coach & co-founder of Flex & Flow Reformer
Ahmed Samy, Certified personal trainer and nutrition influencer
As Saudi Arabia continues investing in quality-of-life programs, these influencers will likely have an even greater impact on promoting healthy lifestyles and community involvement. When they share credible, responsible, and evidence-based information, their platforms become powerful tools for education and empowerment. The rise of wellness influencers shows that Saudi society is not just accepting change, but actively redefining what it means to live well.
