Following the rising popularity of fitness trackers and smart watches which monitor the pulse as well as oxygen level for measuring personal health in the post-pandemic world, the demand for platforms that facilitate a healthy lifestyle has also surged. When gyms were locked up due to social distancing norms, people stuck indoors turned to online channels for guidance on exercising at home, hence opening doors for apps that connected users to instructors or relayed knowhow on personal wellbeing.

Being a highly connected ecosystem which relied heavily on telemedicine and health-tech solutions to thwart a major outbreak, UAE has also become home to a large number of people going digital to stay in shape during the new normal. This zeal for embracing technology and enhancing personal health, has finally prompted Apple to launch its Fitness+ experience in the Emirates, for users who can access this feature through their smart watches, as well as devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Equipped to provide studio-level workouts and meditation sessions in the comfort of the living room or any outdoor location, the solution designed for the Apple watch is now available in 21 countries, including UAE' s neighbour Saudi Arabia. Preferred workout metrics like the pulse, speed or stamina, are transferred to other devices from the smart watch by Apple Fitness+, in order to create a personalised routine for users wherever they are.

Countdowns pop up to motivate a user for finishing an activity, and the system also starts a celebration on the screen when they pull it off. Other than that, tracks that motivate an individual are added to the mix, for creating an immersive fitness experience, when visits to the gym are being replaced by remote workouts.

A team of charismatic trainers who can also answer questions on personal wellbeing, has been roped in to provide effective guidance for fitness enthusiasts in the UAE and other countries. The app is currently available in English, with subtitles in French and German, among other languages.