News

Apple Fitness+ To Launch In UAE On November 3

To get the most out of the Fitness+ experience, it’s necessary to have iOS 15.1 because the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system enables a feature called SharePlay.

Published

5 years ago

October 28, 2021

David Morelo

apple fitness+ to launch in uae on november 3

Apple has announced that its on-demand fitness subscription service, Apple Fitness+, is coming to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries on November 3.

Fitness+ was first announced during the company’s September 2020 Special Event, and it launched the same year in December. The service revolves around the Apple Watch, which is used to gather real-time workout data that are overlayed on top of guided workout videos spanning many different activities, including strength training, yoga, dancing, cycling, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and others.

“We created Fitness+ so everyone would have a place they feel inspired and motivated, no matter where they are on their fitness journey,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies. “We are so excited to be available to millions more people as we bring Fitness+ to 15 new countries next week, and can’t wait for them to meet our welcoming trainer team”.

Apple

Here’s a full list of the countries where Apple Fitness+ will launch on November 3: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. In all these countries, the service will be available in English, with subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.

To join a virtual workout session, you’ll require three things:

Apple Watch Series 3 or later
iPhone 6s or later
Apple Fitness+ subscription

Two subscription options are available: a monthly subscription that costs AED 36.99 per month and an annual subscription that costs AED 149.99 per year. Fitness+ is also included in the Apple One Premier plan, which costs AED 84.95 per month for up to six family members and also includes access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and iCloud+ with 2 TB of storage.

Also Read: Facebook Will Create 10,000 Jobs To Build Its Metaverse

To get the most out of the Fitness+ experience, it’s necessary to have iOS 15.1 because the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system enables a feature called SharePlay. With it, up to 32 friends and family members can work out together using FaceTime to keep one another motivated.

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News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.