Latest news with #sleeptechnology
Arab News
17-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia awakens to a sleep tech boom as Vision 2030 fuels wellness shift
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is poised to emerge as one of the world's most dynamic sleep technology markets, reflecting the rapid expansion of its fitness sector, an expert told Arab News. In 2024, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally for the shortest sleep duration, with most Saudis sleeping only 6 to 7 hours per night, according to Mana Al-Shahrani, a consultant in Sleep Medicine at King Fahad Medical City. This presents a lucrative opening for innovators, as global demand for sleep solutions surges. The global sleep aids market grew from $59.32 billion in 2023 to $64.15 billion in 2024, and it is expected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.98 percent, reaching $89.11 billion by 2030, according to a report by Research and Markets. Now, companies such as Eight Sleep, a US-based firm which provides an intelligent, fully integrated system that personalizes sleep using real-time biometric data, are eyeing Saudi Arabia as a top future market. With Vision 2030 pushing a healthier lifestyle agenda, sleep is set to become the next big wellness frontier. 'We believe Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to become one of the world's most dynamic sleep tech markets and Eight Sleep is investing with that long-term vision in mind,' co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, Matteo Franceschetti, told Arab News. 'Even before our official launch, we already have over 100 Pods in active use and a waitlist of more than 500—a strong signal of organic demand and unmet need,' the CEO added. Saudi Arabia has already demonstrated progress in key quality-of-life indicators, as highlighted in its 2024 Vision 2030 performance report. The Kingdom's World Happiness Index score held steady at 6.6 in 2024 — surpassing both global and Gulf averages — while life expectancy rose to 78.8 years, ranking 11th among G20 nations, underscoring the government's focus on well-being, creating fertile ground for sleep tech innovation. Saudi Arabia as a global sleep tech hub The sleep technology market in Saudi Arabia is expanding rapidly, valued at $117.4 million in 2023 and projected to reach $243.1 million by 2030 — an 11 percent CAGR. The broader Middle East and North Africa smart bed market is expected to hit $87.7 million by 2027, according to Franceschetti. 'We view Saudi Arabia — and the wider GCC — as a strategic priority for Eight Sleep, with the region bearing the potential to become our second-largest market globally after the US,' Franceschetti said. While GCC spending on sleep aids remains modest — $26.42 million in 2025 versus $2.18 billion in the US — growth rates are strong. 'While sleep still lags behind fitness and wearables in terms of total spend, it's following the same adoption curve. Sleep is underpenetrated, but it's not underperforming,' Franceschetti noted, adding: 'As awareness for sleep as the foundation of long-term health, we expect its share of the wellness wallet to expand dramatically.' Will sleep become a national priority? With Vision 2030 promoting wellness, sleep health is gaining attention — but experts say more policy focus is needed. Diet and exercise are prioritized, but sleep's impact on diabetes, heart disease, and neurological disorders is still underrecognized, Vikas Kharbanda, partner at Arthur D. Little told Arab News. 'Increasing diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and even neurological dysfunctions have been linked with sleep-related disorders,' he said, adding: 'While there are some efforts underway through publishing registries and statistics on sleep disorder prevalence, significantly more awareness is needed about these linkages and their negative impacts.' Franceschetti tied sleep to national goals, saying that Vision 2030's focus on quality of life creates fertile ground for sleep tech. 'Saudi Arabia's greatest opportunity to overcome its national sleep deficit lies in embracing personalized sleep environments tailored to individual needs,' he added. Late nights, high stress, and rising demand The CEO further explained that Saudi Arabia has the lowest average sleep score among more than 30 global markets where Eight Sleep is active. 'Saudi users also report the latest bedtime and wake time — typically sleeping from 1am to 9am,' he revealed. The UAE follows closely behind, ranking fourth in sleep deprivation, with users averaging sleep from 12am to 8am. GCC cities dominate global rankings for the least sleep, with Sharjah, Doha, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Dubai claiming the top six spots for lowest total sleep. Sharjah, Jeddah, and Dubai also recorded the world's worst sleep performance scores, the CEO said, citing data from US technology company, WHOOP. Key drivers of the sleepless trend Multiple factors contribute to this trend, said Franceschetti, adding: 'A deeply ingrained late-night culture in the region contributes to disrupted circadian rhythms and reduced recovery.' Cities like Jeddah, Riyadh, and Sharjah — some of the most sleep-deprived globally — also report high stress levels, indicating a strong link between late night schedules and poor health. Temperature is another major challenge, as Saudi Arabia ranks fifth globally for users seeking to cool their sleep environment. Franceschetti noted that 'managing heat during the night is essential for comfort and uninterrupted sleep.' He also highlighted lifestyle and environmental stressors, stating: 'Ambitious lifestyles, demanding work schedules, and extreme weather conditions further affect residents' ability to get sufficient quality sleep.' In the UAE, 40 percent of residents are sleep-deprived, with stress and temperature cited as the top disruptors. Arthur D. Little's Kharbanda expanded on cultural influences: 'Late-night social activities, religious practices, high caffeine consumption, and excessive blue light exposure from devices all contribute — alongside low physical activity levels.' Saudi Arabia is actively working through the Sports for All Federation to increase the percentage of physical activity participation to 40 percent of the Kingdom's population by 2030. The sleep tech revolution, tracking to intervention Kharbanda categorized sleep solutions into three types. The first includes monitoring devices such as wearables and apps. 'These help users understand sleep patterns and are likely to see the highest demand due to affordability and accessibility,' he explained. The second category consists of interventional tools like smart mattresses and sleep monitors. 'These ensure better sleep quality but face higher cost barriers,' he noted. The third type covers medical solutions for severe cases, though adoption depends on health care integration. 'Of these, monitoring and lifestyle management devices will dominate,' Kharbanda predicted. As the Kingdom wakes up to sleep's role in long-term health, the wellness industry is racing to turn this crisis into its next billion-dollar opportunity.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Forbes
Eight Sleep Pod 5 A Adds Hydro-Powered Blanket And Sleep Sounds
One thing we all need, no matter if we're world-class athletes or couch-to-5k runners, is sleep. The pursuit of improving and better understanding sleep has launched a massive industry of hardware and software dedicated to those hours when you're blissfully unconscious. And while trackers, watches, rings, podcasts, masks, blankets, and more all promise better sleep, few of them actually deliver. Eight Sleep is the outlier that's accomplished what it's set out to do. And with the announcement of this year's upgrade, the company is introducing a whole new layer of sleep comfort and tracking (literally). Eight Sleep's Pod 5 is a modular, intelligent sleep system made up of a Cover, Hub, Blanket, and Base. Compatible with all mattresses and bed frames, the system is easily installed. You start by filling the Hub reservoir with water and getting it connected via the Eight Sleep app. The app walks you through the installation process, which only takes about 15 minutes, start to finish (minus the time it takes for the system to prime). The Cover fits over any existing mattress, like a fitted sheet. The Blanket connects to the Cover and can be inserted into most duvet covers. The Base fits on top of existing bed frames or can stand on its own via a leg kit. New buttons replace the Pod 4 tap zones Eight Sleep The Pod 5 system retains all the upgrades of last year's Pod 4: a redesigned tower that's whisper quiet, integrated water filtering, a thinner Cover with a more efficient cooling system, and integration with the motorized Base for automatic adjustments based on snore detection. The Pod 5 Cover does get at least one new trick though. Instead of tap zones (which users found difficult to control accurately), there's now a row of buttons on each side of the Cover to raise and lower the temperature (and the volume of the Base speaker and the Base itself). The Blanket is the newest addition to the Eight Sleep line up and it could be a major game changer. After all, if your room is hot or cold, the surface you're laying on can only do so much to keep your entire body at a comfortable temperature. The Blanket adds another dimension, connecting to the Cover's system and maintaining dual comfort zones on both sides of the body for both sleepers. The Blanket also works with most duvet covers, which is good — I know I'm going to want there to be a few layers of fabric between my cat's claws and the water-filled coils of the Blanket. I fully anticipate this becoming his favorite spot this winter when my wife raises the temperature on her side. The only caveat is that the Blanket attaches to the system at the Base of the bed, so if your duvet cover doesn't open at the bottom, you'll need to get inventive. The Pod 5 Ultra set includes all 4 pieces Eight Sleep The Base still has the same motorized tricks. Installed either between your mattress and bed frame or on its own with optional leg kits, you can raise the head and foot of your mattress for a comfortable sleeping position and it will automatically raise the head of the bed if you or your partner is snoring. But now it has a surround-sound speaker built in through which you can stream white noise, soundscapes, or NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) content from neuroscientist and podcaster Dr. Andrew Huberman. My one worry about the Base was that my cat could get caught if he investigated under the mattress when it was in a raised position. Luckily, the Base has a passive IR sensor that keeps it from operating when it detects heat or movement underneath. It also has safety features built in to detach the motor if it encounters resistance. Dr. Huberman's NSDR protocol is essentially a form of yoga nidra, a practice characterized by deep breathing and body visualization, proven to help lower heart rate and increase relaxation. You enjoy the benefits of deep sleep, relaxing your fight or flight nervous system response, without having to be completely asleep. Like most meditation practices, it can help improve the quality of your sleep as well as reduce stress and anxiety. If starting a new mental health protocol isn't your thing, there's white noise and soothing soundscapes that can stream through the speaker to lull you and your partner to sleep and automatically turn off or stay on throughout the night. But, like sleep positions, you and your sleeping partner will have to agree on what to listen to (or if you want to listen at all). It would be nice if you could stream other content through the speaker but alas, Eight Sleep has confirmed the speaker is compatible only with their app. I have a Headspace membership and swear by its sleepcasts to help me wind down in the evening. I'd love not to have to wear earphones to listen. Eight Sleep is also hopping onboard the health-monitoring bandwagon. While Eight Sleep has been compiling sleep metrics into a Sleep Fitness Score since the beginning, this will be the first time they've taken the biometric data collected and turned that into a picture of your overall wellness. Similar to Whoop or Oura, Health Check uses biometrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate variability, and sleep stages to provide you with a daily health score, all without having to wear a ring, watch, or band. In fact, Eight Sleep claims 99% heart rate accuracy, impressive for a non-wearable. Being able to get insight into how well you've recovered without having to wear hardware to bed is an impressive selling point. The entire system is powered by AI algorithms that work to keep you comfortable and crunch the 6-to-9 hours of biometric data it collects every evening. What's cool is that the Hub isn't just aware of you, it also keeps track of your room temperature, making adjustments automatically as the seasons change. Want all 4? It'll cost more. Eight Sleep Pod 5 is available now only at in the US (except for Alaska,Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other US territories). It's also available in the EU (excluding Cyprus, Greece, and Malta), Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Switzerland. The pricing is where things get sticky. You don't have to buy all four elements of the Pod 5 system. You can get just the Hub and Cover, or add the Blanket, or add the Base. The Core package with just the Hub and Cover on a full bed is $2,849 USD (this is the only package that's available for full beds). You can also rent the Core system starting at $209 a month (which includes an Autopilot subscription). The Plus system with the Hub, Cover, and Blanket starts at $4,099. And the Ultra package that includes the Base starts at $6,099. Then there's the subscriptions—It's $199 if you want to use Autopilot, $299 if you want Autopilot plus an extended warranty, and $399 if you want to add Health Check. Yes, they list these out as 'per month" but they're billed annually, so after the 30 day free trial, you're in for another big bill after dishing out thousands for the hardware. Luckily, there is a trial and if you decide the Pod 5 doesn't work for you, you can return it for free. You also aren't beholden to subscribing to an annual plan if you decide you don't need advanced app features like Autopilot or Health Check. The Pod 5 is the most advanced system that Eight Sleep has released. It's also the most expensive. It's up to you to decide how much a perfect night's sleep is worth.
Sky News
07-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Mattress brand Simba beds down with new Canadian owner
A mattress-maker which raised tens of millions of pounds before being bailed out during the slump in technology company valuations is being sold to a Canadian peer. Sky News has learnt that Simba Sleep, which is chaired by Asda boss Allan Leighton, has struck a deal to be taken over by a trade buyer, thought to be the privately owned group Sleep Country. An agreement about the transaction is understood to have been reached in recent weeks. Previously a listed company, Sleep Country is now owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings, and trades from hundreds of stores across Canada. One source said Simba's new owner would seek to grow its brand outside the UK. The deal - the value of which was unclear on Wednesday - comes after Simba raised huge sums of money to fund its international expansion, before being forced to slash its valuation. At one point the company was promoted by the then Real Madrid footballer Gareth Bale, and had outlined ambitious growth plans for its patented 'sleep technology'. In 2020, it raised $24m in a deal with Cartesian Capital, a private investor. The deal with its new Canadian owner is said to comprise an up-front initial payment, with further payments to be made in the coming years depending upon the performance of the business. Last summer, the Competition and Markets Authority announced that it had secured changes to Simba's online sales practices amid concerns that the company "may have misled customers about price reductions and put unfair pressure on them to make quick purchases".
