Athlete in motion at Performance First, Baabda — science-applied training environment
About Us

Lebanon's pioneer
performance club.

Founded in 2008. A 3,000m² home for science-based training, recovery and rehabilitation — built around one principle: measure first, then train.

Our story

An integrated home
for performance.

Performance First opened in 2008 as Lebanon's first integrated health and performance club — built to bring the standards of high-level sport into a space anyone could train in. A 3,000m² facility across two floors, with strength, cardio, classes, indoor and outdoor pools, recovery, EMS and on-site physiotherapy.

The idea was simple: train people the way you'd train an athlete — assess, program, measure, recover. That principle still runs the floor today, scaled from first-time members to the national teams that prepare with us between competitions.

Over the years, PF has grown into a wider ecosystem alongside the Sports Academy School (SAS) — Lebanon's first technical sports school — and the Continuous Education Center (CCE), now also established in Dubai. Together, they form one connected platform for performance, education and professional development across the region.

Vision

A regional hub for performance.

To be the leading regional hub for integrated sports performance, rehabilitation and health — empowering athletes and individuals to reach their peak potential.

Mission

Science, delivered well.

To deliver science-based training, innovative recovery solutions and holistic wellness programs in state-of-the-art facilities — serving both elite athletes and the wider community.

Values

Five things we don't trade.

Science-driven excellence, delivered with integrity, innovation, inclusivity and holistic, outcome-focused care.

Founders

The people
behind the club.

Performance First was founded by a team of educators, scientists and coaches whose work spans Olympic sport, sport-science academia and national-team performance.

Founder

Dr. Zeina Mina

Olympian (Los Angeles 1984) · PhD, Sport Sciences

A former Olympic athlete and PhD holder in Sport Sciences, Zeina Mina has dedicated her career to advancing sports education and high-performance sport. She has served as Ministerial Advisor (2006–2008), Director of the Games of La Francophonie held in Beirut in 2009, Dean of the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Antonine University (2009–2019), and Director of the International Committee of the Games of La Francophonie — a subsidiary body of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (2019–2025).

A visionary entrepreneur, she founded a unique ecosystem in Lebanon: Performance First, the Sports Academy School (SAS) and the Continuous Education Center (CCE), now also established in Dubai. She is also the founder of the NGO Lebanese Young Talent (LYT), dedicated to youth integration through sport. Convinced that sport is a powerful lever for education, social cohesion and diplomacy, she works to expand this model across the MENA region and the Francophonie.

Co-Founder

Dr. Georges Assaf

PhD, Sports Physiology · Olympic Coach (Track & Field)

Sports physiologist and high-performance coach who has collaborated with numerous elite athletes and professional teams across the Arab world, including several national squads in football and basketball. He currently serves as an Olympic Coach for track-and-field athletes, guiding competitors through evidence-based preparation, competition peaking and injury-risk management.

Dr. Assaf holds a Doctorate in Sports Physiology from the University of Kinesiology in Zagreb. His work bridges science and practice — integrating physiological testing, individualized training prescriptions and recovery strategies to help athletes reach international podium standards.

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Joe Naimeh

MSc International Business Economics, City University London

Co-Founder of Performance First and the Sports Academy School (SAS). With a Master's in International Business Economics from City University London and a DUEPP from Université de Lyon, he combines academic expertise with entrepreneurial leadership to advance sports education in the region.

Under his direction, PF and SAS have expanded their scope through new accreditations, innovative programs and strategic partnerships — focused on driving innovation and regional expansion across MENA.

The ecosystem

More than a gym.

Performance First sits inside a wider sports-education family — four entities, one shared methodology.

Performance FirstPerformance, fitness & rehabilitation · Baabda
Sports Academy SchoolLebanon's first technical sports school · Hadath
Continuous Education CenterProfessional sport & wellness certification · Beirut + Dubai
Lebanese Young TalentNGO — youth integration through sport
Where we are

Hadath, Baabda
· Lebanon.

Performance First is located in the parking building of Antonine University, in Hadath, Baabda — a short drive from Beirut. Easy access, on-site parking, and a 3,000m² facility across two floors waiting on the other side of the door.

Visit & contact

Want to see the floor?

Free tour, free body-comp scan, no sales pressure.

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