 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fitness |
| Founded | 2018 [1] |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 20 |
Area served | United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia |
| Website | www |
GymNation is a chain of fitness centers based in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. [3] [4]
GymNation was established by Loren Holland, Frank Afeaki, and Ant Martland, [2] with the first GymNation gym opening in June 2018 in Al Quoz, Dubai. [5] [6]
In 2019, the company opened two gyms in Bur Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. [7] In addition to 4 other gyms that opened in 2020, in Mirdif, Dubai Motor City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi. [8]
As of April 2024, GymNation has 12 gyms in the United Arab Emirates, with another five planned for the nation in 2024, along with multiple locations throughout Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. [9]
From March to late May 2020, all GymNation gyms were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. [10] By mid-2021, GymNation had become one of the largest chains of fitness centers in the United Arab Emirates. [11]
In May 2021, GymNation signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation and became the sponsor of the United Arab Emirates National Rugby Union Team. [12] In October 2021, Amir Khan, the British boxing champ, launched his first boxing academy in the Middle East in partnership with GymNation. [13]
In August 2024, GymNation launched in Saudi Arabia, selling out its initial 12,000 memberships in less than 72 hours and setting a new pre-opening sales record for a gym brand in the Middle East. [14] In the same month, GymNation acquired its Motor City site in the Control Tower, along with the floor above that houses Fitness First’s Motor City branch from National Properties of National Bonds Corporation for a reported AED 70 million that is considered one of the largest investments in the UAE fitness industry. [15]
As of October 2024, GymNation is considered the largest gym chain in the UAE and fastest-growing fitness brand in Saudi Arabia. [16] with a total of 20 sites, 14 in the UAE and 6 in Saudi Arabia. [16]
In February 2022, JD Sports Gyms, part of the FTSE 100-listed group JD Sports, announced an investment into GymNation in its bid to expand within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. [17] [18] [19] [20] In November 2023, GymNation announced a management buyout of all equity held by previous investor JD Sports. [21] [22] This deal, backed by Tricap Investments and Ruya Partners, made GymNation's founders and management team, Loren Holland, Frank Afeaki, and Anthony Martland, significant majority shareholders in the business. [23]