GymNation

Last updated
GymNation
Company type Private
Industry Fitness
Founded2018 [1]
Founders
  • Loren Holland
  • Frank Afeaki
  • Ant Martland [1] [2]
Headquarters
Dubai
,
United Arab Emirates
Number of locations
34
Area served
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain
Website www.gymnation.com

GymNation is a chain of fitness centers based in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. [3] [4]

Contents

GymNation Downtown Dubai Entrance GymNation Downtown Dubai Entrance.png
GymNation Downtown Dubai Entrance

History

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] By mid-2021, GymNation had become one of the largest chains of fitness centers in the United Arab Emirates. [7] 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. [8]

In August 2024, GymNation launched in Saudi Arabia, selling out its initial 12,000 memberships in less than 72 hours. [9] In the same month, GymNation acquired its Motor City site in the Control Tower for AED 70 million. [10]

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. [11] [12] [13] [14] In November 2023, GymNation announced a management buyout of all equity held by previous investor JD Sports. [15] [16] 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. [15]

In December 2025, GymNation expanded into the Kingdom of Bahrain with the opening of its first gym at Atrium Mall in Saar. Ahead of the official opening, the company reported selling more than 3,000 memberships within the first 24 hours of pre-launch sales. At the time of the Bahrain launch, GymNation operated a total of 34 gyms across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and had reported serving more than 150,000 members. [17]

Gym Facilities

GymNation facilities typically include cardio equipment, free weights, resistance machines, and functional training areas. [3] Some locations include multiple group exercise studios and specialised training zones, including combat training areas. [18]

The company operates gender-segregated facilities at several locations, including separate men’s and women’s gyms in Saudi Arabia and Sharjah. [19] [20] GymNation also operates women-only facilities and/or dedicated ladies-only studios at some sites in the UAE. [21]

Awards and Recognition

GymNation has received several awards and industry recognitions for its workplace culture, brand strength, customer experience, and contribution to the fitness industry in the Middle East.

References

  1. 1 2 Hamdan, Lubna (16 February 2018). "Entrepreneurs of the Week: GymNation's Frank Afeaki and Loren Holland". Arabian Business . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Leaders behind the UAE's most successful gyms, fitness centres, and boutique studios". Gulf News . 30 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 Trazo, Dwynn (19 July 2018). "Staying Fit: Inside GymNation, the UAE's first 24-hour gym". Gulf News . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Pearson, Emma (19 February 2018). "Dubai's largest gym set to open next month". Time Out . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Darragh (11 June 2018). "Dubai's most affordable gym opens". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Gibbon, Gavin (30 May 2021). "How the MENA region's fitness industry has bounced back from Covid-19 to full health". Arabian Business . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Dubai takes an active approach to fitness during the pandemic". Euronews. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "تعاون بين رجبي الإمارات و"جيم نيشن"" [Cooperation between UAE Rugby and "Game Nation"]. Al-Bayan (in Arabic). 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Saudi Arabia embraces fitness: GymNation sees record 12,000 sign-ups in 3 days ahead of KSA openings". Saudigazette. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  10. ↑ "GymNation takes over Fitness First Motor City branch, invests AED70mn - Construction Week Online". 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  11. ↑ Imogen Lillywhite, "UK's JD Gyms acquires UAE's GymNation, eyes GCC expansion". zawya.com. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Britain's JD Sports buys up UAE-based GymNation". gulfnews.com. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  13. ↑ Sambidge, Andrew (16 February 2022). "UK fitness giant inks deal to buy UAE gym start-up brand". arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "JD Sports Fashion "encouraged" by UAE-based GymNation as group-wide profits fall". zawya.com. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  15. 1 2 Arabian Business, "UAE fitness brand GymNation announces major equity buyout". arabianbusiness.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Gulf Business, "GymNation buyout: original founders take back control". gulfbusiness.com. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "GymNation Sees 3,000 Sign-Ups in 24 Hours Ahead of First Bahrain Gym Opening". Fitt Insider. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "GymNation – owned by JD Gyms – opens latest club in Dubai and plans further expansion". Exercise Professionals. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Sweat it out at GymNation – now open in Riyadh". What’s On Saudi Arabia. June 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "GymNation Sharjah Central Opens Its Doors, Marking Fifth and Sixth Locations in Sharjah". Gymfluencers. 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "Ladies Gym in Sharjah - The Best Ones to Choose From". Property Finder. 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "GymNation celebrates double victory at UAE Employee Happiness Awards". Health Club Management. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Revealed: The Arabian Business 100 Most Admired Companies for 2024". Arabian Business. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  24. ↑ "Fast Company names GymNation as a 2025 Brand That Matters". Health Club Management. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
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