GymNation

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GymNation
Company typePrivate
IndustryFitness
Founded2018[1]
Founders
  • Loren Holland
  • Frank Afeaki
  • Ant Martland[1][2]
Headquarters
Dubai
,
United Arab Emirates
Number of locations
20
Area served
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia
Websitewww.gymnation.com

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

GymNation Downtown Dubai Entrance

History

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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]

From March to late May 2020, all GymNation gyms were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.[7] By mid-2021, GymNation had become one of the largest chains of fitness centers in the United Arab Emirates.[8]

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.[9] In October 2021, Amir Khan, a British boxer, launched his first boxing academy in the Middle East in partnership with GymNation.[10]

In August 2024, GymNation launched in Saudi Arabia, selling out its initial 12,000 memberships in less than 72 hours.[11] In the same month, GymNation acquired its Motor City site in the Control Tower for AED 70 million.[12]

As of March 2025, GymNation has a total of 20 sites, 14 in the UAE and 6 in Saudi Arabia[13] and at least 20 more planned to open across the GCC in 2025.[14]

Investment

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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.[15][16][17][18] In November 2023, GymNation announced a management buyout of all equity held by previous investor JD Sports.[19][20] 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.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hamdan, Lubna (16 February 2018). "Entrepreneurs of the Week: GymNation's Frank Afeaki and Loren Holland". Arabian Business. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Leaders behind the UAE's most successful gyms, fitness centres, and boutique studios". Gulf News. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  3. ^ 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. ^ Clarke, Kelly; Webster, Nick (28 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Dubai gyms reopen as Covid-19 restrictions ease". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Dubai takes an active approach to fitness during the pandemic". Euronews. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "تعاون بينAmir Khan launches boxing academy in the UAE with GymNation". thenationalnews.com. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "GymNation takes over Fitness First Motor City branch, invests AED70mn - Construction Week Online". 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  13. ^ "GymNation eyes rapid regional expansion following opening of 20th location". Arab News. 2024-10-27. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  14. ^ "Gymnation sells record-breaking 5,000 memberships within 24 hours of riyadh launch | Press Release". www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  15. ^ Imogen Lillywhite,"UK's JD Gyms acquires UAE's GymNation, eyes GCC expansion". zawya.com. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Britain's JD Sports buys up UAE-based GymNation". gulfnews.com. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  17. ^ "UK fitness giant inks deal to buy UAE gym start-up brand". arabianbusiness.com. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  18. ^ "JD Sports Fashion "encouraged" by UAE-based GymNation as group-wide profits fall". zawya.com. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  19. ^ Arabian Business,"UAE fitness brand GymNation announces major equity buyout". arabianbusiness.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  20. ^ Gulf Business,"GymNation buyout: original founders take back control". gulfbusiness.com. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  21. ^ "UAE fitness brand GymNation announces major equity buyout - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". www.arabianbusiness.com. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
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