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GymNation is a chain of fitness centers based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[3][4]
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fitness |
| Founded | 2018[1] |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 12 |
Area served | United Arab Emirates |
| Website | www |
History edit
GymNation was established by Loren Holland, Frank Afeaki and Ant Martland in 2018.[2] The first GymNation gym opened in June 2018 in Al Quoz, Dubai.[5][6] 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.[7]
From March to late May 2020, all GymNation gyms were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.[8] By mid-2021, GymNation had become one of the largest chains of fitness centers in the United Arab Emirates.[9]
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.[10] Also in 2021, Amir Khan, the British boxing champ, launched his first boxing academy in the Middle East in partnership with GymNation.[11]
Investment edit
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.[12][13][14][15]
In November 2023, GymNation announced a management buyout of all equity held by previous investor JD Sports.[16][17]
References edit
- ^ a b Hamdan, Lubna (16 February 2018). "Entrepreneurs of the Week: GymNation's Frank Afeaki and Loren Holland". Arabian Business. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Leaders behind the UAE's most successful gyms, fitness centres, and boutique studios". Gulf News. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Trazo, Dwynn (19 July 2018). "Staying Fit: Inside GymNation, the UAE's first 24-hour gym". Gulf News. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Pearson, Emma (19 February 2018). "Dubai's largest gym set to open next month". Time Out. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Darragh (11 June 2018). "Dubai's most affordable gym opens". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Welcome to GymNation". gymnation.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Clarke, Kelly; Webster, Nick (28 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Dubai gyms reopen as Covid-19 restrictions ease". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Dubai takes an active approach to fitness during the pandemic". Euronews. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "تعاون بينAmir Khan launches boxing academy in the UAE with GymNation". thenationalnews.com. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Imogen Lillywhite,"UK's JD Gyms acquires UAE's GymNation, eyes GCC expansion". zawya.com. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Britain's JD Sports buys up UAE-based GymNation". gulfnews.com. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "UK fitness giant inks deal to buy UAE gym start-up brand". arabianbusiness.com. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "JD Sports Fashion "encouraged" by UAE-based GymNation as group-wide profits fall". zawya.com. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Arabian Business,"UAE fitness brand GymNation announces major equity buyout". arabianbusiness.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Gulf Business,"GymNation buyout: original founders take back control". gulfbusiness.com. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.