GymNation, the fastest-growing fitness brand in Saudi Arabia, has announced plans to accelerate expansion following the opening of its 20th gym in the Middle East, including the launch of its first six locations in Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on GymNation’s rapid growth and successful entry into the Saudi Arabian market, Loren Holland, GymNation founder and CEO, said: “We’ve opened 10 gyms this year, six of which are in Saudi Arabia — all on time, on budget, and exceeding membership expectations. We’ve received a very warm welcome and found Saudi Arabia to be a highly business-friendly environment, facilitated by ongoing support from the Ministry of Investment, who have been instrumental in GymNation’s expansion into the Kingdom.” 

With a government-led push to increase fitness participation, GymNation is already helping to break down the affordability barrier and making fitness more accessible and welcoming for everyone across the Kingdom, aligning perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of creating a healthier, more active society.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time, and GymNation wants to be at the forefront of driving these initiatives as the region’s ‘movement partner.’ We are excited to continue championing healthy and active lifestyles and supporting the communities we serve to become better versions of themselves, no matter what their fitness goals,” added Holland.

GymNation’s affordable pricing model, combined with their high-quality facilities and community-focused approach, has proven to be a big hit, already attracting over 25,000 members in Saudi Arabia, with 44 percent being first-time gym users. Interestingly, GymNation has also seen the demand from females outstrip males. 

“We’ve seen particularly strong demand from Saudi women, where female membership numbers have outpaced those of men. Our uniform pricing across genders has resonated strongly with a market where female-only gyms are often priced significantly higher than their male counterparts,” Holland said.

In addition to their physical expansion plans, GymNation, already widely recognized as the leading leisure operator in its adoption of AI technology, is planning to further scale its investment into technology, automation and AI to further streamline processes, personalize member experiences and improve member retention. 

With a population of over 35 million and fitness penetration currently at around 5-7 percent, the Saudi market opportunity is huge, with projections suggesting the fitness market will double in the next 3-5 years.

GymNation has huge ambitions for the next 12 months. “The GCC market is growing at 15-20 percent a year and we have invested in our company infrastructure to grow at pace and capitalize on what we feel is a generational opportunity,” Holland added.

The company plans to open 20-30 new gyms within the next 12 months, including its first locations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. With ambitions to grow to over 100 locations across the GCC, GymNation is well-positioned to lead the region’s rapidly growing fitness industry.