Inside GymNation Riyadh — the “biggest and best” facility the group has launched to date
GymNation has planted another major flag in Saudi Arabian soil with the launch of its “best” facility yet.
Armed with aggressive expansion plans, the People’s Gym has its sights firmly set on dominating the Kingdom’s flourishing fitness scene.
With the opening of GymNation Riyadh — the group’s largest training hub to date — that ambition looks less like a pipe dream and more like a certainty.
Located in Riyadh’s Qurtubah district, the Men’s and Ladies’ site marks the group’s 22nd gym across the Middle East.
Eight of those are now situated in Saudi Arabia, though GymNation Riyadh is the first to grace the Kingdom’s capital. The others can be found in Al Khobar and Jeddah.
GymNation is, without doubt, the fastest-growing fitness brand in Saudi Arabia — and it has no intention of slowing down any time soon.
A further 13 locations are currently being fitted out for launch later this year, including more gyms in Riyadh, Jeddah, and a debut site in Dammam.
Before we dive into what’s next, let’s take a look at what GymNation Riyadh has to offer.
GymNation Riyadh: The Biggest and Best Yet
GymNation founder and CEO, Loren Holland, has described the Qurtubah gym as the group’s biggest and best product to date.
That’s high praise, considering the roster of stunning facilities already dotted across the UAE.
Situated on Thumamah Road, GymNation Riyadh is packed with equipment, studios, and spaces to suit all training styles and fitness appetites.
There are over 500 pieces of top-spec cardio and strength equipment, plus free weights stretching up to 60kg.
First-look images reveal rows upon rows of dumbbells, squat racks, Olympic lifting platforms, treadmills and more — all gleaming under the gym lights.
Bespoke zones have been created for some of the hottest trends in fitness right now, including HYROX and Reformer Pilates.
As always with GymNation, the all-encompassing offering includes a full schedule of group classes, from Les Mills to yoga.
There’s even a nod to Saudi Arabia’s architectural heritage in parts of the design, adding a unique local feel to GymNation’s trademark community-focused approach.
Vision 2030: A More Active Saudi Arabia
With a population of over 35 million and low fitness penetration, the Saudi market offers huge potential for GymNation to further strengthen its grip on the Middle East.
The brand’s affordable pricing model — matched with high-quality facilities — has already proven a hit in a region where membership fees are often sky-high.
That accessibility has earned GymNation a warm welcome from the Saudi government, which is working to boost fitness participation as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative.
Speaking at the tail end of last year, CEO Loren Holland said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
GymNation has set its sights on opening over 100 locations across the Gulf Cooperation Council — the alliance encompassing Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
This expansion would see first-time launches in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. And with the debut of GymNation Riyadh, the group has made its intentions crystal clear: it’s not here to take part — it’s here to take over.
Photo Credit: GymNation
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