GymNation, which was acquired by JD Gyms in 2022, has opened its latest health club in Dubai, bringing the number of sites in its UAE portfolio to 11.

GymNation Downtown Dubai features more than 500 pieces of Matrix and Eleiko equipment across a 40,000sq ft space.

There are also three group exercise studios, featuring programming from Les Mills and a dedicated combat zone and classes.

GymNation has ambitious expansion plans, which will see it opening sites in Saudi Arabia.

It has also hinted at openings in Qatar and Bahrain.

Gymnation currently has six clubs in Dubai, two each in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and a single site in Ras al Khaimah.

Future plans for the UAE include a club in Al Ain.

In Saudi Arabia, GymNation has confirmed plans for six clubs – in Al Khobar, Dammam, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina and Riyadh.

GymNation is operated by a team of entrepreneurs, led by founder and CEO, Loren Holland.

The concept is based on affordability, in a region where gym memberships have traditionally been seen as expensive.

Speaking to HCM, Holland said: "We’re far lower in price than other operators – a third to a quarter of average gym membership fees – but we compensate with huge volumes.

"Our clubs are typically over 30,000sq ft: our flagship – the first club we opened, on Sheikh Zayed Road – was 40,000sq ft.

"We can therefore get to 10,000+ members in each of our clubs. And we get there quickly. We opened Sheikh Zayed Road with 5,000 members on day one, and matured that to 10,000 members within the first year."

JD Sports Gyms Ltd (JD Gyms) – the low-cost operator in the UK market – acquired GymNation in early 2022 from Select Group. JD Sports Gyms Ltd is part of FTSE 100 listed entity JD Sports Fashion PLC and is helmed by Alun Peacock.

JD Gyms bought Xercise4Less out of administration in 2020 – Holland had invested in Xercise4Less in a previous life as an investment banker.

• Click here to read a full interview with the GymNation team in HCM.