Nine out of 10 residents in the UAE and Saudi Arabia aim to improve their health, but more than half do not join a gymnasium because of high membership cost and ‘Gymtimidation’.
These were some of the key findings in the ‘UAE & KSA Health & Fitness Report 2025’, commissioned by GymNation, UAE’s homegrown fitness brand. The study took an in-depth look at fitness habits, behaviours and attitudes in the two countries.
The report said 92 per cent of respondents said that becoming healthier is a major aspiration for 2025, a number that is far higher than in the UK (76 per cent) and the USA (75 per cent).
It also pointed out the cost of gym memberships as the leading barrier to fitness accessibility, with over half of respondents in both countries citing affordability as one of the main reasons for avoiding new gym memberships or cancelling their existing ones.
‘Gymtimidation’ was another factor, with nearly half of all respondents reporting some form of intimidation at the gym. The feeling is more common among women, with 50 per cent of female respondents reporting it, compared to 42 per cent of male respondents. This could be attributed to the fact that both UAE and KSA have large numbers of gym newbies.
The majority (82 per cent) of UAE and KSA respondents described themselves as at least somewhat active, with over three-quarters (79 per cent) working out twice a week or more. A high 92 per cent place high importance on mental well-being, viewing exercise as crucial for stress reduction and overall health improvement.
More than half of the respondents in the UAE (51 per cent) and 43 per cent of participants in Saudi Arabia claimed to have increased their spend on fitness in the last 12 months, which is nearly double of the UK’s 24 per cent.
Karl Foster, CTO of GymNation, commented: “We conducted this research to show our commitment to empowering our communities to strive for healthier, more fulfilling lives. The findings show the region’s remarkable progress towards building healthier populations, as well as the need for more affordable, more inclusive and beginner-friendly gym experiences.
“We want to play a leading role in improving the health and well-being for the people in the region, democratising health and fitness by making going to the gym less intimidating, more affordable, more accessible and fun for everyone. It is clear our region is taking health and fitness seriously with commitments to healthier lifestyles and gym memberships increasing every year.”
The report added that gym penetration rates in the region were experiencing the fastest growth in the world, with KSA leading at 16.8 per cent (CAGR 2020-2023) and the UAE at 5.8 per cent.
It highlights the significant progress achieved and the impact that initiatives led by the governments have had on promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing fitness penetration across the region. Yet, it also makes clear that there is still work to be done to sustain and accelerate industry growth as barriers around supply and time constraints, creating more welcoming and inclusive gym experiences and, most importantly, affordability need to be addressed.
Loren Holland, Founder and CEO of GymNation, added: “Dubai and Riyadh remain as the third and fifth most expensive cities in the world for gym memberships – a reality that needs to change.
“GymNation continues to tackle a lack of affordability head-on. By offering memberships at over half the price of competitors and providing flexible, pay-monthly options, we are making fitness more accessible than ever before.”
In the last 12 months, GymNation has opened 10 new gyms, including six in Saudi Arabia. It plans to open at least 20 more gyms this year. Total membership has crossed 110,000 members.
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