press release: GymNation
Gold company profile | GymNation
PRESS RELEASE
GymNation celebrates double victory at UAE Employee Happiness Awards
14 Jun 2024
/ GymNation
The company secured double award honours:
• Best Company to Work For – SME.
• The Rise to Success Award for UAE Country Director - William Rasmussen-Dean.
Six years ago, Rasmussen-Dean walked into an interview for a sales executive position, completely new to the industry (and wearing a dodgy three-piece suit!).
Today, he is the country director for the UAE’s largest gym chain, overseeing 12 open locations (with three more coming soon), serving more than 75,000 members, and leading a team of approximately 500 GymNation professionals, reflecting his ongoing leadership capabilities and dedication.
Loren Holland, CEO of GymNation, praised Rasmussen-Dean's achievements:
"There's no more deserving winner of this year's 'Rise to Success Award' than our very own William. I knew he was cut from a different cloth when he worked an entire Dubai summer out of a Sheikh Zayed Road shipping container, with no AC, to deliver a 5,000-member pre-sell for a non-existent start-up gym brand.
“William’s rise since those start-up days, from our first sales agent to now being our country director, has mirrored that of GymNation's growth and he's played an integral part in building GymNation into the business and brand it is today.
“As well as William's individual Rise to Success Award, GymNation also collected the award for 'Best SME Company to Work For' on the night. Having a great culture and investing in our team is central to our company ethos, and it was fantastic to see this recognised by the Employee Happiness Awards- UAE.
“I’d like to give a huge shout-out to every member of the incredible GymNation team and the unstoppable culture we’ve all built together. These awards are for all of you to share!”
More press releases and updates from GymNation:
Passengers flying out of Riyadh this week have been treated to an extraordinary sight from
the skies after GymNation unveiled a giant desert sand mural supporting the Saudi Arabia
National Football Team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the United States.
From Riyadh to Saar to Dubai - GymNation is making sure the Middle East has somewhere to
train, compete and progress in Hyrox, despite no confirmed Hyrox races on the calendar.
GymNation, the region’s fastest-growing fitness brand, has announced the launch of a bold
new global creative competition, inviting agencies, freelancers, studios, and its own member
community to design the brand’s next national billboard campaign.
In a city where delivery bikes are as common as sunshine, GymNation has done something nobody
saw coming.
Last week, GymNation announced what it called the world's first protein shisha bar - a
tobacco-free, nicotine-free vapor concept delivering up to 25g of 'aroma-activated protein'
per session.
GymNation: news from HCMmag.com and FitTechGlobal.com
In celebration of World Mental Health Day 2025 today (10 October) Gymnation is removing its
weights from the gym floor across the UAE and KSA.
Fitness participation rates in the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom Saudi Arabia are growing
faster than anywhere else in the world, but the key barriers of cost and gymtimidation persist,
according to the UAE & KSA Health & Fitness Report 2025, undertaken by operator, GymNation.
GymNation: featured in HCM and Fit Tech magazines
Research: Gulf growth
Gymnation’s 2026 report found a strong appetite to improve physical and mental health in the Gulf region, and a call for beginner programmes and offerings targeted at women
Sponsored: Orbit4
Orbit4 and GymNation have partnered to drive tech innovation
into the heart of the businesses, transforming operations
Sponsored: Gymnation – Active Nations
The fitness market in the Middle East is thriving, with the low-cost sector set to gain greater traction over the next few years. GymNation’s recent report uncovers the changing consumer factors fuelling this growth
Sponsored: Perfect Gym – strong foundations
GymNation is pioneering the future of
fitness with software specialist Perfect
Gym providing a scalable tech platform
to power and sustain its growth
Loren Holland: founder and CEO
GymNation video gallery:
Key personnel
Loren Holland: founder and CEO
Frank Afeaki: founder and COO
Ant Martland, founder and CCO
William Rasmussen-Dean, country director
Ishan Patil, head of finance
Ian Mullane, board member
Frank Afeaki: founder and COO
Ant Martland, founder and CCO
William Rasmussen-Dean, country director
Ishan Patil, head of finance
Ian Mullane, board member
Key customers
GymNation is a community to support
everyone, to celebrate and inspire
each other to become better versions
of themselves, by living happier,
healthier and more active lives.
Plans for the next 12 months
Today, GymNation stands at 36 locations across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with over 150,000 members.
In 2026, GymNation plans to open another 20-30 locations across the GCC, and with many more in the pipeline our aim is to become the largest gym chain across the GCC.
Behind the scenes, we’re diligently advancing our position as a world leading operator in the integration of technology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
Our commitment extends beyond mere application, aiming to spearhead discussions and set benchmarks within the fitness industry and beyond, ensuring GymNation remains at the cutting edge of innovation.
We’re not just building gyms; our vision is to play a lead role as the region’s movement partner, championing healthy and active lifestyles alongside the importance of mental health and well-being.
In 2026, GymNation plans to open another 20-30 locations across the GCC, and with many more in the pipeline our aim is to become the largest gym chain across the GCC.
Behind the scenes, we’re diligently advancing our position as a world leading operator in the integration of technology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
Our commitment extends beyond mere application, aiming to spearhead discussions and set benchmarks within the fitness industry and beyond, ensuring GymNation remains at the cutting edge of innovation.
We’re not just building gyms; our vision is to play a lead role as the region’s movement partner, championing healthy and active lifestyles alongside the importance of mental health and well-being.
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