The new GymNation Foundation brings together The First Rep which is an AED 1,000,000 start-up investment fund, alongside athlete development and community support under its long-running commitment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Thailand.
Dubai, UAE – November 4th, 2026: GymNation has launched the GymNation Foundation, a formal, funded commitment to supporting the next generation of health and wellness businesses, athletes and community initiatives. At its centre is The First Rep, a new incubator programme offering AED 1,000,000 in direct investment to early-stage founders, alongside two further pillars dedicated to community support and athlete development.
The Foundation formalises GymNation’s long-standing commitment to making fitness more accessible and supporting the people and organisations driving healthier communities. Since opening its first club in 2018, GymNation has donated more than AED 1,200,000 to charities across the region. The Foundation turns that track record into a permanent commitment, putting the reach of its 200,000-strong member community behind the charities, grassroots groups and individuals making a difference.
THE FIRST REP: INVESTING IN THE REGION’S NEXT FOUNDERS
The First Rep is GymNation’s new Incubator Program for early-stage businesses in fitness, wellness, health and technology. It invests directly in early-stage fitness, wellness, health and technology businesses across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Thailand, backing the people who live and train in the community every day to build the businesses that will serve it.
Successful applicants pitch directly to GymNation’s founders and receive funding from a pot of AED 1,000,000 in direct investment, hands-on support to launch and scale, and access to GymNation’s community of more than 200,000 members across the GCC to research, test and grow. That member access sets the programme apart from conventional early-stage funding: founders can put a product in front of a real, engaged training audience across dozens of clubs in three markets.
Applications are free and open to entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses at any stage, from idea and prototype through to businesses already scaling. Areas of interest include training innovations, recovery, nutrition, mental wellbeing, sports technology, wearables, member experience and digital health. The process runs in four stages:
- Apply online – founders submit an application setting out their idea and the problem it solves.
- Review – the GymNation team assesses every application received by the February 2027 deadline.
- Pitch – shortlisted applicants present directly to GymNation’s founders from later in 2027.
- Investment – winners receive direct funding alongside hands-on business support.
“There are founders across this region with genuinely good ideas about health and fitness who will never get in front of an investor, because they don’t have the network,” said Loren Holland, Founder and CEO of GymNation. “The First Rep is us opening the door. Pitch us directly, and if it’s good, we’ll write the cheque, roll our sleeves up, and put it in front of over 200,000 members who’ll tell you the truth about it.”
Applications for The First Rep are open now and close in February 2027.
CHARITY INITIATIVES: COMMUNITY FIRST
The Foundation’s Community Support pillar formalises GymNation’s ongoing support to charitable, community-focused and public wellbeing organisations across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Thailand. It builds on work that GymNation has undertaken since its earliest days, with a focus on organisations making a tangible difference in the communities they serve.
In the UAE, the Foundation’s charitable giving is channelled through Al Jalila Foundation, the Dubai-based charity dedicated to advancing healthcare through treatment, education and research. In Saudi Arabia, the Foundation supports Namaa Charity.
That work includes a partnership with Heroes of Hope, a charity supporting people of determination, and with Gulf for Good, which helps children by raising funds for charities around the world. Since 2020, GymNation has run an annual Ramadan initiative, donating to charities across the region for every class its members attend, turning everyday workouts into contributions to causes that matter.
Charity partners receive exposure to GymNation’s network of more than 200,000 members, co-branded campaigns, a place at GymNation events and, where appropriate, direct financial donations. Applications are welcome year-round from registered charities and non-profits, grassroots community groups and public wellbeing organisations, with no deadline and no application fee.
“GymNation has always been a community first and a gym second. Our members show up for each other every day, and for years they’ve shown up for causes across the region too, from our Ramadan classes to our charity partnerships. The Foundation is how we make that permanent and more standard. It means the charities, community groups and people doing the most good across the Gulf can count on the full weight of GymNation behind them,” continued Loren Holland, Founder and CEO of GymNation.
THE ATHLETE PROGRAM: BACKING LOCAL TALENT
The Athlete Program extends that community support to exceptional individuals pursuing ambitious fitness, health and cultural goals. It runs across two streams: free and subsidised access for young aspiring athletes for whom cost is a barrier to training, and an inclusive training environment for athletes of determination.
Selected athletes receive financial support in the preparation for races, transport to and from races and during recovery from races, full access to GymNation clubs across the Gulf, a dedicated strength and conditioning coach, tailored ongoing support, and exposure through GymNation’s channels, events and member community. Support runs on a 12-month renewable basis and is provided entirely free of charge, with all costs covered by the Foundation.
The athletes already supported show what a community can help an individual achieve. They include Alphia James, a former national-level basketball player from Kerala who is now ranked World No. 3 in WH2 para badminton singles; Martin Nikolenko, a 14-year-old professional cyclist racing at elite level with the ambition of riding the Tour de France; Alice Morrison, who in 2025 became the first person to walk the length of Saudi Arabia, a 2,200km desert crossing completed over 112 days with two camels and Ibrahim S Jalloh whom is a National Champion Elite Cyclist. The programme also supports the UAE Rugby Federation’s national teams.
Applications are open to aspiring athletes and to athletes of determination, who are welcome without competitive prerequisites. Parents, coaches, guardians and carers can apply on someone’s behalf, so anyone in the community can put forward an athlete who deserves backing.
Full details and applications for all three pillars:
More information about the GymNation Foundation: https://gymnation.com/en-ae/foundation
The Athlete Program: https://gymnation.com/en-ae/foundation/athleteprogram/
Charity Initiatives: https://gymnation.com/en-ae/foundation/charityinitiatives/
The First Rep: https://gymnation.com/en-ae/foundation/the-first-rep/
About GymNation
GymNation is the Middle East’s largest low-cost gym operator, with close to 50 clubs and more than 200,000 members across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Founded in Dubai in 2018, GymNation was built on a simple mission: to make world-class fitness affordable and accessible to everyone. Its clubs offer 24/7 access, expert-led classes and an inclusive, community-first environment. In early 2027, GymNation expands in Asia with its first club in Bangkok, Thailand, the start of a nationwide rollout of more than 20 clubs. GymNation’s vision is to be The Region’s Movement Partner, championing active, healthy lifestyles and the link between physical activity and mental wellbeing across the communities it serves.
For more information, visit www.gymnation.com