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.

The survey was conducted in both English and Arabic in December 2024, with the sample comprising 9,644 adults living in the UAE and KSA; 61 per cent were males and 39 per cent female.

Researchers found a growing aspiration to get more healthy in the region, with 92 per cent of respondents saying they want to improve their health. This compares with 76 per cent in the UK and 75 per cent in the US.

“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,” said Karl Foster, CTO of GymNation.

“We believe we're in the pre-take-off era: third party research estimates that low-cost gym memberships are projected to grow by 30 to 45 per cent CAGR over the next five years in this region.”

Ninety-two per cent of respondents see exercise as crucial for reducing stress and more than 40 per cent say they have increased their spend on fitness in the last 12 months, more than half of these saying it’s because fitness is becoming a passion.

Impressively, 82 per cent of respondents said they're somewhat active, with 79 per cent working out twice a week or more. Only 3 per cent said they’re not active at all.

Sixty four per cent say their health has improved over the past year, with an additional 26 per cent having maintained it.

However, cost remains a barrier with 50 per cent of non-members saying it is the primary reason for not joining a gym. Dubai and Riyadh are the third and fifth most expensive cities in the world for gym memberships – 25 per cent more expensive than London – according to research from Deutsche Bank.

Gymtimidation also prevents people from taking steps to become active, mainly because of unfamiliarity with equipment, lack of knowledge about exercises and self-consciousness.

Gymnation is tackling this by offering free introductory PT sessions, as well as weekly and monthly gym floor challenges to foster community.

A lack of time, either because of work or family, was also cited as a barriers by almost one-quarter of respondents.

A big chunk of Gymnation’s new members have never had a gym membership before: 56 per cent in KSA and 58 per cent in UAE.

The top five factors which would encourage people to exercise more are affordable membership; seeing better results; less stress in their lives; flexible membership options and more exercise knowledge.

Strength training is the most popular activity (47 per cent KSA and 52 per cent UAE), followed by running clubs (28 per cent and 24 per cent); yoga, Pilates or mindfulness classes (27 per cent and 25 per cent), and Hyrox-style workouts (23 per cent and 26 per cent).

Affordable fitness operator, GymNation has 14 UAE locations and 6 KSA locations, with more than 110,000 members. Twenty further locations are planned across the UAE and KSA.

Read the full report and research methodology here.