GymNation, a leading Middle Eastern gym operator, has taken the revolutionary step of introducing workout classes in complete darkness. Phones, mirrors, and screens have also been removed to tackle intimidation in gyms.
It’s the latest innovation by GymNation, which has previously turned the gym floor into hotel rooms and attempted to enter the Hyrox market. However, this new step simply involved switching the lights off.
How Does Fitness In The Dark Work?
Known as “Dans le Noir: Class in the Dark”, the class is 45 minutes long, and participants are guided by the instructor’s voice and music through wireless headphones. The concept will be rolled out across GymNation venues in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE in September.
The idea is to shift the focus from appearance to movement, which the operator hopes will attract a whole new customer base. Speaking on the launch, GymNation chief marketing officer Rory McEntee said:
“We’re obsessed with the visual in fitness – mirrors, cameras, content. We’ve turned working out into a performance, and for a lot of people, that performance is terrifying before they’ve even picked up a weight.”
Gym goers will be taken through balance, mobilization, and proprioceptive exercises before entering the darkness, which will prepare them to move without visual aids. The instructor will wear night-vision goggles to move freely around the room and monitor participants. Weighted vests, wrist weights, and dumbbells will also be used.
Why GymNation Is Launching Classes in the Dark
GymNation’s 2026 Fitness Report concluded that 47% of individuals put their lack of gym time down to fear of judgment. The launch of classes in the dark follows research that suggests mirrors can have negative psychological affects on gym goers.
“When we remove visual input, the body is forced to rely on proprioception – our internal sense of position, balance, and movement.” These are the words of sports scientist Aderito Manuel.
GymNation continues to innovate to stand out in an increasingly competitive Middle East fitness market. In 2025, the operator launched the “world’s coolest class” following record temperatures in the UAE. Ice blocks were used as sled pushes, with frozen weighted vests, and post-workout ice baths were also incorporated.
Before this, the operator developed a gym-and-hotel hybrid, with dumbbell-style towels, four-poster beds, and even a button to order protein shakes. It’s not all innovation, though, with GymNation also entering the Pilates and Hyrox markets in 2025. With 50 locations across the Middle East, the low-cost gym caters to over 200,000 members.
