��������

GymNation, the region’s fastest-growing fitness brand, has launched its largest and most advanced (most instagrammable) facility to date in the heart of Qurtubah, Riyadh.

Spanning 77,000 square feet, GymNation’s new flagship sets a new benchmark for health and wellness facilities within ��������, further reinforcing its mission to make world-class fitness accessible, affordable, and inclusive for everyone.

Purpose-built to meet the needs of the local community, the facility offers a diverse mix of premium training environments, industry-leading equipment, and specialized spaces tailored to different fitness goals and lifestyles.

In a first for the Kingdom, the gym features the largest ladies-only Reformer Pilates studio in ��������, alongside a private Reformer Pilates room.

It also debuts GymNation’s first-ever male spin studio complemented by a dedicated ladies-only spin zone to add to its offerings.

Gym-goers will also benefit from a purpose-built Glute Training Zone, a mind and body studio for holistic health practices, an affiliated HYROX training club for high-performance training, and the region’s largest free weights section.

In addition to its cutting-edge fitness zones, GymNation Qurtubah features a fully equipped recovery area complete with infrared saunas, ice baths, and treatment rooms to support total wellness and optimal performance.

Josh Whitely, KSA country director, said:  “After an incredibly successful pre-sell, we opened GymNation Qurtubah, with over 7,000 members on day one, and the initial feedback has been unbelievable, and we are only just getting started.

We’ve got a series of brand-new classes launching, as well as some groundbreaking gym events that will blend fitness, wellness, culture, and music into one amazing space. Riyadh will not have seen anything like GymNation before!”

Speaking about the launch, Loren Holland, founder and CEO of GymNation, said: “Beyond being our largest gym to date, this new Qurtubah location is another symbol of our belief that fitness should be accessible, innovative, and empowering for everyone.

“�������� is experiencing a fitness revolution and we’re proud to provide an environment where people of all fitness levels feel welcomed and motivated. We’ve invested significantly to bring not only the biggest gym with the widest selection of equipment and classes Riyadh has ever seen, but also a gym that looks incredible! From lighting to graffiti, all the way through to new fixtures and finishings, we’ve well and truly raised the bar for what a gym experience can be in the Kingdom.”

The launch of the Qurtubah men’s and women's gyms follows GymNation’s record-breaking entry into ��������, which saw more than 12,000 pre-opening memberships snapped up in just 72 hours across its initial locations in Jeddah and Alkhobar in 2024.

As �������� continues to drive forward its Vision 2030 goals of promoting more active communities, GymNation is uniquely positioned to support this momentum through its commitment to removing barriers around cost, intimidation, and accessibility.

Bad tools hurt worker productivity more than we usually realize. For the last several decades, laptops have been the default workplace device. But as work becomes increasingly mobile and multitasking-driven, traditional tools are proving inadequate to keep up with the pace and flexibility modern roles demand. According to studies, switching to more portable office devices can deliver noticeable gains. A 2023 IDC study found that 85 percent of companies reported measurable productivity gains after adopting mobile devices like tablets in the workplace. 

Tablets, once seen as consumption-focused devices, are stepping in to fill that role. They have evolved into productivity devices, resembling laptops more and more. They now combine the performance of PCs with the agility of mobile devices, creating a powerful, flexible way to get more done from anywhere.

In the past, the biggest drawback of tablets was the software. Doing real work on a tablet meant wrestling with mobile apps scaled up for a bigger screen but without key features one would need. That is no longer the case. Productivity-focused tablets are coming out with PC-level software and full desktop-grade office suites that support advanced functions and shortcuts. Huawei is making great headway in turning tablets into something that can replace office PCs. Huawei’s approach is to provide a hardware and software experience on the same level as laptops while pushing the limits of portability, even beyond what we have come to expect of tablets.

The latest Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2-inch is a case in point. It comes with a keyboard cover and even supports the addition of an external mouse. And it is not the typical tablet keyboard covers with flimsy support, bad viewing angles, crammed keys and an unresponsive touchpad. The Glide Keyboard has large full-sized keys with 1.5 mm key travel and a large trackpad, as in most laptops. Users can also throw in an external mouse if they wish. The support for the M-Pencil adds another dimension of flexibility to the mix and the keyboard cover features a 2-in-1 stylus and keyboard storage and charging design, a first on a tablet.

The story is remarkable on the software side as well. The tablet’s PC-level WPS Office and Live-Multitask feature makes office work surprisingly easy. WPS Office on the tablet mirrors the PC version, including the interface and editing and presentation features. Users can draft documents, manage large spreadsheets, or review design mockups without compromise. The Live-Multitask feature lets you juggle multiple apps seamlessly and resize app windows or switch between them with just a tap.

Portability being yet another major factor that aids productivity, Huawei has worked hard to trim the weight and size of the new tablet with some meticulous design choices. The keyboard is crafted with aerospace-grade materials, and at just 420 grams and 5.15 mm thick, it is the lightest keyboard of its kind.

Perhaps one area where tablets can trump laptops is how they can replace multiple devices and stationery professionals otherwise have to carry around. A tablet can be a replacement for not just laptops but it is also useful for note taking, sketching, and even documentation using the camera. Not having to switch between tools to perform tasks can dramatically streamline productivity.

The MatePad Pro 12.2-inch is available now for pre-order in �������� at a starting price SR2,499 ($666), after applying the cashback, with valuable gifts through Huawei’s online store and other authorized retailers.