Gymshark has today announced it will be opening its first permanent store outside of the UK – on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall in the UAE – towards the end of 2024.
The Dubai Mall is the second largest mall in the world by total land area and welcomes over 54 million shoppers through its doors every year.
The new opening follows the success of its flagship store on London’s Regent Street, which opened in October 2022, and the launch of its second UK store at Westfield Stratford City in July this year as its planned retail roll-out gathers pace – at home and now internationally.
Gymshark has partnered with Al Tayer Insignia, “one of the most respected partners in the Middle East”, which hosts a portfolio of the world’s best luxury and lifestyle brands and department stores across fashion, beauty, jewellery and home.
The arrival of Gymshark’s first physical store in the Middle East follows the launch of localised e-commerce services in the region, with a dual language site and app, faster shipping times, including same day delivery, as well as its exclusive limited-edition drops for the Middle East.
Ben Francis, Founder and CEO of Gymshark, said: “We’ve known for a while that Gymshark is expanding its omnichannel strategy and we would be looking outside the shores of the UK.
“So, when Al Tayer Insignia presented us with the opportunity to take a space in one of the world’s most visited malls in a city that is so obsessed with fitness, combined the phenomenal reaction to the launch of our localised online store in the Middle East, we knew we had to take it.
“I can’t wait for the doors to open to our first permanent store outside of the UK and to welcome everyone to Gymshark Dubai.”
Dee Sarai, CEO of Al Tayer Insignia, added: “Al Tayer Insignia is proud to be Gymshark’s partner for their first store outside of the UK. Dubai Mall is the most iconic shopping mall in the world so there’s no better place for the ecommerce-first brand to open outside the UK.
“Customer reaction to the online launch across the GCC surpassed our expectations and we look forward to having a physical location to bring together the Gymshark community in the region.”
In an interview with TheIndustry.fashion in July, just prior to the opening of the Westfield Stratford City store, Ben Francis talked of the company’s international expansion plans and said that the US is Gymshark’s biggest market.
At the time he said: “That’s where our biggest opportunity is. We really need to double down on that. We’re looking at possible store locations in New York, but it has to be the right unit.”