Chevel Blanc hotel planned for new Dubai development

Cheval Blanc has confirmed plans to open its first hotel in Dubai in 2029. 

The property will form part of a new “landmark” private estate development called Naïa Island Dubai just off the coast of Jumeirah owned by Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holdings. 

The Cheval Blanc property will sit at the centre of the development, featuring 30 contemporary suites and 40 villas with private pools. 

It will mark the brand’s first hotel in the Middle East, joining existing properties in France, St Barths, the Maldives and the Seychelles.

Naïa Island Dubai will also offer a “limited number” of Cheval Blanc-branded beachfront residences and estate plots with private beach access, as well as dining experiences, spa and wellness offerings and a private marina. 

The development will be connected to Dubai’s principal roadways and has been designed as resort, shaped around "open green spaces and coastal terrain". 

A statement from Shamal Holdings said the island’s “low-lying architecture” would offer “unparalleled views of Dubai’s iconic landmarks”. It added that the development is set to become “one of the region’s most exclusive coastal addresses”. 

Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief executive of Shamal Holding, said: “This marks a defining chapter in our vision to create meaningful experiences, and is an exciting step forward for Shamal as we continue to curate pioneering firsts that reinforce Dubai’s position as a global benchmark for exceptional, world-class living.”