The iconic French collective is coming to Dubai, testament to the emirate’s growing appeal and beauty
Isabella Craddock
(Pictured, Cheval Blanc Randheli)
There are few names in hospitality that evoke the kind of reverence Cheval Blanc does. Born from the vision of Bernard Arnault himself – LVMH’s chairman and tastemaker-in-chief – Cheval Blanc began not as a hotel chain, but as a sanctuary. A private, deeply personal retreat in the French Alps, built not to impress the world, but to retreat from it. Over time, that quiet sanctuary gave rise to a constellation of maisons in the world’s most beautiful corners: Saint-Barth, Randheli, St-Tropez, Paris, and most recently, the Maldives. Each one discreet, breathtaking, and achingly precise in its beauty – more private art piece than hotel.
Now, for the first time, the maison turns its gaze to the Middle East.
In a landmark announcement, Dubai-based Shamal Holding has confirmed that the next Cheval Blanc will open in Dubai in 2029. Not just anywhere in the city – but on a secluded private island, set within a preserved coastal landscape and fringed by the Arabian Gulf. The news is a powerful endorsement not only of Dubai’s global status, but of its growing emotional appeal. After all, Cheval Blanc doesn’t just follow wealth – it follows beauty, rarity, and emotional resonance.
The new maison will be Cheval Blanc’s most intimate yet in the region: 30 suites and 40 private pool villas, each one conceived as a fluid, architectural embrace between sand, sea, and sky. In true Cheval Blanc fashion, the design language will be quietly compelling – contemporary yet timeless, rooted in light, movement and texture. The island’s natural rhythms will guide the guest experience, from sunrise wellness rituals to starlit dining and soul-deep stillness.
And for a rare few, the maison will also offer a limited number of beachfront branded residences – allowing owners to weave the art de vivre of Cheval Blanc into their everyday lives. Think elegant, unobtrusive luxury, with seamless access to the maison’s bespoke services, experiences, and warm, intuitive hospitality.
Anchored by LVMH’s savoir-faire and brought to life through Shamal Holding’s placemaking prowess, this project is part of Cheval Blanc’s highly selective global expansion – an exercise in restraint as much as ambition. Dubai’s inclusion is no accident. With the city’s ever-deepening cultural fabric, architectural daring, and shifting focus from spectacle to substance, the arrival of Cheval Blanc feels like a homecoming of sorts – a recognition that Dubai is not just a destination, but a mood.
For Shamal, whose portfolio includes some of Dubai’s most distinct destinations, the partnership cements its role as a curator of world-class experiences. And for the city, the announcement is yet another signpost of its evolution – from playground of the world to its soul-stirring sanctuary.
Cheval Blanc Dubai will open in 2029. For those in pursuit of emotional luxury – the kind that stays with you long after you’ve left. And with Dubai new openings also including Aman and Janu, the countdown to a new era of hotels begins now.
Dubai-based Isabella Craddock is the founder of Near+Far, a founding Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, former Condé Nast Traveller editor and a hotel-obsessed, design-devoted travel planner—for friends, loved ones, and readers alike.
