Few names in hospitality evoke a mood quite like Cheval Blanc. Meaning ‘white horse’ or ‘white mountain’, depending on the context, this global luxury brand opened its first Maison in 2006 on the snow-capped slopes of Courchevel, France. Owned by LVMH and stewarded by the same creative force behind Louis Vuitton and Dior, Cheval Blanc has grown rapidly over the past decade, with landmark properties in the Maldives, St. Tropez, and Paris, where its flagship graces the restored La Samaritaine building on the Seine. At the heart of every Maison is a philosophy of ‘emotional’ hospitality – one that favours instinct and atmosphere over scripted, standardised luxury.
Now, that philosophy arrives in Dubai with Cheval Blanc at Naïa – the first Maison in the Middle East, set on a brand new private island developed by Shamal Holding.
Introducing Naïa – Dubai’s Newest Island
From Jumeirah Bay Island and Palm Jumeirah to the soon-to-launch Palm Jebel Ali, the Jumeirah coastline represents the very apex of Dubai’s super-prime real estate market. Naïa joins this rarefied stretch as its own standalone island, low-density and resolutely private with six kilometres of shoreline. Set just offshore between Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim, the island has a breathable, leafy masterplan with just one name at its heart: Cheval Blanc.
Cheval Blanc Naïa will comprise a curated collection of suites and private pool villas. With such limited inventory, the development will be one of the most intimate island addresses in Dubai, surpassing even Jumeirah Bay Island, which has long reigned as the city’s most exclusive.
As with every Cheval Blanc, the promise lies in the lived experience. True to the brand’s ethos of art de recevoir, the development will be uncompromisingly lifestyle-led, with world-class wellness, elevated dining, and highly personalised hospitality at its core. If other Cheval developments give anything away here, this might mean Michelin-starred restaurants on site, Guerlain spa rituals, and a team of the brand’s signature ‘alchemistes’ there to anticipate every preference.
“Dubai has no shortage of landmark hospitality brands, but what sets Cheval Blanc apart is its ability to create something that’s emotionally resonant,” says Chris Whitehead, Managing Director of Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty. “The interest we’ve seen so far confirms that buyers aren’t just looking for a home with services – they’re looking for privacy, and for a home that feels anchored in something permanent. There are only five Cheval Blanc developments globally, and homes within them are vanishingly rare. With such tight supply, Naïa represents something we’ve not seen in the Dubai market before.”
Shamal Holdings – A Curator of Dubai’s Coastline
Cheval Blanc at Naïa is the latest project by Shamal Holding, a Dubai-born diversified investment firm with a growing footprint across the city’s cultural, hospitality and real estate sectors. Shamal has already left an indelible mark on the coastline as we know it. Its flagship project, Dubai Harbour, introduced an entirely new waterfront district between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters – complete with a 700-berth superyacht marina (the largest in the region), twin cruise terminals capable of handling 1.2 million passengers annually, and a string of cosmopolitan dining, retail, and lifestyle concepts across the marina promenade.
At its heart is the exclusive Dubai Harbour Residences, a boutique beachfront project designed with H&H Development and Nikken Sekkei – the renowned Japanese architecture firm behind Tokyo Skytree and One Za’abeel. The residences here reflect a breezy, maritime minimalism, with direct beach access and interiors shaped by natural light. It’s a project that captures Shamal’s broader sensibility – rooted in the region and entirely exacting in detail. That same clarity of vision is evident in Naïa, which will undoubtedly be a cornerstone of the developer’s portfolio.
Read more: Step Inside Dubai Harbour Residences
Final Thoughts
In Dubai, island living has always carried a certain cachet: Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay Island, and now Naïa. What distinguishes Cheval Blanc is its timing. As the city grows busier and denser, buyers are increasingly drawn to low-rise homes where privacy is a promise, and the architecture feels attuned to its setting. Naïa answers that call with clarity – a low-rise botanical retreat at the water’s edge, delivered by a name that carries global weight.
To learn more about ownership opportunities at Cheval Blanc on Naïa Island, reach out to the team at Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty.
