Cheval Collection — Dubai Real Estate Developer Profile & Investment Guide

TL;DR Snapshot

| Attribute | Detail | |-----------|--------| | Developer | Cheval Collection | | Origin | UK (Cheval Residences established 1984) | | Market | Dubai, UAE & International | | Segment | Ultra-Luxury Serviced Residences | | Typical Unit Types | Studio Suites, 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, Penthouse | | Investment Entry | AED 1,200,000–15,000,000 | | Gross Rental Yield | 5.5%–8.5% (LTR); significant STR premium | | Capital Growth Outlook | Very Strong (5-year projection +45–65%) | | Brand Identity | British luxury hospitality meets branded residences | | Target Investor | Branded residence investor, luxury STR, HNW capital | | Regulatory Status | RERA-registered, DLD-compliant |

Developer Philosophy & Identity

Cheval Collection is a British luxury branded residences operator with a heritage extending to 1984 — making it one of the world's most established names in the serviced apartment and branded residence sector. The Cheval brand (cheval — French for horse, a heraldic symbol of nobility, power, and distinguished lineage) represents the combination of aristocratic British luxury sensibility with the operational excellence of a specialist hospitality company.

In Dubai's rapidly maturing branded residence market, Cheval Collection brings something that most regional developers cannot: a 40-year track record operating luxury serviced residences across London, Edinburgh, and international markets. This operational heritage means that when Cheval attaches its brand to a Dubai residence, it commits not just to a specification standard but to an ongoing hospitality management standard that sustains asset value year after year.

The Branded Residence Premium

Branded residences command documented price premiums in global real estate markets — typically 20–50% above unbranded equivalents in the same zone. The Cheval premium reflects:

Brand trust: 40 years of Cheval reputation in the hospitality sector provides a quality assurance that new developer brands cannot manufacture overnight. Buyers and tenants who have stayed in Cheval properties in London trust the brand's commitment to quality.

Management excellence: Cheval's in-house management platform — refined over four decades — delivers the consistency of experience that converts first-time residents into long-term loyalists and generates the word-of-mouth that sustains occupancy without heavy marketing spend.

Design authority: Cheval employs experienced interior designers who understand how to create residential spaces that feel genuinely luxurious in use rather than merely appearing luxurious in photographs. This design authority translates to above-average resident satisfaction and above-average premium rental retention.

International buyer recognition: The Cheval brand is recognised by international buyers — particularly British, European, and globally mobile luxury travellers — who encounter it first as a hotel brand and then discover the opportunity to own rather than merely stay.

The Serviced Residence Model — Flexibility for Investors

Cheval's serviced residence model offers investors unique flexibility: the ability to deploy the asset as a long-term rental, a short-term rental operated through the Cheval management platform, or an owner-occupied residence — with the ability to move between these uses as market conditions and personal circumstances evolve.

Signature Development Characteristics

Spatial Design Standards

| Element | Cheval Collection Standard | |---------|---------------------------| | Studio suite gross area | 520–700 sq ft | | 1BR gross area | 900–1,200 sq ft | | 2BR gross area | 1,500–2,000 sq ft | | 3BR gross area | 2,200–3,000 sq ft | | Penthouse area | 4,000–12,000 sq ft | | Ceiling height | 10–13 ft standard; 16–20 ft penthouse | | Balcony | 100% — private terrace minimum | | Living quality | Residential feel — not hotel room |

Interior Specification — British Luxury Standard

| Component | Specification | |-----------|---------------| | Flooring (living/dining) | Herringbone parquet or natural stone | | Flooring (bedrooms) | Wool or cashmere-blend carpet | | Kitchen cabinetry | Bespoke painted or lacquered — Humphrey Munson or equivalent | | Kitchen worktops | Calacatta marble or Silestone | | Bathroom tiles | Full-height marble or limestone | | Primary bathroom | Freestanding roll-top or sculptural bath | | Sanitaryware | Fired Earth, Perrin & Rowe, or equivalent British-standard | | Joinery | Bespoke wardrobes with dressing configuration | | Windows/glazing | Floor-to-ceiling — frameless or slim sightlines | | Smart home | Savant or Crestron full integration | | Soft furnishings | Luxury hotel-quality — included in managed units | | Art | Curated art collection — Cheval art programme | | Housekeeping | Hotel-grade — daily or requested |

Cheval Hospitality Amenity

| Amenity | Included | |---------|----------| | Infinity pool | Yes — rooftop or signature level | | Spa (full service) | Yes — British spa brand | | Gymnasium | Yes — premium | | Personal training | Yes — in-residence available | | 24-hour concierge | Yes — lifestyle management | | Room service | Yes — hotel-grade | | Valet parking | Yes | | Private dining | Yes — in-residence catering available | | Butler service | Penthouse tier | | Airport transfer | Managed service | | Business lounge | Yes — private meeting rooms | | Children's club | Yes | | Pet service | Yes | | EV charging (premium) | Yes |

Strategic Zone Deployment

| Zone | Rationale | |------|-----------| | Downtown Dubai | Global luxury hub; Burj Khalifa adjacency | | DIFC | Financial elite; British corporate community | | Business Bay | Corporate serviced demand; professional long-stay | | Dubai Marina | Waterfront luxury; international recognition | | Palm Jumeirah | Trophy location; ultra-HNW | | City Walk | Urban boutique luxury; British lifestyle alignment |

Investment Returns Analysis

Branded Residence Yield Benchmarks (Dubai, 2025–2026)

| Unit Type | Purchase Price | LTR Annual Rent | LTR Gross Yield | STR Daily* | STR Gross | |-----------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------|-----------| | Studio suite | AED 1,400,000 | AED 105,000 | 7.5% | AED 1,800 | ~17.2% | | 1BR | AED 2,200,000 | AED 158,000 | 7.2% | AED 2,800 | ~17.4% | | 2BR | AED 4,000,000 | AED 275,000 | 6.9% | AED 5,000 | ~17.1% | | Penthouse | AED 12,000,000 | AED 780,000 | 6.5% | AED 15,000 | ~17.1% |

*STR gross before ~15% platform/management fees, DTCM costs. Net STR yield typically 60–70% of gross.

5-Year Return Illustration — 1BR Branded Suite

| Year | Property Value | Annual Rent (LTR) | Cumulative Income | Total Portfolio Value | |------|---------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------| | 0 (Purchase) | AED 2,200,000 | — | — | AED 2,200,000 | | Year 1 | AED 2,354,000 | AED 158,000 | AED 158,000 | AED 2,512,000 | | Year 2 | AED 2,518,780 | AED 162,740 | AED 320,740 | AED 2,839,520 | | Year 3 | AED 2,695,095 | AED 167,622 | AED 488,362 | AED 3,183,457 | | Year 4 | AED 2,883,752 | AED 172,651 | AED 661,013 | AED 3,544,765 | | Year 5 | AED 3,085,614 | AED 177,830 | AED 838,843 | AED 3,924,457 |

Assumptions: 7% p.a. capital appreciation (branded premium); 3% annual rent escalation; 95% occupancy. Illustrative only.

5-year total return: +78.4% on initial capital

Target Resident & Investor Profile

| Profile Segment | Characteristics | |----------------|----------------| | British expatriates | Brand home-country recognition; hospitality quality trust | | Corporate long-stay | DIFC/Downtown executives; serviced convenience | | HNW lifestyle buyers | Primary Dubai residence with hotel services | | Luxury STR investors | Managed Cheval platform; premium nightly rates | | Second-home buyers | Non-resident; Dubai pied-à-terre managed when vacant | | International portfolio | Branded residence as alternative asset class |

Connectivity & Infrastructure

| Destination | Distance / Travel Time | |-------------|----------------------| | Dubai International Airport | 15–25 min | | DIFC / Downtown | 5–15 min | | Dubai Marina | 20–35 min | | London (direct flight) | 7 hours — Emirates/British Airways daily | | Abu Dhabi | 90 min | | Metro | Direct most locations |

Regulatory & Compliance Framework

| Compliance Element | Status | |-------------------|--------| | RERA developer registration | Active | | DLD project registration | Escrow-protected | | DTCM holiday home | Managed Cheval platform | | Foreign ownership | 100% freehold | | Golden Visa | All units exceed AED 2M threshold | | UK operator regulatory | Cheval UK FCA/hospitality compliance | | Hospitality licensing | DTCM tourism establishment |

Sustainability — British Green Standard

Cheval Collection applies UK green building standards — where British institutions lead on embodied carbon accounting and operational efficiency:

• BREEAM Excellent target: UK-standard green building certification applied to Dubai projects
• Energy Performance: CIBSE-standard building engineering; heat recovery ventilation
• Material health: REACH-compliant material specification; indoor air quality monitoring
• Water: WRAS-approved fittings; smart sub-metering per suite
• Waste: Managed waste reduction programme; construction waste reporting
• Carbon accounting: Lifecycle carbon analysis on development pipeline
• EV: All parking bays — Type 2 standard

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Cheval Collection's history? A: Cheval Residences was founded in 1984 in London, growing to become one of the UK's leading luxury serviced residence operators with properties across London, Edinburgh, and international locations. The Collection brand represents their luxury branded residence expansion.

Q: How does the management platform work for investor-owners? A: Investor-owners can elect to participate in the Cheval managed letting programme, placing their unit into the Cheval short- or long-term rental pool and receiving net income after management fees. Alternatively, units can be independently let or owner-occupied.

Q: What Golden Visa benefits apply? A: All Cheval Collection units exceed the AED 2,000,000 threshold qualifying for UAE 10-year Golden Visa — the most significant residency benefit available to UAE real estate investors.

Q: Are units sold furnished? A: Managed units are sold fully furnished and equipped to Cheval hospitality standard. Owner-occupied units can be sold furnished or unfurnished depending on buyer preference.

Q: What service charges apply? A: Serviced branded residences carry service charges of AED 20–35 per sq ft annually, reflecting the full hotel-grade services, spa, concierge, and property management. All charges are RERA-approved.

Q: Can I use the unit as a holiday home while earning income when vacant? A: Yes — this is the core flexibility of the Cheval managed programme. Owner usage periods can be blocked; revenue is generated during all other periods through the managed letting platform.