Cheval Collection is galloping ahead in Saudi Arabia as part of its continued international expansion, which includes luxury serviced hotel apartments and branded residences in the Middle East.
Cheval Collection began as an act of generosity between friends: the lending of apartments at Cheval Place, Knightsbridge to friends visiting London. Unlike staying in a hotel, this arrangement provided independence, unhurriedness and an entirely home-from-home experience.
That was more than 40 years ago when, in 1982, our ‘flats-for-friends’ concept inspired us to share the hospitality experience with more people by creating the Cheval Collection.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is firmly established as a key market for Cheval. Following four decades of success through our growing collection of luxury serviced hotel residences in London, we set up shop in Dubai in 2023 with Cheval Maison The Palm Dubai and, two years later, Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai.
In between, we announced our move into Saudi Arabia, partnering with renowned Riyadh based developer Ladun Investments, to create our first property there, Cheval Ladun Living, which is under construction and due to open next year. A second partnership with Ladun – Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah – is also under way, and we have more in the pipeline for Riyadh and other key cities in KSA such as Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented investment in infrastructure, tourism and hospitality developments in line with Vision 30 brings fantastic opportunities for fresh players in the hospitality sector to enter the market. Major upcoming events – including Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 – are creating further demand for hospitality and real estate projects. Our growing presence in KSA doesn’t just underscore our commitment to the country: it means we are part of its future success.
In Riyadh, there’s an under supply of luxury serviced apartments, and Cheval is helping to fill that gap with Cheval Ladun Living, Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah and other properties to be announced soon. Guests are increasingly seeking the comfort and autonomy of a residence combined with the conveniences and services of a hotel, and we are seeing a strong appetite for flexible accommodation for business trips, relocation stays and multi-generational travel. In Saudi Arabia – just like in other parts of the Middle East – long-stay guests are more discerning than ever, with expectations to match.
Construction is on track at Cheval Ladun Living, a US$80 million, 32-storey property towering more than 130 metres above King Fahd Road, close to Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial Centre. Like all Cheval establishments, it will offer top-flight standards of living and leisure: 130 units with spacious accommodation, high end furnishings and finishings, great fitness facilities and as much privacy – or interaction – as our guests want.
Meanwhile, across town on the outskirts of King Salman Park, Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah is another new-build property that is set to open in 2028. Concept design is complete, schematic design is in progress, and we expect construction to begin in Q1 next year. A low-rise property with 134 luxury, contemporary units set across four storeys, Sulaymaniyah is a complete contrast to Ladun Living in terms of build and design, but on a level playing field when it comes to everything else: luxurious living, onsite dining, a retail unit, gym and pool.
Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah’s design is inspired by two types of Saudi Arabian architecture – Salmani and Najdi – to integrate traditional Saudi heritage with today’s design and build trends. Both have been integrated for regional identity, and we’ve focused on preserving Saudi culture while bringing modern urban design into the mix. Salmani architecture, a hallmark of urban development in Riyadh, strikes a balance between tradition and current design trends, while Najdi architecture is characterised by central courtyards, geometric openings and climate-adaptive design. Guests will experience a seamless blend of the two at Cheval Maison – Sulaymaniyah.
Both Cheval Ladun Living and Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah are included in Cheval DISCOVERY, our guest loyalty programme launched last year in partnership with the Global Hotel Alliance, which offers exclusive member benefits like in-apartment welcome amenities, complimentary upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and access to special member-only rates. Members also earn DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) on every eligible stay for redemption at Cheval properties and over 800 partner hotels worldwide.
While Cheval Ladun Living and Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah progress, we continue to explore more properties and partnerships in Riyadh, and are looking to enter other tier one cities in KSA like Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. These will be a mix of the serviced hotel residences that we have excelled in for the last 40 years, and branded residences, a sector that we entered earlier this year with Cheval Residences Dubai Islands in the UAE, quickly followed by Cheval Residences Knightsbridge Gate in London.
In Riyadh, there’s an under supply of luxury serviced apartments, and Cheval is helping to fill that gap with Cheval Ladun Living, Cheval Maison Sulaymaniyah and other properties to be announced soon.
Success for us is more than just great reviews: our goal is to become the region’s leading luxury serviced apartment and branded residences provider. In Dubai, the award-winning Cheval Maisons Palm Jumeirah and Expo City are market leaders in their field. We’re confident that our upcoming offerings in Riyadh, other parts of Saudi and elsewhere in the region – will enjoy that same success.
Images: Cheval Collection
