Enduring business legacies are never built on a single pillar. They emerge from a founder’s ability to read different worlds with equal clarity; to understand the precision of numbers, the emotion behind experiences, and the long-term value hidden in tangible assets. The enterprises that stand apart are those that can move confidently between industries, carrying the same discipline, the same integrity, and the same commitment to value creation wherever they operate. In such organisations, trust is not a department; it is the atmosphere in which every decision breathes.
This philosophy defines Group Vintage, a multi-sector enterprise with strong foundations in Bullion, Real Estate, and Hospitality. Under the steady leadership of Kunal Bansal, the group has grown into a diversified force that turns consistency into influence, opportunity into sustained growth, and vision into results that speak for themselves.
The Making of Group Vintage
Kunal comes from a legacy deeply rooted in enterprise. His grandfather, an uneducated yet determined man, built a successful business in the 1950s through sheer grit and instinct. Growing up, Kunal felt immense pride in being known as his grandson, proud to be part of something built from nothing. At the same time, he carried a quiet determination to create something of his own, to carve out an independent identity and build a business that reflected his vision. That desire became the driving force behind what is now Group Vintage.
Over time, what motivates Kunal Bansal has evolved. It is no longer about proving independence but about expanding the family legacy into something larger, more meaningful, and enduring. His vision is to create an organization that stands the test of time, continues to grow, and delivers value long after he is gone. As the portfolio expanded, he realized that the group was not just a collection of separate entities. It was a unified ecosystem built on shared values of trust, authenticity, and long-term value creation. Those values became the foundation upon which Group Vintage stands today.
The Currency of Trust
For Kunal Bansal , trust and long-term value creation are not just principles; they are the very fabric of business itself. He grew up in an Asian family business environment where a spoken word carried more weight than a written contract. This ingrained in him a deep understanding that trust is not merely a virtue but the real currency of enterprise.
At Group Vintage, trust forms the basis of every relationship, both internal and external. It defines how partnerships are built, how investments are made, and how teams are managed. Kunal ensures that the organization consistently prioritizes integrity and reliability when hiring and developing talent, rewarding those who demonstrate long-term thinking and ownership. The same philosophy extends to external relationships, where the company prefers sustainable partnerships over short-term profits, choosing to work only with those who share its values.
Every opportunity is measured through one essential filter: Can this create long-term value? If not, it is not pursued, regardless of its immediate profitability. For Kunal Bansal , time and energy are finite resources that must be invested in building something lasting. This mindset, rooted in trust, sustainability, and long-term vision, remains the core of Group Vintage’s steady and consistent growth across all its industries.
Building a Trusted Bullion Powerhouse
Vintage Commodities (Previously known as Vintage Bullion), one of the flagship businesses under Group Vintage, has achieved an annual turnover exceeding USD 14 billion. The journey to becoming one of the region’s most trusted bullion trading companies was not without challenges, and Kunal recalls each obstacle as a crucial learning experience.
When he began, the bullion industry was opaque and difficult to penetrate. Establishing credibility took years of persistence and relationship-building with traders, refiners, and banks. Trust, he emphasizes, cannot be fast-tracked; it is earned over time through consistency and commitment.
Market volatility posed another major challenge. Recognizing the need for stability, Kunal introduced a back-to-back hedging mechanism that integrates seamlessly with the physical business, ensuring a strict no price risk policy. This disciplined approach has been fundamental to the company’s long-term success.
Operating in a sector under constant regulatory scrutiny, Vintage Commodities invested early in compliance, documentation, and supply-chain transparency to maintain the highest standards of governance. Security and logistics, too, demanded careful planning and partnership. Collaborations with top logistics providers and insurance partners ensured timely and secure delivery across global operations.
Kunal credits the company’s success to the deep-rooted principles of commitment and discipline that define its culture. Supported by strong internal liquidity and a dedicated team, these values have enabled Vintage Commodities to thrive, setting the foundation for its continued growth in the years ahead.
Shaping the Future of Bullion and Commodity Trading
Kunal believes that the future of bullion will be shaped by two defining forces: transparency and technology. As a member of both the LBMA and DMCC, he views regulatory frameworks and global partnerships as essential enablers of progress in the bullion and commodities sector.
For Kunal, responsible sourcing and ESG principles such as traceability, conflict-free supply chains, and sustainability are no longer optional. He highlights that the LBMA, DMCC, and the UAE have taken leading roles in promoting these standards, setting benchmarks for the rest of the world to follow. Digitalization, too, is reshaping the industry. From blockchain-based provenance systems to tokenized gold, Kunal foresees rapid growth in verifiable, digital ownership models that redefine how bullion is traded and trusted.
He also emphasizes the growing importance of advanced risk management tools. As markets evolve, trading platforms must provide sophisticated hedging and customized solutions to meet diverse client needs. In his view, collaboration with banks, refiners, exchanges, and regulators is crucial since no participant can thrive in isolation.
Kunal sees regulation not as a limitation but as a differentiator. By adhering to higher standards of transparency and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Group Vintage positions itself as a trusted and forward-thinking player in the global bullion ecosystem.
Unlocking Value Through Strategic Investment
One of the most striking examples of Kunal’s value-unlocking strategy can be seen in Group Vintage Investments in the Royal Amwaj Residences, located within the Anantara resort on Palm Jumeirah. The company acquired 157 apartments in a prime location that had begun to show its age. Despite the property’s potential, it was not aligned with evolving market realities. The units were large, two-bedroom apartments that spanned nearly 2,000 square feet, and the high ticket sizes limited their appeal. The interiors also reflected an older design aesthetic that no longer matched buyer expectations in Dubai’s luxury segment.
Kunal and his team decided to completely reposition the asset. They brought in experienced layout planners and interior designers to optimize space utilization, converting many of the two-bedroom units into three-bedroom layouts with a maid’s room. This transformation made the apartments more suitable for families and enhanced their perceived value per square foot. Simultaneously, the interiors were fully renovated and modernized, incorporating contemporary finishes, improved lighting, and refined design elements that resonated with modern luxury living.
Recognizing the volatility of Dubai’s short-term rental market, Group Vintage used its in-house holiday-home management company to offer guaranteed returns, providing investors with stable income and peace of mind. For international buyers who lacked access to local financing, the company introduced flexible payment plans, eliminating a major barrier to entry.
Through a combination of design optimization, strategic repositioning, guaranteed yields, and financial flexibility, the project achieved nearly 50 percent value appreciation compared to its initial market position. Kunal considers this a quintessential example of Group Vintage’s philosophy, identifying inefficiency, understanding market gaps, and transforming underperforming assets into high-performing investments.
Balancing Risk and Growth in a Cyclical Market
Kunal approaches real estate with a deep respect for its cyclical nature. History, he notes, has repeatedly shown that property markets move in waves, and those who rely heavily on leverage often face difficulties when the market turns. Having witnessed this pattern both in Dubai and globally, he made a deliberate decision to keep Group Vintage completely debt-free.
For Kunal, the philosophy is simple: benefit from rising markets while staying protected during downturns. He acknowledges that timing the market perfectly is nearly impossible, but by avoiding leverage, the company can endure down cycles without external pressure or financial strain. This freedom allows for greater flexibility and agility. When opportunities arise, whether in undervalued properties, redevelopment potential, or distressed sales, Group Vintage can act quickly, unencumbered by lenders or repayment obligations
He describes the company’s approach as pursuing growth through clarity rather than credit. Every investment is backed by conviction; conviction in market insights and in the ability to execute effectively. By maintaining zero leverage, Kunal ensures that Group Vintage can take calculated risks while preserving long-term stability. This disciplined strategy, he believes, is the foundation that allows the company to think beyond market cycles and continue building sustainable value for the future.
Evolving with the Market
Kunal believes that the success of Vintage Luxe Getaways (their holiday rental & property management company) lies in understanding market shifts and aligning them with the company’s internal strengths. Drawing on extensive experience managing luxury holiday homes, especially on the Palm, he has identified several key trends reshaping Dubai’s short-term and long-term stay markets.
He observes that long-term stays are becoming increasingly popular as guests seek the comfort of a home-like environment with the convenience of premium services. Another trend is the rise of transitional residents, people relocating to Dubai or dividing their time between countries, who may not have completed their local paperwork, such as Emirates IDs or bank accounts. For them, holiday homes offer a flexible and practical solution, providing a home away from home without the restrictions of traditional leases.
Kunal also notes the growing appeal of resort-based properties, which combine luxury living Vintage Luxe Getaway sis positioning itself as a provider of flexible, premium housing solutions, emphasizing long-term stays and resort-style properties to ensure sustainable growth and lasting relationships with its guests.
A Defining Milestone in Hospitality
Kunal’s journey into hospitality began unexpectedly. In 2021, he acquired what he initially saw as a pure real estate investment, a five-star hotel in Dubai Production City. However, as he became involved in the operations, he recognized that the real opportunity lay not in selling the asset but in building a dedicated hospitality vertical.
The project, now set to become the largest Marriott Executive Apartment in the world, and also a Hotel in Asia, marks a defining milestone for both Kunal and Group Vintage. For him personally, it represents the transformation of an unexpected venture into a major strategic pillar. For the group, it symbolizes entry into a scalable, consumer-facing industry where consistent effort translates into long-term results.
The Vintage Grand Hotel serves as the group’s most visible expression of its values. It embodies the essence of what Group Vintage stands for: quality, trust, and the creation of long-term value. While the group has long been active in trading and real estate, this project places the Vintage name directly in the public eye, showcasing its commitment to excellence and sustainability in every endeavor. Since then, Group Vintage has also invested in a second hotel in Tecom called Time Oak Hotel & Suites, giving birth to a full-fledged business vertical, Vintage Hospitality.
Guiding Principles for Diversification
Kunal’s approach to diversification rests on two guiding principles: scalability and synergy. Before entering any new sector, he and his team ask one fundamental question: whether the industry offers scalability. He believes that time and bandwidth are finite resources, so they must be devoted to industries where consistent effort compounds over time and where each milestone strengthens the foundation for future growth.
The second principle is synergy with existing businesses. Kunal focuses on sectors that naturally complement the group’s current operations, enabling efficiency and accelerated expansion. By leveraging shared systems, experience, and talent, Group Vintage can scale new ventures more effectively. For Kunal, if a business offers both scalability and synergy, it is worth pursuing. If not, patience and discipline take precedence until the right opportunity appears.
Focused Growth and Strategic Expansion
Reflecting on future opportunities, Kunal emphasizes the importance of deliberate, meaningful growth. Over the years, he has learned that while new ideas can be exciting, every expansion must make strategic sense and build upon existing strengths. He believes that growth should be an extension of what is already working well rather than a distraction from it.
For Group Vintage, that means exploring opportunities with natural connections to current sectors. In hospitality, for example, this could mean branching into complementary areas such as F&B concepts or technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency. Geographically, the focus remains on deepening presence in markets where the group already has a strong foothold rather than spreading too thin across new regions. Each move, Kunal says, should strengthen the foundation and extend the group’s long-term capabilities.
Steering Diversity with Unity
Having built a multi-sector enterprise in the UAE, Kunal has learned that leadership in a diversified organization requires adaptability and trust. Different industries function in entirely different ways, not only in terms of technical skills but also in mindset and culture. One of his biggest lessons has been the importance of identifying and empowering the right leaders for each business and trusting them to execute effectively.
While maintaining a unified culture at the group level is vital, Kunal recognizes the need to respect the operational nuances of each sector. The dynamics of a hospitality team differ greatly from those of a real estate or trading business. His leadership philosophy focuses on providing direction where necessary while allowing individual teams the autonomy to innovate and thrive. For him, leadership is about creating an environment where diverse teams can grow independently while staying connected to a shared purpose.
A Legacy of Purpose and Values
When Kunal reflects on the future of Group Vintage, he hopes it will be remembered as an organization that built things that truly mattered, ventures that created not only financial success but also meaningful impact. What began as a journey in precious metals and real estate has now expanded into hospitality and beyond, yet the core mission remains the same: to create something lasting and valuable.
He envisions Group Vintage as a model for future entrepreneurs and investors, proving that success is achieved by balancing ambition with responsibility. True growth, he believes, requires both courage and conscience, the willingness to take bold risks while remaining mindful of people, communities, and long-term impact.
Kunal hopes that the group’s legacy will inspire future generations, including his own children, to dream ambitiously, work diligently, and lead with integrity. Quoting Warren Buffett, he often reminds himself of a philosophy that has guided his journey: “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” For him, it is not just investment advice but a way of life, one that embodies discipline, vision, and the enduring pursuit of meaningful success.
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Quotes:
“Trust cannot be accelerated or outsourced; it must be earned, one relationship at a time.”
“For me, Group Vintage isn’t just a business; it’s a reflection of values passed down through generations and refined through experience.”
“Every opportunity we take must stand the test of time. If it can’t create long-term value, it’s not worth our time.”