Tilal Al Ghaf is a community that is designed to provide an elevated living experience in Dubai’s growing suburban centre. Built around a man-made water body known as the Lagoon Al Ghaf, it evokes the lifestyle of the city’s vibrant coastal areas while offering a tranquil family-oriented atmosphere. Sustainability is an integral part of the Tilal Al Ghaf master plan and it is a key part of Dubai’s vision for residential growth.
About The Development
Tilal Al Ghaf is the flagship project of Majid Al Futtaim Development, the real estate division of the award-winning Majid Al Futtaim lifestyle brand. Known for its high-end shopping destinations, five-star hotel concepts, and one-of-a-kind attractions such as Ski Dubai, Majid Al Futtaim has played a pivotal role in building Dubai’s reputation as a leisure destination.
As the city has rebranded itself to be a space where families can grow and prosper, Majid Al Futtaim chose to mark its own presence in the residential space by building a master-planned community that would be like no other. This led to the conception of Tilal Al Ghaf, which was officially launched in 2018 and has rapidly become one of the most sought-after areas of Dubai.
At its core, the Tilal Al Ghaf master plan emphasises creating a balanced environment where natural beauty and cutting-edge design coexist, setting new standards for how communities are built and developed across the city.
The Community at a Glance
The layout of Tilal Al Ghaf is spread across 3 million square metres and features lots of open green space. The residential component is primarily low-rise, divided up between townhouses, villas, and a limited collection of luxury mansions.
Lagoon Al Ghaf: Spanning roughly 1.1 square kilometres, this is the heart of the community and the foundation on which the grander layout was designed. The lagoon is ringed by a scenic promenade, features Dubai’s first private inland beach, and offers residents with several recreational options including paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming.
Residential Neighbourhoods: Tilal Al Ghaf contains a diverse selection of residential neighbourhoods, each one with its own unique aesthetic. Elan and Aura are townhouse communities ideal for smaller family units. Harmony, Alaya, and Plagette 32 make up the villa neighbourhoods and are divided into several phases. The top end of the residential offering comprises Serenity and Elysian Mansions, both featuring stunning contemporary homes with customisable interior layouts.
Island Living: Lanai Islands is a very unique residential space at the heart of the Lagoon Al Ghaf. It is made up of two gated island communities offering a very limited collection of mansions designed by the award-winning architects SAOTA. The islands are laid out so that each home enjoys a view of the lagoon.
Green Spaces: The master plan of Tilal Al Ghaf also integrates extensive green spaces throughout the development. There are 500,000 square metres of landscaped parks, over 18 square kilometres of walking trails, and communal gardens that provide residents with ample opportunities for outdoor relaxation. These spaces are designed to support local flora and fauna, contributing to a healthier local environment.
Commercial and Retail: Distrikt is the community shopping mall at Tilal Al Ghaf. It features several boutique retail shops, diverse dining options, and other key facilities such as a gym, spa, and pharmacy. The mall is continuing to grow, and over time more outlets and facilities will be integrated into it.
Education and Healthcare: Understanding the importance of essential services in a community of this magnitude, Tilal Al Ghaf incorporates educational and healthcare facilities within its master plan. A prominent institution is the Royal Grammar School Guildford, a sister school to the well-known RGS facility in the UK. Located near the entrance to the community, it is an ideal option for residents with children, cutting down on the necessity for a long school commute.
Sustainability Initiatives: The Tilal Al Ghaf master plan is anchored in sustainability. The development employs advanced technologies and sustainable practices to minimise its environmental footprint. It earned the ‘BREEAM Excellent’ certification last year, awarded by BREEAM, a global certification system for sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.
Architecture and Design of Tilal Al Ghaf
The design aesthetic of Tilal al Ghaf is characterised by sleek silhouettes incorporating clean lines, neutral colours, and plentiful use of floor-to-ceiling glass that creates a seamless visual connection between the interior and the exterior spaces. High-quality materials have been used in the architectural facades, as well as all of the interior spaces. Well-planned and spacious layouts help to create an invigorating environment for residents.
Several of the residential neighbouhroods, such as Alaya and Harmony, feature customisable interior elements that allow property owners to tailor the design of their homes to best suit the needs of their lifestyle. Landscaping plays a crucial role in the community, integrating local flora, water features, and plenty of greenery. Each property also has large garden and yard spaces that residents can landscape to their preference. The master plan of Tilal Al Ghaf also prioritises connectivity, with pedestrian pathways joining each neighbourhood and providing ease of access to amenities such as the lagoon and the community centre.
The Lifestyle
Tilal Al Ghaf is designed to provide a self-sustained and fully integrated lifestyle where residents can experience the languid pace of suburban life amidst verdant surroundings. The community is populated by families and the resident profile is quite diverse, including many first-time homebuyers from all over the world.
The master plan places emphasis on an outdoor-focused lifestyle, centred on the lagoon and its many waterfront attractions. Other communal spaces have also been meticulously laid out so residents are enticed to spend more time communing with nature.
Final Thoughts
Tilal Al Ghaf is a groundbreaking development that illustrates Dubai’s forward-thinking approach in regard to the growth of the city. By infusing high-end design with sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives, it has set a bold new standard for all master-planned communities. It is a perfect representation of the Majid Al Futtaim ethos, building on their previous successes in the entertainment and lifestyle space to craft a residential destination that is truly like no other in the city.
