Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, has announced the launch of Tilal Al Ghaf, its flagship community in Dubai, UAE.

Spanning three million sq m at the intersection of Hessa Street and Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, near Dubai Sports City, Tilal Al Ghaf is a phased project that will include more than 6,500 freehold homes when complete by 2027, ranging from apartments, townhouses and bungalows, through to substantial luxury villas.

The mixed-use destination represents about Dh14-billion ($3.81 billion) worth of investment over the next 10 years, and aims to create places that nurture mind, body and soul, enabling its residents to establish meaningful roots.

In line with Majid Al Futtaim’s approach to ‘placemaking’, Tilal Al Ghaf is developed with the highest standards of urban design and planning principles in mind to offer community living crafted around people.

Authentic to the UAE culture, the community name – Tilal Al Ghaf – is inspired by the Ghaf tree which is a symbol of local heritage and sustainability. Extensive plantings of indigenous Ghaf trees will be provided across the community to encourage a sense of connection to the national natural landscape.

Announcing the launch, Majid Al Futtaim – Properties CEO Robert Welanetz said: "Tilal Al Ghaf represents the evolution of the group's properties business in Dubai. Building on our long track record of creating leading destinations that integrate the company’s pioneering retail, hospitality, leisure and entertainment experiences, we are now introducing residential real estate to our customers in the emirate."

"In doing so, we are combining our deep market knowledge and expertise with the highest quality standards to develop a mixed-use lifestyle destination that redefines community living in the wider Middle East region and stands among the best globally," stated Welanetz.

The homes in Tilal Al Ghaf will be set in a series of walkable neighbourhoods connected by pathways, natural open spaces, and neighbourhood parks.

Around 355,000 sq m of landscaped open space will include green spaces and play areas, 18km of walkable trails and 11km of cycling paths.

The centrepiece for the landscaping will be Lagoon Al Ghaf, a 70,000 sq m swimmable lagoon, complete with 400 metres of beachfront and 1.5km of walkable waterfront, enabling a wide range of water sports.

Majid Al Futtaim – Properties CEO (Communities) Hawazen Esber said: "Tilal Al Ghaf uses the principles of placemaking to look beyond bricks and mortar, investing in natural landscapes, open spaces and social activities to offer balanced community living, crafted around our residents and their needs, and nurturing those simple, human activities that bring people together to celebrate life to its fullest."

"There is a strong demand in Dubai for homes where people feel connected to their community, but a shortage of areas where that is a reality. This is what Tilal Al Ghaf offers to the market," he stated.

The community will feature four neighbourhoods, each having own unique character, with Serenity and Harmony the first two offered as part of the launch phase.

Serenity is a collection of 40 five- and six-bedroom upper luxury villas, offering unmatched waterfront views across Lagoon Al Ghaf as well as from the elevated ridge towards south-west Dubai. Harmony has a diversity of living options, from single storey bungalows to expansive three storey family villas, all with the principle of connecting indoor and outdoor spaces and linked by parkways and trails.

Villas and bungalows are available in a wide choice of mid-range to upper-luxury layouts. Many will feature a range of personalisation options, varying by type, so that residents can create the ideal home for their family, tailored to suit their lifestyle and reflecting their individual aesthetic sense. Apartments will also be offered for residents desiring a more urban sophistication.

The homes themselves will feature contemporary, minimalist design. Seeking elegance by simplicity, the design language uses clean lines and building volumes to blend rich and contrasting materials, representing a modern and contemporary lifestyle, said the developer.

‘Smart Home’ systems will incorporate innovative convenience technology into residences, such as a centralised home personal assistant allowing control of lighting, multi-room audio, smart locks and a smart thermostat, enabled by certified pre-installed WiFi, it added.-TradeArabia News Service