UAE-based Al Ghurair Development has signed up internationally-acclaimed practice Pelli Clarke & Partners as the lead masterplan design architect for its large-scale transit-connected, mixed-use masterplan community in Al Jaddaf, Dubai.

Spanning 1 million sq ft of land across Dubai Creek Harbour, the development will bring together residential, commercial, cultural, and hospitality spaces within a walkable, mixed-use district neighbouring the planned HSR Etihad Station and the Creek Metro. 

The masterplan represents Al Ghurair Development’s largest and most ambitious project to date, and a significant step into district-scale development.

As per the deal, Pelli Clarke & Partners will design a comprehensive masterplan for a high-density district, including parks and community areas. The development will be designed to support a five-minute-city lifestyle, with daily needs, green spaces, and transit connections all accessible on foot.

Founded in 1977, Pelli Clarke & Partners has shaped some of the most recognised urban landmarks of the past five decades, including the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the World Financial Centre in New York, and Sales force Tower in San Francisco. 

On the contract award, CEO Sultan Al Ghurair said: “Al Jaddaf sits at the intersection of Dubai Creek and some of the most significant transit infrastructure planned for the city. That combination of waterfront and connectivity is rare, and it demands a development that thinks at the scale of a neighbourhood.”

“Our vision is to deliver a master community that prioritises walkability, public life, and a genuine mix of uses.

“True to its approach, Pelli Clarke & Partners will shape the Al Jaddaf masterplan around a strong public realm, designing streets and open spaces that give the community its identity and sense of place,” he added.