Pelli Clarke & Partners, the practice behind Porta Nuova in Milan and Azabudai Hills in Tokyo, will design its first Dubai masterplan, a one-million-square-foot, people-first mixed-use community near Dubai Creek metro and the planned Etihad Rail station
Dubai, UAE, 14 April 2026 – Al Ghurair Development announces plans for a large-scale transit-connected, mixed-use masterplan community in Al Jaddaf, Dubai, appointing internationally acclaimed practice Pelli Clarke & Partners as the lead masterplan design architect. Spanning approximately one million square feet 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.
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 Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. The practice has also led the masterplanning of transformative mixed-use districts, most notably Porta Nuova in Milan and Azabudai Hills in Tokyo, both of which integrate transit connectivity, public space, and diverse programming into cohesive urban environments. The Al Jaddaf commission marks the practice’s first masterplan in Dubai, bringing their internationally proven approach to the city for the first time. The firm’s accolades include the AIA Gold Medal awarded to founder Cesar Pelli in 1995 and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Petronas Towers in 2004.
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.
Sultan Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Development, 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, and in doing so, establish a new expression for how communities are planned in the UAE. Pelli Clarke & Partners brings decades of experience in complex, district-scale work internationally. We are proud to collaborate with them on a project of this ambition and scale.”
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. The practice is known for creating environments that feel cohesive and lived-in, where the relationship between buildings, public spaces, and the surrounding context is considered from the outset. At Al Jaddaf, this means responding to the Creek, the area’s evolving connectivity, and Al Ghurair Development’s vision for a neighbourhood that is vibrant, considered, and built to endure.
Gregg Jones, AIA, Partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, added: “Al Ghurair Development’s vision for Al Jaddaf is innovative and ambitious. The site’s position on the Creek and its relationship to future transit infrastructure give this masterplan a strong foundation. Our role will be to translate that vision into a clear urban framework, one built around generous public spaces, a network of pedestrian connections, and a mix of uses that keep the district active and vibrant throughout the day. We are privileged to be working alongside Al Ghurair Development on a project of this scale and significance.”
The Al Jaddaf masterplan marks a key milestone for Al Ghurair Development, expanding the company’s portfolio from individual residential projects into large-scale district planning. It joins a growing body of work that includes The Weave in Jumeirah Village Circle, designed in collaboration with Australian architect Joe Adsett and now under construction, Wedyan on Dubai Canal, designed by Kengo Kuma under the Al Ghurair Collection super-prime brand, and upcoming residences in Dubai South by Portugal’s Aires Mateus, and in Wadi Al Safa 3 designed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office.
Guided by the company’s purpose of ‘In pursuit of better’, each project reflects Al Ghurair Development’s commitment to design-led, enduring spaces that contribute to Dubai’s urban fabric. Further announcements regarding the Al Jaddaf masterplan, including the initial design concept, will be made in due course.
About Al Ghurair Development
Al Ghurair Development is the real estate development sector of Al Ghurair, one of the Middle East’s most established business enterprises. Founded in Dubai in 1960, Al Ghurair has been at the heart of the UAE’s economic growth for over six decades, contributing to milestones in key strategic sectors across Foods, Development, Mobility, Infrastructure and Property Management. Its pioneering spirit has enabled Al Ghurair to create the country’s first shopping mall and mixed-use concept, establish the first private bank and private insurance company in the UAE, and play a central role in laying the foundations of modern Dubai.
Guided by the company’s purpose, in pursuit of better, Al Ghurair Development builds on this track record with a new generation of residential spaces. Each project is envisioned as a destination of distinction. They are design-led, purposeful and crafted to endure, reflecting Dubai’s dynamism and the company’s commitment to shaping the future of urban living.
For more information, please visit: www.development.al-ghurair.com
About Al Ghurair
Al Ghurair is one of the largest diversified family business groups in the Middle East, with operations in five distinct strategic sectors: Foods, Development, Mobility, Infrastructure and Property Management. Established in 1960 as a trading business, Al Ghurair was one of the first pillars of industry and commerce in the United Arab Emirates. From modest beginnings and with a proud history of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Al Ghurair family name is synonymous with the heritage, evolution, and vision of the UAE.
Headquartered in Dubai, the business’s diversified operations span 8 countries across the globe, employing approximately 28,000 people. Today, Al Ghurair continues to build on its enduring 60+ year legacy, guided by its purpose: ‘In pursuit of better’, as it strives to facilitate meaningful and sustainable change across the communities within which it operates.
For more information, please visit: www.al-ghurair.com
About Pelli Clarke & Partners
Founded in 1977, Pelli Clarke & Partners has designed some of the world’s most recognisable buildings. Their award-winning portfolio includes the Azabudai Hills in Tokyo, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong, and Salesforce Tower and Salesforce Transit Centre in San Francisco. The firm’s work for public and private clients includes office buildings, hotels, residences, performing arts centres, museums, academic buildings, libraries, research centres, and master plans. Pelli Clarke & Partners’ broad portfolio demonstrates our dedication to responsiveness to site, local culture, building character, materials, and technology.
For more information, please visit: https://pcparch.com/