Al Jaddaf is set for a major transformation
Al Jaddaf. This neighbourhood in Dubai, sitting on the waterfront district on the Dubai Creek, has been slowly evolving over the years, and in the coming years it will be home to a huge community.
Once largely known as a district to build and repair wooden dhows, it served as a vital, traditional maritime hub for decades. In fact, Al Jaddaf means ‘The Rower’. However, Al Ghurair Development has announced plans to give Al Jaddaf a little ‘glow-up’.
Internationally acclaimed practice Pelli Clarke & Partners will lead and design over one million square feet of land spanning Al Jaddaf and Dubai Creek Harbour, introducing residential, commercial, cultural, and hospitality spaces within a walkable, mixed-use district neighbourhood.
And remember, Al Jaddaf will also be a neighbour to an Etihad Rail station and the Creek Metro (Dubai Metro Blue Line), meaning it will be easily connected to various parts of the city. The project is Al Ghurair Development’s largest and most ambitious to date and a significant step into district-scale development.
Who are Pelli Clarke & Partners? The international architecture and urban design firm has shaped some of the most recognised urban landmarks over the past five decades. This includes the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the World Financial Centre in New York, and Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.
Above: Azabudai Hills in Tokyo
On the district front, they are the masterplanners behind 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 project will be the firm’s first masterplan in Dubai, bringing its globally recognised urban design approach to the city.
Pelli Clarke & Partners will design a comprehensive masterplan for the district, supporting the five-minute city concept, where daily needs, green spaces, and transit connections are all within walking distance. The practice is known for creating cohesive, lived-in environments where buildings, public spaces, and their surroundings are shaped as one integrated whole from the outset. In Al Jaddaf, this means responding to the area’s evolving connectivity, the Dubai Creek waterfront, and Al Ghurair Development’s vision for a vibrant, considered neighbourhood built to endure.
Sultan Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Development, stated, “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.”
Speaking on the vision for Al Jaddaf, Gregg Jones, AIA, Partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, stated, “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 can’t wait to see the renders, so we will be keeping an eye on any developments.
Featured image: Pexels
Article image: Pelli Clarke & Partners
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