Tilal Al Ghaf

Tilal Al Ghaf is a master-planned villa community by Majid Al Futtaim, the company behind Mall of the Emirates and the Carrefour stores in the UAE. It sits on Hessa Street between Motor City and Dubai Sports City, with DAMAC Hills and Arabian Ranches close by. Its centrepiece is Lagoon Al Ghaf, a large man-made lagoon ringed by white-sand beaches, where residents can swim and paddle.

Homes are grouped into separate neighbourhoods around the lagoon and parks. Elan and Aura are mainly townhouses, Harmony and Alaya are villas, and Elysian Mansions, Serenity Mansions and Lanai Islands hold larger homes, some directly on the water. The first neighbourhoods are finished and lived in, and the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai has been open inside the community since 2021.

This is still a community in progress. Several phases are due to hand over through 2026 and 2027, so expect construction traffic and unfinished landscaping near newer plots. Restaurants and shops inside are still limited compared with older communities, and there is no metro nearby. Most buyers accept that in return for a new home, the lagoon and a school within easy reach.

• 01

  Swimmable lagoon and beaches

  Lagoon Al Ghaf has sandy beaches for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking, which is unusual for a community this far from the coast.

• 02

  School inside the community

  Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, a British-curriculum school linked to the centuries-old school of the same name in England, opened here in 2021.

• 03

  Trails and parks

  Walking and cycling trails link the neighbourhoods with parks, playgrounds, sports courts and the lagoon, so children can get around without crossing main roads.

• 04

  Supermarket on site

  The community mall has a large Carrefour, cafés and a pharmacy, so the weekly shop does not mean a trip to Mall of the Emirates.

Most of daily life revolves around the lagoon and the parks. Residents swim and paddleboard from the beaches, walk and cycle the trails, and use the central park's playgrounds, sports courts and fitness centre. The community mall covers groceries and coffee, though the choice of places to eat inside is still small.

For more variety, Motor City and Arabian Ranches are 5 to 10 minutes away with supermarkets, cafés and restaurants, and City Centre Me'aisem and Mall of the Emirates are within about 20 minutes. The Dubai Autodrome, the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club and Dubai Miracle Garden are all a short drive away.

A car is essential here. There is no metro nearby, and the closest Red Line stations on Sheikh Zayed Road are about 20 minutes away by car. Hessa Street runs from the community straight across Al Khail Road to Sheikh Zayed Road, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road is a few minutes to the north for journeys east and towards Abu Dhabi. Bus stops in Dubai Sports City are the nearest public transport.

Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, a British-curriculum school operated by Cognita, is inside the community and has been growing year by year since it opened. Nearby options within about 10 to 15 minutes include GEMS Metropole School in Motor City, Jebel Ali School in DAMAC Hills and Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) in Arabian Ranches, and there is a nursery in the community centre. For healthcare, there is a pharmacy on site and clinics in Motor City and Dubai Sports City, while Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Al Barsha South and NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investment Park are each about 15 minutes away.

The housing is a mix of townhouses, standalone villas and large mansions. Elan and Aura offer three- and four-bedroom townhouses, Harmony and Alaya have family villas, and the lagoon-front collections sit at the top of the range. Some of the stock is finished and available to buy or rent, while units in newer phases are still being resold before handover. Buyers are mainly families moving up from apartments or older villa communities, along with investors who let to families.

When comparing homes, look at the walk to the lagoon and the school, whether the plot backs onto a construction site or a main road, and the expected handover date if buying in a newer phase. Ask about community service charges, which cover upkeep of the lagoon, beaches and parks. Townhouses closest to the community centre tend to suit families with young children best.