Al Ghurair Introduces New Residential Concept Tessera, Bringing Townhouse Living Experience To Apartments
Al Ghurair Development unveils Tessera, a new residential address in Dubai South designed by Portugal-based architect Manuel Aires Mateus. Marking the practice’s first residential project in the UAE, Tessera introduces a new way of living where the space, privacy and amenities traditionally associated with townhouse communities are now integrated within a low-density building setting.
Tessera also builds on Al Ghurair’s long-standing experience in shaping, delivering and operating places across Dubai. Drawing on more than six decades of Al Ghurair’s presence across 8 countries, and a track record comprising of more than 20,000 residential and commercial units built and managed including nearly 1,000 hotel rooms and serviced units, Al Ghurair Development is applying this operational understanding to a new generation of design-led freehold homes.
Located within one of Dubai’s fastest-growing residential districts, the introduction of Tessera marks a defining milestone in Dubai South’s next chapter of growth, as one of Dubai’s fastest-growing residential districts continues to evolve in line with the ambitions of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Tailored for families seeking practical living spaces without compromising on connectivity or community, Tessera reflects Al Ghurair Development’s long-term vision for homes that remain relevant as the city and its residents’ lifestyles continue to evolve.
Homes designed to evolve with life
Launching with two-bedroom-plus and three-bedroom-plus homes, Tessera introduces lateral and vertical townhouse-style configurations, including duplex homes planned around a clear hierarchy of spaces rather than simply by unit size. Dedicated entrance foyers, generous dining and living areas, practical storage, private terraces and a flexible additional suite create homes that can evolve alongside the families who live in them. For example, the additional room can be configured as a study or children’s playroom, allowing residents to adapt their homes as their needs change over time.
The collaboration between Al Ghurair Development and Aires Mateus brings together Al Ghurair’s decades of expertise in building and managing real estate, and the understanding of how people live in Dubai with the architect’s focus on light, minimalism and carefully composed spaces. At Tessera, this combined approach translates into homes designed around freedom of space, practical layouts and everyday liveability.
Throughout each residence, pockets of natural light are introduced into key spaces, reinforcing the design philosophy that shaped the development from the outset. The layouts combine the openness of contemporary living with the privacy and sense of independence usually associated with townhouses.
Sultan Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Development, said: “Our approach to development is informed by our experience over the years in building and operating places across Dubai, and by a close understanding of how residents’ needs change over time. That experience gives us a strong foundation, but it also creates a responsibility to keep improving what we bring to the market. With Tessera, we are applying those learnings to a new design-led residential concept; homes with the space, privacy and flexibility that families value, shaped through the international architectural perspective of Aires Mateus. The ambition is to create homes with purpose that remain relevant for years to come.”
Manuel Aires Mateus, Founding Partner of Aires Mateus, said: “Dubai is a city defined by ambition and a willingness to explore new ways of living, making it a meaningful setting for our first residential project in the UAE. When we work in architecture, we are talking about life, how people are going to use it, how they are going to feel. Our collaboration with Al Ghurair Development has been guided by this shared vision, and their ambition to bring something important and meaningful to Dubai through Tessera.”
A ground-floor journey designed for both solitude and connection
The experience at Tessera starts at ground level, where residents move through a sequence of amenity zones designed around wellbeing, movement, family life and social connection.
The journey begins with landscaped pedestrian pathways leading to the entrance lobby before opening into dedicated self-care spaces, including indoor and outdoor training areas and a yoga studio. As residents continue through the development, the atmosphere gradually shifts towards social settings, with indoor and outdoor residents’ lounges, an outdoor cinema and a dedicated dining area creating places to gather with family, friends and neighbours.
Indoor and outdoor children’s play areas are also positioned within their own zone, while quieter seating spaces provide opportunities to relax, connect or simply unwind. Together, the different amenity zones create a natural progression from personal wellbeing to social connection.
This journey continues at rooftop level, where a resort-style swimming pool and a connected children’s pool cocooned by landscaping provide a quieter retreat, complementing the active and social character of the ground floor.
Expected to be completed in 2028, Tessera reflects Al Ghurair Development’s continued commitment to pairing internationally recognised architectural talent with the company’s long-standing built-environment experience, creating homes defined by thoughtful design, practical liveability and enduring quality.
Tessera joins Al Ghurair Development’s growing portfolio of design-led projects across Dubai. These include Weave in Jumeirah Village Circle, designed by Australian architect Joe Adsett and currently under construction; Wedyan on Dubai Canal, a 46-storey ultra-luxury residence designed by Kengo Kuma under the Al Ghurair Collection super-prime brand; an upcoming residential development in Wadi Al Safa 3, and a district-scale masterplan in Al Jaddaf.
Al Ghurair’s wider experience extends across more than 50 years of specialised engineering and construction expertise and more than 100 major construction projects. The company has contributed to the UAE’s growth through projects including Dubai Metro and the façade glazing of Burj Khalifa, while its diversified businesses continue to serve everyday life across Development, Foods, Mobility, Infrastructure and Property Management. This breadth of experience underpins Al Ghurair Development’s focus on building with purpose and for long-term value.
