Al Ghurair Development, the freehold real estate arm of the UAE business group Al Ghurair, has signed up Pessoa Prize-winning international architect Aires Mateus for its upcoming premium residential development in Dubai South featuring a mix of one- to three-bedroom units, including duplex residences.
An international practice based in Lisbon, Portugal, Aires Mateus has spent over three decades developing architecture rooted in the relationship between the physical and the cultural world.
Founded in 1988 by brothers Manuel and Francisco Aires Mateus, the studio covers key areas of architecture, interior, product and graphic design. It approaches each project through careful research into its context, seeking what it describes as the perennial state of shapes and materiality in the continuity of time.
The appointment marks the international architect’s first project in the UAE and continues Al Ghurair Development’s approach of working with internationally respected architects to deliver homes that are designed with purpose and built for generations to come.
On the key appointment, CEO Sultan Al Ghurair said: "Every architect we work with is chosen because they bring something distinct. With Aires Mateus, what stood out was their discipline. For more than 30 years, they have maintained a singular focus on precision, proportion and the quality of space."
"That aligns closely with how we approach residential design at Al Ghurair Development, where every decision is guided by quality, practicality and long-term value. We are delighted to bring their work to the UAE for the first time," he stated.
Across cultural, civic, and residential projects throughout Europe, the Aires Mateus studio has consistently demonstrated this commitment to clarity and permanence.
Notable projects include the EDP Headquarters in Lisbon, the Museums of L’Élysée and mudac in Lausanne, the Olivier Debré Contemporary Creation Centre in Tours, and the Faculty of Architecture in Tournai.
The practice has been recognised with the Pessoa Prize (2017), Portugal’s most distinguished cultural honour, alongside the Secil Prize, multiple FAD Awards, and several nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Prize.
For Dubai South, the studio's scope of work includes designing of a residential building offering one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, including duplex residences. The full architectural concept is currently being developed.
Founding Partner Manuel Aires Mateus said: "We approach each project as an opportunity to understand what already exists. The scale of the city, the light, the climate, and the way people move and inhabit space. Architecture begins there."
Aires Mateus’s approach to residential design starts with how a building is experienced from within. The practice has long suggested that domestic space should offer its residents freedom, and that the quality of a home is determined by proportion, light, and the relationship between interior and exterior, not by decorative complexity, he explained.
"It is not about adding complexity, but about clarifying what matters. In Dubai, the context is strong and very present. Our role is to respond with precision, creating spaces that feel natural to live in and clear in their intention. We are pleased to work with Al Ghurair Development on a project that invites us to bring a new perspective to a city that is always looking forward," he added.
The new development forms part of Al Ghurair Development’s expanding residential portfolio, which includes The Weave in Jumeirah Village Circle, designed in collaboration with Australian architect Joe Adsett and now under construction, alongside Wedyan on Dubai Canal, designed by Kengo Kuma under the Al Ghurair Collection super-prime brand, and an upcoming tower in Wadi Al Safa 3 near The Wilds and Al Barari, designed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. Further developments in Dubai South and a masterplan in Al Jaddaf are also in the pipeline.-TradeArabia News Service
