Tilal Al Ghaf hosts two main townhouse communities. Elan sits at the entry-level end, and Aura / Aura Gardens holds the mid-tier. Both are fully delivered and freehold, and the resale market for each is active. Prices, sizes, and lagoon proximity vary widely between them. This guide lines up the two on the metrics that matter to buyers: BUA, price per ft², lagoon access, and financing options. For the wider master-plan, lifestyle, and location context that covers both, see the complete Tilal Al Ghaf community guide.
Quick Facts
- Townhouse communities: Elan and Aura / Aura Gardens
- Bed types: 3–5 bed
- Starting price: AED 2,500,000 (Elan 3-bed)
- Developer: Majid Al Futtaim Properties
- Ownership: freehold, all nationalities
Key Takeaways
- Elan 3-bed townhouses start at AED 2.5M (approx. AED 1,050–1,150/ft²). Aura Gardens garden villas start at AED 5.5M for the 4-bed format.
- Aura sits closer to the lagoon (roughly 300–600 m vs Elan's 800 m–1.2 km), and that extra proximity adds a 10–15% per-ft² premium on resale.
- Both communities are fully delivered with live resale markets, so no developer payment plan applies to resale units.
- Aura's duplex townhouse (G+2 with roof terrace) is a product type Elan simply doesn't offer.
Elan is Tilal Al Ghaf's largest and most affordable residential community. Units come as 3-bed and 4-bed townhouses in G+1 and G+2 layouts. Every unit includes a private garden (front and rear) plus covered parking for two cars.
Built-up area (BUA) lands around 2,200–2,600 ft² (204–242 m²) for 3-bed units and 2,800–3,400 ft² (260–316 m²) for 4-bed units. Here's where resale prices currently sit:
Elan was handed over in 2022–2023, so the resale market is mature. You get an existing resident community, established maintenance standards, and the chance to walk a completed unit before you sign. Bayut price-history data, drawn from DLD transfer records, shows Elan units moving from an AED ~1.26M launch to AED 3.5–4.7M resale. That's a 2.8–3.7× uplift with +21.55% YoY in the latest rolling window.
Elan sits in the eastern section of the master plan, roughly 800 m–1.2 km from the lagoon beach. The 18 km trail runs into the Elan cluster itself, so you can walk or cycle to the lagoon. It just isn't immediately next door. Community amenities include a shared pool, a children's play area, a padel court, and a landscaped pocket park. Elan also hosts Redwood Montessori Nursery inside the sub-community.
Elan has the highest unit count of any sub-community in Tilal Al Ghaf, and that cuts both ways. Rental vacancy rates tend to run lower because tenants have more choice and comparable pricing. On the flip side, a bigger pool of sellers gives buyers more negotiation leverage. In a balanced market, 3–5% of negotiation room on Elan resales is typical.
Aura and Aura Gardens sit in the central zone of the master plan, closer to the lagoon beach strip than Elan. Most units are roughly 300–600 m out, and the Aura cluster has its own gate straight onto the lagoon promenade.
The unit mix here is broader than Elan's: 3-bed and 4-bed townhouses, plus 4-bed and 5-bed garden villas in semi-detached and independent formats. A duplex townhouse variant in some Aura sub-clusters adds a G+2 format with a roof terrace, which Elan doesn't offer.
BUA runs 3,200–4,200 ft² (297–390 m²) for townhouses, and 4,500–6,500 ft² (418–604 m²) for garden villas. Pricing:
Aura was handed over in 2023–2024, slightly later than Elan. The community has a dedicated pool, a small gym inside the cluster, a children's splash pad, and a BBQ area, so the on-community amenity set is richer than Elan's. Aura Gardens has averaged +26% YoY in resale price growth per Bayut data drawn from DLD records, with average ticket hovering around AED 4.78M.
| Factor | Elan | Aura Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (AED) | 2,500,000 | 4,000,000 |
| BUA from (ft²) | 2,200 | 3,200 |
| BUA from (m²) | 204 | 297 |
| Bed types | 3–4 | 3–5 |
| Property types | Townhouse | TH + garden villa + duplex |
| Lagoon proximity | ~1 km | ~400 m |
| Handover | 2022–2023 | 2023–2024 |
| Price/ft² approx. | AED 1,050–1,150 | AED 1,150–1,300 |
| Price/m² approx. | AED 11,300–12,400 | AED 12,400–14,000 |
| Private pool | No (community pool) | Standard in garden villas |
| Best for | Budget-conscious families, first buyers | Lagoon lifestyle, upsizers |
| Gross rental yield approx. | 5.5–6.5% | 5.0–6.0% |
New townhouse phases are in the works within Amara, and possibly further Aura extensions. Amara targets families who want a newer community with central park frontage and lagoon beach access. Starting prices are estimated at AED 3.5M+.
Amara is expected to launch on a construction-linked plan typical of MAF off-plan releases. For a breakdown of active payment plans across sub-communities, see off-plan townhouse launches.
Elan and Aura Gardens are fully delivered communities, so resale buyers can't tap developer payment plans. The standard financing routes look like this:
Cash-to-close example (AED 2.5M Elan 3-bed, mortgage buyer, non-resident):
For a full breakdown of all payment plan types and hidden costs, see townhouse payment schedules.
Elan is the entry-level community, with smaller units (from 2,200 ft² / 204 m²) and prices from AED 2.5M. Aura Gardens is mid-tier, with larger units (from 3,200 ft² / 297 m²), direct lagoon access, garden villa formats, and prices from AED 4M. Aura carries a 10–15% per-ft² premium because of that lagoon proximity and the product variety.
Elan 3-bed townhouses are among the best yield-generating units in the community, delivering roughly 5.5–6.5% gross. Rental demand is strong because Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai pulls consistent tenant demand from British-curriculum families. Dubai has no rental income tax, so gross yield is also net yield from a tax perspective.
Yes. Non-UAE nationals can get a Dubai property mortgage from UAE banks at up to 70% LTV for units under AED 5M (60% above) per CBUAE rules. UAE residents qualify for 80% LTV under AED 5M. Off-plan purchases are capped at 50% LTV across the board. You'll need a UAE bank account, income proof, and credit documentation. Islamic (Ijara) and conventional mortgage structures are both on the table.
Elan and Aura townhouses typically run in the AED 3.50–5.00/ft²/year range (Harmony villas higher) — see the full payment-plan and Mollak breakdown for per-unit detail.
Prices and rental figures are indicative market references. Verify against current DLD data and live listings before transacting. Consult a RERA-licensed broker for current inventory.