Melo Villareal
Largest Shopping Malls in the World
One of the things tourists ponder is the availability of shopping options at their potential travel destinations. Most people only pack essential items when traveling with the hope of buying the rest of the necessary supplies once they land. Thankfully, most of the popular travel destinations have some of the most luxurious and largest shopping malls the world has ever seen. If you love shopping when traveling, this article today comprises the 15 largest malls from around the world based on total area:
Iran Mall
The Iran Mall is the World’s biggest mall as of 2020. The mall is located in northwest Tehran, Iran, by Chitgar Lake. Its first phase opened in 2018, occupying an area of 1.4 million square meters with a gross leasable area of 300,000 square meters. Parts of it are still under construction.
The roof of the mall serves as a sports complex with long routes for hiking, cycling, and public activities. It includes 15 sports fields, tennis courts, a 12,000 square-meter ice rink, and swimming pools.
New South China Mall
Address: Wanjiang Shangquan, Dongguan, China
Measuring more than 6 million square feet, the New South China Mall is the largest in the world based on gross leasable space. It was launched in 2005 in the Chinese city of Dongguan and consists of seven regions designed to resemble major international cities including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Cairo, LA, and Venice.
According to its official plan, the mall could have more than 1,500 stores, though that mark has never been achieved. Nevertheless, there are plenty of brands and items in this mall. Virtually anything you can think of can be found within the walls of New South China Mall.
Despite being in a city with a population of around 8 million, the mall is still practically empty, even earning the nickname “the dead shopping mall”.
Golden Resources Mall
Address: 1 Yuanda Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
Also located in China, Beijing precisely, Golden Resources Mall measures around 6 million square feet. It was opened a year earlier than the New South China Mall, and at that time was the largest mall in the world.
The mall is spread across six floors with more than 1000 stalls along with a large onsite restaurant and more than 230 escalators.
CentralWorld Mall
Address: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Measuring more than 4 million square feet, CentralWorld is the largest mall in Thailand. It was opened 30 years ago and comprises eight stories. Though it seems like an up-market shopping mall, CentralWorld is loved by middle-class shoppers due to the wide range of products sold in its shops.
The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana.
SM Mall of Asia
Address: SM Central Business Park, 123 Seaside Blvd, Pasay City, Philippines
Launched in 2006 in Pasay City, Metro Manila, the SM Mall of Asia occupies more than 5 million square feet. It is the 3rd largest mall in the Philippines, featuring 1,200 shops and more than 270 restaurants as well as a skating rink, an IMAX Theater, and a department store.
The mall receives over 200,000 visitors per day. Mall of Asia consists of four buildings interconnected by walkways; the Main Mall, the Entertainment Mall, and the North and South Parking Buildings. This mall houses the World’s largest IKEA outlet.
The Dubai Mall
Address: Financial Center Street, Along Sheikh Zayed Road, Next to Burj Khalifa – United Arab Emirates
As of 2022, Dubai Mall is at the top of the list of the biggest malls in the world.
When you consider the land area, Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world. It can hold more than 1,200 stalls as well as hundreds of dining options. It is located on the Burj Khalifa occupying more than 12 million square feet, which is equivalent to the size of 50 soccer fields.
Among the famous stores in the Dubai Mall are the largest candy store in the world, the SEGA game room, an ice rink, 22 cinema screens, a five-star hotel, and 120 dining options.
The Mall of Dubai is also known for housing one of the world’s biggest aquariums.
SM City North EDSA
Address: North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines
Completed in 1985, SM City North EDSA is a mall located in Quezon City in the Philippines. When it was first launched, the mall had only 120,000 square meters of floor area, but over the years, it underwent major renovations and expansions that transformed it into one of the largest malls in the world.
The mall is categorized into five zones. Two zones are mainly office spaces, the other two are parking areas, and the last slot contains retail stores, entertainment centers, and dining options. It is currently the biggest mall in the Philippines.
West Edmonton Mall
Address: 8882 170 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 4J2, Canada
Between 1981 and 2004, the West Edmonton Mall was the largest in the world but after strings of new malls were opened in Asia, it slipped a few slots down. Nevertheless, it is still the largest mall in South, Central, and North America with an area of 3.77 million square feet.
West Edmonton Mall features the world’s largest amusement park in the world, the world’s largest indoor waterpark, as well as a miniature version of the NHL ice rink.
Within the mall, visitors can also enjoy a game of bowling, a movie, and golf.
SM Seaside City Cebu
Address: Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu
SM Seaside City Cebu is a large shopping mall located in Cebu City, Philippines. The mall includes office spaces and residential buildings.
It also has an entertainment center with an 18-lane bowling alley as well as a large skating rink. Additionally, it also features a huge cinema room and other six standard cinemas.
The Seaside Tower sprouts from the center of the mall and offers an observation deck at the top floor with 360 degrees view of Cebu City.
SM Seaside City Cebu (it’s different from SM City Cebu), occupies a space of more than 5,005,000 square feet.
Berjaya Times Square
Location: 1 Jalan Imbi; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Making an entry at number #9 is Berjaya Times Square Mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The complex features two luxurious hotels, a shopping hub, and more than 7 million square feet of floor space.
It also includes over 1,000 shops, 65 dining options, and numerous entertainment centers such as the largest indoor amusement park in Asia, the first-ever IMAX 2D and 3D theater halls in the country, as well as Cosmo’s World.
Istanbul Cevahir
Address: 19 Mayis, Buyukdere Cd. No:22, 34360 Sisli/Istanbul, Turkey
Opened back in 2005, Istanbul Cervahir is the largest mall in Europe covering more than 3 million square feet of space. As the name hints, the mall is located in the Turkish city of Istanbul and features more than 300 shops, 14 exclusive restaurants, more than 30 fast-food restaurants, and numerous entertainment attractions.
Isfahan City Center
Address: Isfahan Province, Isfahan, Dastgerdi Expy, Iran
Isfahan City Center shopping mall is located in the Iranian city of Isfahan, the primary tourist destination in the country. Though the mall is still under construction, it currently occupies more than 4 million square feet and features more than 700 shops as well as other facilities.
Persian Gulf Complex
Address: Fars Province, Shiraz, Sadra Highway? Iran
Also located in Iran, Persian Gulf Complex is small in terms of leasable space, but the second largest when it comes to the number of shopping stalls with whopping 2,500 stores.
SM Megamall – Manila, Philippines
SM Megamall is one of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines, located in the Ortigas Center business district of Metro Manila. It opened in 1991 and has undergone several expansions since then, becoming one of the most popular shopping destinations in the city.
The mall has a total area of over 5.5 million square feet and features over 1,000 shops and restaurants. It is home to a wide range of international and local brands, as well as a department store, a supermarket, and a food court. The mall also has several entertainment options, including a cinema, an ice rink, and a bowling alley.
The Mall of the Emirates – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is a large shopping mall located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It opened in 2005 and is one of the largest malls in the world, with a total area of over 2.8 million square feet.
The mall features over 700 stores, including high-end fashion brands, electronics retailers, and department stores. It is also home to a number of entertainment attractions, including a large indoor ski resort, a multiplex cinema, and a family entertainment center with arcade games and rides.
The mall’s ski resort, Ski Dubai, is one of its most popular attractions, featuring a 22,500 square meter indoor ski slope with real snow. The resort also has a snow park and a penguin exhibit.
In addition to shopping and entertainment, the Mall of the Emirates has a range of dining options, including casual eateries, international restaurants, and fine dining establishments.
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