Largest Shopping Malls In The World
If you travel around the world and love to shop, then you will want to know about the biggest shopping mall in the world in 2023. The world’s big shopping malls offer one-stop shopping for anything imaginable. Here is the list of top 10 Largest Shopping Malls in the World in 2023 by total retail floor area. Let’s see!
10. The Dubai Mall (5.4 million sq ft)
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| Image: archello.com |
- Location: Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Opening date: 4 November 2008
- Total retail floor area: 502,000 square meters (5,400,000 sq ft)
At over 13 million square feet, The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in Dubai. It is the second largest mall in the world by total land area after Iran Mall, and the 10th biggest shopping mall in the world in 2023 by total retail floor area. Its total retail floor area is 502,000 square meters. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it is part of the $20 billion downtown complex adjacent to the iconic Burj Khalifa, and includes over 1,200 shops. In 2011, it was the most visited building on the planet, attracting over 54 million visitors each year.
The mall also houses a 250-room luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens and 120 restaurants and cafes. It has over 14,000 parking spaces in 3 car parks, with valet services and a car locator ticketing system. The mall has won five awards – two awards at the 2004 Retail Future Project Awards in MAPIC, Cannes, for Best Retail Development Plan (Large) and Best Use of Lighting in a Retail Environment and the Dubai Mall brochure received three awards.
The mall also houses the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink for recreational skating and Emirates Ice Hockey League games, and the Emirates A380 Experience, an Airbus A380 aircraft simulator and experience for visitors to see views of the city and around the famous world’s largest passenger airliner.
09. 1 Utama (5.59 million sq ft)
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| Image: Tee Meng |
- Location: Bandar Utama, Malaysia
- Opened: September 1995
- Total retail floor area: 5,590,000 sq ft (519,000 m2)
1 Utama is one of the largest shopping malls in Bandar Utama, Selangor, Malaysia. It has an area of 5,590,000 square feet (519,000 m²) and has 713 stores. It is the largest shopping mall in Malaysia and one of the top 10 biggest shopping malls in the world in 2023. The first phase of the mall, now known as the “Old Wing”, opened in September 1995. With the demand for retail spaces inside the mall, a second phase, called the “New Wing”, was added in 2003.
Utama has several retail areas, restaurants, cafes, sports facilities, a rainforest and a bus station with national and international facilities. The mall’s current anchor tenants include AEON Department Store & Supermarket, Jaya Grocer, and department stores Parkson and Iseton.
The mall previously housed the first IKEA store in Malaysia in 1996. The mall has received several awards including Gold at AgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019 and Platinum Award for Shopping Complex at the Retail World Excellence Awards 2006/07 edition.
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08. Mall of America (5.6 million sq ft)
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| By Farragutful – Own work |
- Location: 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, Minnesota, United States 55425
- Number of stores: 520
- Total retail floor area: 520,257 m2 (5,600,000 sq ft)
Mall of America is one of the largest shopping malls located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, United States. It is located north of the Minnesota River and southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, and is crossed by the Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport.
The mall opened in 1992, and it is the eighth biggest shopping mall in the world in 2023, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. About 40 million people visit the mall annually, and eighty percent of visitors are from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Illinois, Ohio, and Canada.
In addition to the mall, there are additional hotels, restaurants, and stores outside the mall. The Mall of America and additional businesses are found in the South Loop District of Bloomington, Minnesota. Nickelodeon Universe, formerly Camp Snoopy, is an indoor theme park in the heart of the mall. The park has roller coasters among many other rides and attractions, many of which are not related to Nickelodeon, and is the largest indoor theme park in the United States. The Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium offers special events such as sleepovers, scuba diving, snorkeling, and birthday parties.
07. ICONSIAM (5.65 million sq ft)
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| Image: pprincess.com |
- Location: 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5, Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong San, Bangkok, Thailand 10600
- No. of floors: 10 (including underground)
- Total retail floor area: 525,000 m2 (5,650,000 sq ft)
ICONSIAM is a mixed-use mall on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. It houses one of the largest shopping malls in Asia, opened to the public on 9 November 2018, as well as hotels and accommodation. The US$1.5 billion project is being developed as a joint venture by Thai high-end shopping mall developer, Siam Pivot Group, MQDC Magnolia Quality Development, and Charoen Pokphand Group.
It opened in 2018 with 5,650,000 square feet of gross leasable area and over 1,000 stores, making it the seventh biggest mall in the world by 2023. The US$1.5 billion project was jointly developed by Siam Piwat group, a Thai luxury retail developer, MQDC Magnolia Quality Development, and Charoen Pokphand Group. The complex includes the tallest and 5th tallest buildings in Thailand: the 52-storey Mandarin Oriental Residence and the 70-storey Magnolias Waterfront Residence.
06. CentralWorld (5.9 million sq ft)
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| By Imtaiki – Own work |
- Location: Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
- No. of stores and services: 495
- Gross leasable area: 550,000 m2 (5,900,000 sq ft)
The eight-story Centralworld in Bangkok is the second largest shopping mall in Thailand and is slated to be among the top 10 largest shopping malls in the world in 2023. It opened in 1990 and in 2006, after three years of design and renovation, Centralworld was expanded into a 5,900,000 sq ft shopping mall and 8,900,000 sq ft campus. It tops the closest competitor, the Siam Paragon, in terms of size.
Centralworld was temporarily closed due to severe arson damage on 19 May 2010, after troops cleared protesters from the area during the 2010 Thailand political protests. The surrounding ‘Zen’ section was heavily damaged by the rioters. The Apple Store is located in Centralworld Square, just outside the Central Department Store. It is recognized as the largest Apple Store in Southeast Asia.
Centara Grand is a chain hotel built on land leased from the Crown Properties Bureau. The flagship hotel, Centara Grand at Centralworld, is connected to both the Centralworld mall and Centralworld’s offices. The Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Center at Centralworld is a 57-storey 5-star hotel. Level 22 of the hotel houses a 17,000-square-meter convention hall and several function rooms.
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05. CentralPlaza WestGate (5.92 million sq ft)
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| By Kanlife99 – Own work |
- Location: Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, Thailand 11010
- No. of floors: 6
- Total retail floor area: 550,278 m2 (5,923,140 sq ft)
Centralplaza Westgate is the largest mall in Thailand, which includes cinemas and stores. It was opened in August 2015. Its gross floor area is 5,923,140 sq ft which includes an IKEA store with a floor area of 50,278 m. Virgin Active Clubs: Thailand’s first branch with a ‘Life Center’ concept, featuring a full range of high-quality facilities, a large gym floor with advanced fitness equipment, new exercise equipment and programs. The exercise space is open and airy and includes a café and relaxation area for club members.
In 2017, it became the largest mall in Thailand with the addition of an IKEA store, surpassing Centralworld. Centralplaza Westgate has 6 floors, 1000+ stores and 7000 parking spaces. Home to over 500 Thai and international brands and global fashion brands on over 20,000 sqm, it is set to be among the top 10 biggest shopping malls in the world in 2023.
04. Golden Resources Mall (6.0 million sq ft)
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| By N509FZ – Own work |
- Location: Fourth Ring Road @ Yuanda Road in Beijing, China
- No. of stores and services: 1000+
- Total retail floor area: 557,419 square metres (6,000,010 sq ft)
Golden Resources Shopping Mall is a major shopping mall located near the Northwest Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. At the time of its opening, it was the largest mall in terms of gross leasable area. It is the 4th largest mall in the world 2023 after Iran Mall and South China Mall. It can be accessed by the Beijing Subway using Changchun Xiao Station on Line 10.
Golden Resources Shopping Mall is also known as the Great Mall of China. It has a total area of 6 million square feet over six floors. At 1.5 times the size of the Mall of America, Golden Resources Mall was the largest shopping mall in the world from 2004 to 2005.
The opening of Beijing Subway Line 10 Changchun Xiao Station in 2012 improved access to the mall. An additional subway line, Line 12, serving the mall is under construction and is expected to open in 2023. Over the years, the number of shoppers has increased tremendously due to the mall being crowded on weekends. The second phase of the mall opened across the street. Beijing’s urban expansion now places the mall in Beijing’s urban area, which is surrounded by many apartment complexes.
03. SM Tianjin (6.08 million sq ft)
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| Image: Retailinasia.com |
- Location: Tianjin, China
- Shops: 2500+
- Total retail floor area: 565,000 m2 (6,080,000 sq ft)
SM Supermall, owned by SM Prime Holdings, is a chain of shopping malls in the Philippines, with 76 malls located nationwide and 26 more to be opened by early 2022, for a total of 102 malls. The SM Tianjin Tianjin Airport will serve as the latest landmark within the economic zone. Designed by international design agency ARQ.
It also has 7 malls in China, including SM Tianjin, which is the third largest mall in the world in terms of gross leasable area. It has an area of 6,080,000 square feet and has more than 2500 shops. SM Tianjin is made up of five different buildings, each named after the five traditional Chinese elements earth, fire, water, metal and wood. It is the second largest mall in China and one of the top 10 biggest shopping malls in the world in 2023, it was opened in 2016.
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02. New South China Mall (7.09 million sq ft)
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| Image by – David290 |
- Location: Dongguan, China
- Owner: Founder Group
- Total retail floor area: 659,611 square metres (7,099,990 sq ft)
South China Mall in Dongguan, China is the second largest mall in the world in 2023 after Iran Mall. Which includes a musical fountain, food court, mosque and hotel. It is the third largest in terms of total area after Iran Mall and Dubai Mall.
South China Mall opened in 2005 and for more than 10 years it was mostly empty as few merchants ever signed up, leading to it being labeled a dormant mall. A CNN story in 2015 reported that after extensive renovations and remodeling the mall had begun to attract tenants, although large portions were still vacant.
The mall was built on former agricultural land in the Wanjiang District of Dongguan in southern coastal China. The project was led by Hu Guirong (Alex Hu), who quickly became a billionaire in the instant noodle industry. Upon opening, the South China Mall became the largest mall in the world, surpassing the Golden Resources Mall. The cost of its construction is estimated at around $1.3 billion.
01. Iran Mall (21 million sq ft)
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| By Anakarnia – Own work |
- Industry: Retail
- Founded: first phase: 2018
- Headquarters: Chitgar Lake, Tehran, Iran
- Total retail floor area: 1,950,000 m2 (21,000,000 sq ft)
Iran Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world in 2023. It is located near Chitgar Lake in northwestern Tehran, Iran. Iran Mall is the largest mall in the world by total land area of 21,000,000 sq ft, which is equal to the combined area of Dubai Mall and New South China Mall. More than 1,200 contractors and 25,000 workers participated in the construction of Iran Mall.
This facility is owned by Ayandeh Bank. The original idea for the construction of such a large complex came from the famous Iranian entrepreneur Ali Ansari, who has also been the chief executive of the construction of Iran Mall. The mall includes a hypermarket, fashion avenue, diamond and crystal atriums, three food courts with over 200 restaurants, a 3,300-square-meter book garden with 67,000 books and several book stores, and a cinema. The roof of the mall serves as a sports complex with long pathways for hiking, bicycling and public activities. It includes 15 sports grounds, tennis courts, a 12,000 m² ice rink and swimming pool.
Iran Mall has also been awarded as the Best Anticipated Shopping Mall by RLI in terms of culture and entertainment dimensions and venues. According to Guinness World Records, the longest continuous concrete pouring work has been completed in Iran Mall. This record was achieved between 1 to 6 March 2018.
Quick recap of the top 10 Largest shopping malls in the world 2023
- 01. Iran Mall – 21 million sq ft
- 02. New South China Mall – 7.09 million sq ft
- 03. SM Tianjin – 6.08 million sq ft
- 04. Golden Resources Mall – 6.0 million sq ft
- 05. CentralPlaza WestGate – 5.92 million sq ft
- 06. CentralWorld – 5.9 million sq ft
- 07. ICONSIAM – 5.65 million sq ft
- 08. Mall of America – 5.6 million sq ft
- 09. 1 Utama – 5.59 million sq ft
- 10. The Dubai Mall – 5.4 million sq ft
