Emeka Nweze
These malls are not only large in terms their Gross Leasable Areas (GLA), but are also architectural masterpieces with mind blowing features such as giant replicas of world wonders as well as rooftop gardens.
See the list below.
1. Iran Mall
Location: Tehran, Iran
Year built: 2017
Gross leasable area: 15,600,000 sq ft
Although still partially under construction, the Iran Mall is the worlds largest shopping mall as of 2019, located in northwest Tehran by Chitgar Lake. Its first of two phases opened in 2018 and occupies an area of 1.4 million square meters. The first phase includes 700 shops, a 20,000 square meter hypermarket, a fashion avenue, a diamond and crystal atrium, three food courts with more than 200 restaurants, a 3,300 square meter book garden with 67,000 volumes of books and several book stores, a cinema complex with 12 IMAX cinemas as well as a state-of-the-art 2,000-seat theater among other attractions.
2. South China Mall
Location: Dongguan, China
Year built: 2005
Gross leasable area: 7,100,000 sq ft
The South China mall which is located in Dongguan, China was the largest in the world as at when completed. However, the mall which had giant replicas of the Egyptian sphinx was initially dubbed the “Ghost mall” upon its completion because local inhabitants could not afford to shop in it, therefore could not go there. Nevertheless, recent renovation and modernisation have slowly changed its fortunes as the mall is beginning to attract more tenants and shoppers.
3. SM Tianjin
Location: Tianjin, China
Year built: 2016
Gross leasable area: 6,080,000 sq ft
SM Jinjiang is a mall in Jinjiang, Quanzhou, Fujian province, China, as part of expansion of SM Prime Holdings Philippines. SM City Tianjin has three structures that are positioned that looks like a large blossoming flower from above, symbolizing growth and new opportunities.
4. Golden Resources Mall
Location: Beijing, China
Year built: 2004
Gross leasable area: 6,000,010 sq ft
Golden Resources Shopping Mall, also known as Jin Yuan is a very large shopping mall located near the northwest Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. At the time of opening it was the largest mall by gross leasable area, more so, the mall as also earned the nickname “Great Mall of China”.
5. CentralPlaza WestGate
Location: Nonthaburi (suburb of Bangkok), Thailand
Year built: 2015
Gross leasable area: 5,923,140 sq ft
CentralPlaza WestGate or CentralPlaza Bangyai is a large shopping plaza and complex in Nonthaburi. The mall which was opened on the 28th August 2015 is often regarded as the most complete ‘Super Regional Mall’ in Southeast Asia.
6. ICONSIAM
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Year built: 2018
Gross leasable area: 5,650,000 sq ft
Icon Siam shopping mall has been called the “Mother of All Malls” and it does challenge the already impressive retail palaces present in downtown Bangkok. The mall houses 500 shops and 100 restaurants from more than 30 different countries
7. 1 Utama
Location: Petaling Jaya
Year built: 1995
Gross leasable area: 5,592,010 sq ft
1 Utama Shopping Centre is situated in Bandar Utama, Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Opened in 1995, its gross built-up area totals 5,592,015 square feet. It is the largest shopping mall in Malaysia and the seventh largest in the world. The supermall is known for its signature Rainforest which is made up of a lush tropical paradise and a Secret Garden, South East Asia’s largest rooftop garden.
8. SM City North EDSA
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Year built: 1985
Gross leasable area: 5,360,000 sq ft
SM City North EDSA is a large shopping mall located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the first SM Supermall in the country, the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the eighth largest shopping mall in the world.
9. SM Megamall
Location: Mandaluyong, Philippines
Year built: 1991
Gross leasable area: 5,100,000 sq ft
With an average foot traffic of 3.5 million daily and over 5,000 tenant partners, the SM Megamall is the second largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the ninth largest in the world. The mall is developed and operated by SM Prime Holdings., and is located in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, Philippines.
10. SM Seaside City Cebu
Location: Cebu city, Philippines
Year built: 2015
Gross leasable area: 5,064,270 sq ft
SM Seaside City Cebu, also known locally as SM Seaside or just Seaside, is a large shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings in Cebu City, Philippines. The mall was opened on 27 November 2015, and is currently the third largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the tenth in the world
