From high-end clothing to everyday t-shirts, high-heeled shoes to flip flops of every color, from fancy watches to jewelry so bright it hurts your eyes, from a candlelit dinner to a fast-food chain with burgers and fries galore, shopping malls have it all. Shopping malls have optimized the idea of convenience and provide a one-stop shopping experience for their patrons. Some shopping malls take this idea of convenience to a whole other level and are so large, you could probably fit tens of football fields in them. Here are some of the biggest malls in the world.
1. Siam Paragon – Bangkok, Thailand | Biggest Malls
With an area of 3.22 million sq ft, an impressive glass façade, and a textbook example of modern architecture, the Siam Paragon is one of the largest shopping malls in Thailand.
Aside from its massive selection of standard stores, it also has the Siam Ocean World aquarium, the Thai Art Gallery as well as an Opera concert hall. It has attractions on a global scale with Madame Tussauds Bangkok and KidZania Bangkok.
2. Berjaya Times Square – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opened in September 2003 by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, this twin-tower complex of 7.5 million sq ft contains a shopping center and two five-star hotels. With over 2.5 million people visiting the mall each month, it provides the optimal shopping experience with its large selection of stores, dining options, Asia’s largest indoor theme park, Cosmo’s World, and Malaysia’s first-ever IMAX 2D & 3D theatre.
3. West Edmonton Mall – Alberta, Canada
With an area of 3.77 million sq ft, the West Edmonton Mall is the only one on this list outside of Asia and is currently the largest mall in the Americas. It houses about 800 stores, cafes, and restaurants.
It also boasts various other attractions like the largest indoor amusement park in the world, the largest indoor waterpark in the world, Ice Palace, a miniature golf course, a movie theater, and a bowling alley.
4. SM Mall of Asia – Manila, Philippines
SM Mall of Asia one of the biggest shopping centers in the Philippines, with its area of a massive 4.3 sq ft is not your ordinary shopping center but it is more tourist aimed with its wide options in shopping, relaxation, and entertainment.
It has a 2-story entertainment complex with top-notch cinemas and contains the country’s first Olympic-sized ice-skating arena.
5. Istanbul Cevahir – Istanbul, Turkey
Located on the Büyükdere Avenue in the Şişli district of Istanbul with an area of 4.5 million sq ft, this mall, also called the Şişli Culture and Trade Centre, contains an extensive selection of shops, fast food restaurants, and exclusive restaurants.
Aside from these, it also provides several other entertainment facilities like a large stage for events, 12 cinemas, a bowling hall, and a small roller coaster.
6. CentralWorld – Bangkok, Thailand
Unquestionably a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike, located at one of the most central locations in Bangkok and covering an area of about 4.62 million sq ft, CentralWorld boasts over 500 stores, local and high-end brands aside from its plethora of entertainment options.
This was closed for repairs for a few months in 2010 after a large fire broke out in May of 2010.
7. Golden Resources Shopping Mall – Haidian District, Beijing, China
This is also known as the ‘Great Mall of China’ with a total area of 6 million sq ft is another one of the many supermalls located in China. It faced a few problems for a few years after its opening due to its location outside of Beijing. The extravagant prices of the products sold were also an issue.
8. New South China Mall – Dongguan, China
The largest mall in terms of gross leasable area (6.4 million sq ft), it is arranged based on the interesting concept of seven zones modeled on international cities. It has impressive features like a replica of the Arc de Triomphe and a canal with gondolas.
The mall, however, remained mostly empty for the first ten years since its opening due to its hard-to-reach position outside of Beijing. Fortunately, it’s a lot livelier today.
9. The Dubai Mall – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
About 12 million square feet (50 soccer fields) in size, the Dubai Mall was the biggest shopping center until 2020 based on the total area. It accommodates an astonishingly large number of shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Other than these, it also has an ice rink, a SEGA game center, a five-star hotel, 22 cinema screens, the largest indoor aquarium in the world, and is the gateway to the Burj Khalifa.
10. Iran Mall – Tehran, Iran
The Iran Mall is currently the largest mall-based on gross leasable space (21 million sq ft). The mall is located in Northwest Tehran and includes commercial spaces including retail outlets, cultural facilities, recreational areas, and a hotel.
The mall’s roof serves as a sports complex where people can do activities like hiking and cycling. It also has a tennis court, a swimming pool, and even an ice rink.
References
Loraine Balita-Centeno (2020). The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World [online]. (Last updated October 20 2020). Available at: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-biggest-shopping-malls-in-the-world.html [Accessed 22 June 2021].
Latitude. 9 of the Biggest Shopping Malls Around the World [online]. Available at: https://www.28degreescard.com.au/travel-inspiration/9-of-the-biggest-shopping-malls-around-the-world.html#:~:text=Dubai%20Mall%20%2D%20Dubai%2C%20United%20Arab%20Emirates&text=At%20over%2012%20million%20square,world%20based%20on%20total%20area. [Accessed 22 June 2021].
