One-stop shopping for anything imaginable is possible in large shopping malls, especially in the 10 biggest malls globally. Our list of the 10 biggest malls globally is based on the Gross Leasable Area that these malls have and their capacity. This is in terms of square feet the mall has for properties that generate its income such as amusement, dining, and retail.
1. The New South China Mall- Beijing, China (6.46 million sq ft)
At 6.46 million square feet, the New South China Mall in Dongguan China is the biggest globally. Based on gross leasable area, the mall features seven zones modeled on international cities. It also includes a replica of the Arc de Triomphe and a canal with gondolas. Nicknamed the largest ghost mall in the world, the mall has little to no occupants. Since its opening in 2005, the New South China Mall has always been close to 99% unoccupied. Most of the occupied areas of the mall are near the entrance where Western fast-food restaurants are located. Despite this, the mall is frequented by customers occasionally. It even has an indoor-outdoor roller coaster.
2. The Golden Resources Mall- Beijing, China (6.0 million sq ft)
Before the opening of the New South China mall, the Golden Resources mall was the biggest mall globally from 2004 to 2005. Standing 1.5 times larger in size than the Mall of America, Golden Resources Mall in China is the second largest. Located outside the heart of Beijing, the Golden Resources Mall is frequented by customers and is a hive of activities. The shopping mall entails retail stores and fast food restaurants as part of its offers. At the opening of the mall in 2004, the Great Resources Mall was hardly frequented. One problem was that the prices of most items in the mall were far beyond the purchasing ability of most ordinary Chinese.
3. CentralWorld- Bangkok, Thailand (4.62 million sq ft)
The eight-story CentralWorld is the biggest mall in Thailand and the third biggest globally. The mall has marketed itself as a middle-class shopping center since its opening in 1990. CentralWorld faced a devastating catastrophe on 19th May, 2023 when it was among the properties set on fire by anti-government protesters. The fire raged on for two days, causing massive losses to the occupants of the mall. Fortunately, the mall was reopened on the 28th of September with 80% of its retail stores open for business. The mall includes facilities such as restaurants, boutiques, retail stores, and even supermarkets.
4. The SM Mall of Asia- Metro Manila, Philippines (4.2 million sq ft)
Located in Asia in Metro Manila, the Philippines, the SM Mall of Asia is the fourth biggest mall globally. Opened officially in 2006, the mall consists of four buildings interconnected by walkways. It also features a 20-seater tram which is used to take shoppers around the mall grounds. The mall is fancied mostly because of its IMAX theater which has one of the world’s biggest 3D screens. Furthermore, one of the main attractions of the mall is its Olympic-sized ice skating rink. It is capable of accommodating competitive figure skating, recreational skating, and even ice hockey.
5. The Dubai Mall- Dubai, UAE (3.77 million sq ft)
Part of the Burj Khalifa complex, the tallest building in the world, the Dubai Mall is the fifth biggest mall globally based on gross leasable area. Based on size, the Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world. It is over 12 million square feet, which is equivalent to more than 50 soccer fields. Based on the total area, it’s the biggest mall globally. The mall contains more than 1,200 shops including the world’s largest candy store. It also features a SEGA game center which has a 3D bowling game as part of its services. It includes a 5-star luxury hotel, 120 restaurants and cafes, and 22 cinema screens. The fifth biggest mall globally also features one of the largest aquariums in the world.
6. The West Edmonton Mall- Edmonton, Canada (3.77 million sq ft)
Being the same size as the Dubai Mall in terms of gross leasable area square feet but less by some stalls, the West Edmonton Mall is the sixth biggest mall globally. The mall is located in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, and is the biggest mall in the Americas. It was the largest shopping mall in the world from 1981 to 2004. One of its main features is that it includes one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. It also includes the largest indoor water park in the globe. Other attractions include an 18-hole miniature golf course, a movie theater, and a bowling alley. It has about 800 stores offering different services in the mall.
7. The SM Megamall- Metro Manila, Philippines (3.6 million sq ft)
With a daily foot traffic of 800,000 people with a maximum capacity of 4 million people, the SM Megamall is the seventh biggest mall globally based on gross leasable area. Opened in 1991 and located in Metro Manila, it is one of the largest malls in the Philippines. The mall features two buildings where it has building A and building B. Building A encompasses the Toy Kingdom, food courts, cinemas, and even a bowling alley. Building B is home to the retail shops located in the mall with the bridge way connecting the two buildings containing several eateries. The SM Megamall is currently under major expansion and renovation construction. When complete, the mall will be hailed as the biggest shopping mall in the Philippines.
8. Istanbul Cevahir- Istanbul, Turkey (3.47 million sq ft)
Located in Istanbul, Turkey, the Istanbul Cevahir is the biggest mall in Istanbul and the eighth-biggest mall globally. Opening its doors in 2005, the Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Center is the biggest mall in Europe. The mall has 343 shops, 14 exclusive restaurants, and 34 fast-food restaurants in the shopping center. Other facilities include a small roller caster, entertainment facilities, a large stage for events, and even a bowling hall. It also includes 12 cinemas.
9. Berjaya Times Square- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (3.44 million sq ft)
The Berjaya Times Square mall, a twin complex containing a shopping center and two 5-star hotels, is the ninth biggest mall globally. The mall has 7.5 million square feet of built-up floor area making it the fifth-largest building in the world. The Berjaya Times Square is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and it includes more than 1,000 retail shops. It also includes 65 food outlets and several entertainment attractions. One of its major attractions is its indoor theme park, the largest in Asia. It also includes Cosmo’s World and Malaysia’s first-ever IMAX theater with 2D and 3D screens.
10. Siam Paragon- Bangkok, Thailand (3.22 million sq ft)
Considered one of the biggest malls in Bangkok, Thailand, Siam Paragon is the tenth biggest mall globally based on gross leasable area. Only CentralWorld is larger than it is in Bangkok. It entails several restaurants and specialty stores. It also includes a multiplex movie theater, the Siam Ocean World, and even the Thai Art Gallery. It also entails a karaoke center, a large bowling alley, and an opera concert.
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