You’re probably familiar with huge shopping malls in the US, like the Mall of America, or the American Dream. But are these retail spaces still the largest malls in the world? Or have other locations taken the crown?
Spoiler: they have. 👀
Us folks at Fugo were just as curious as you, so we set out to find the biggest malls in the world based on square footage, number of shops, and average daily visitors. We’ve also taken a deep dive into their amenities and fun facts so you can see why these malls have risen to the top.
First: a note on how we picked the biggest malls in the world
Calling something the ‘biggest’ is a lot like calling something the ‘reddest’: everyone defines it differently depending on their context, history, and experiences. So when researching malls with different amenities, square footage, and retail spaces, we set out to make a list based on empirical data.
We took the following factors into account:
- Gross Leasable Area (GLA): This is the most standard metric used to define mall size. It includes only space available for rent to retailers and businesses, so not just walking space or parking lots.
- Number of stores: A mall with 1,000+ shops will look a whole lot different from one with one or two department stores. More stores typically means more foot traffic, more variety, and a bigger retail footprint overall.
- Visitor traffic: We factored in daily, monthly, or annual visitor stats to find malls with above-average attendance. Because even if a mall has above-average square footage, it will look like a bit of a ghost mall without above-average foot traffic.
- Global recognition: Some malls have become tourist destinations in their own right. We gave extra weight to those with international acclaim or cultural impact.
- Amenities. You pretty much always expect to see a cinema complex in the mall. But ice rinks, water parks, and indoor roller coasters?! That’s a totally different playing field.
- Local and regional impact: Malls that dominate in their region, even if they’re not globally famous, still made their way to the list. We also considered their size and foot traffic compared to other large malls without as much of a regional pull.
- Technical innovations. We were specifically looking for some of the largest shopping malls with an eye for technical innovation and
How the biggest shopping malls in the world compare
First, let’s break it down in this quick comparison chart:
Now, let’s take a closer look at the biggest malls in order:
Iran Mall: Tehran, Iran, Middle East
- Total Shops: 708
- Total Space: 1,950,000 m2 (21 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: 200,000+
As the new world’s largest mall as of 2018, the Iran Mall surpasses the previous largest shopping center by a whopping eight million square feet. It took 25,000 workers nearly four years to complete construction, which as of 2025, is still within its first phase only.
This massive shopping mall includes an olympic-sized ice rink, a library, 200+ stores, and even a car showroom for any gearheads in the room. But one of its biggest claims to fame is its sheer footprint in Tehran. Estimates suggest as many as 200,000 visitors per day during the busy season.
The Iran Mall is also quite technologically advanced, particularly when it comes to its digital signage program. Since this mall is positively massive, you’ll find touch content and kiosks strategically placed in heavy walking areas. Content can be easily updated and deployed from anywhere with an internet connection — a must-have feature for such a massive commercial area.
Amenities at the Iran Mall
- 3,600 square meter ice skating rink
- Three-story library with more than 67,000 books
- Over a hundred restaurants across three food courts
- A diamond and crystal atrium
- Dedicated health and fitness club
- Bowling alley
Iran Mall fun facts
- The Iran Mall broke a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous concrete pour in the world. If you’re curious, the final number was five days, four hours, and eleven minutes, achieved on March 6, 2018.
- The modern Iran Mall joined the list of ‘biggest shopping malls’ in 2018, but it’s technically not complete — just in phase one.
- If you spent just five minutes in every store inside Iran Mall, it would take nearly three days to visit each one.
The Avenues Mall: Al Rai, Kuwait
- Total Shops: 1,400+
- Total Space: 1,200,000 m2 (13 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~132,143
The Avenues Mall is one of the largest malls in the Middle East — and quite possibly one of the most luxurious shopping destinations on the planet. With more than 1,400 stores and nearly 13 million square feet of retail space, this shopping center is a little less ‘mall’ and a lot more ‘indoor city.’
You can walk through 12 distinct ‘districts’ inside the Avenues Mall, including high-end areas like Prestige (featuring luxury brands like Chanel and Cartier), Grand Avenue (designed like an open-air European street), and The Souk (modeled after a traditional Kuwaiti market). There’s even an entire district called The Forum, which hosts pop-ups and art installations.
But quite possibly the coolest feature of The Avenues Mall is in the Electra district: a 360-degree, 600-square-meter signage screen with interactive LED technology for visitors. This could emulate a waving flag, a series of ‘ripples’ on water, and even a waterfall tunnel for visitors to enjoy.
Amenities at The Avenues Mall
- A ‘luxury goods’ wing featuring designer brands like Versace, Dior, and Louis Vuitton
- The Electra digital signage wall
- KidZania edutainment center
- An indoor theme park called Magic Planet
- Multiple cinemas
- Two luxury hotels (Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Garden)
- Dozens of sit-down restaurants, cafes, and fast food chains
The Avenues Mall fun facts
- The Avenues Mall aims to welcome over 48 million visitors a year, which is more than the population of Canada.
- You can find Arabic, Dutch, Indian, Italian, Swiss, Turkish, and French restaurants at The Avenues, making it the most internationally diverse widespread area in Kuwait.
- The Avenues is so large that it has its own dedicated exit off the highway and over 17,000 parking spaces.
IOI City Mall: Putrajaya, Malaysia
- Total Shops: 651
- Total Space: 821,000 m2 (8.84 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~66,600
IOI City Mall is the largest shopping center in Malaysia (as well as one of the largest buildings in Southeast Asia). This two-phase retail mega complex is located right outside Kuala Lumpur and is located just 30 minutes from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
There might be fewer stores here than other mega-malls, but make no mistake: that’s because IOI City Mall wanted room for more than just shopping centers. Here, you’ll find a massive rooftop sports complex, plus Southeast Asia’s largest indoor ice-skating rink. It also houses District 21 — a post-apocalyptic-themed adventure park complete with rope courses, zip lines, and a giant trampoline park.
But the cherry on top is IOI’s sleek use of indoor digital signage, which like a fine wine, only gets better over time. If you visit, you’ll find large-scale LED screens and anti-reflection retail window displays that keep shoppers updated on events, promos, and mall navigation, all while enhancing the mall’s futuristic feel.
Amenities at IOI City Mall
- Olympic-sized ice skating rink
- District 21 Adventure Theme Park
- IOI Sports Centre with badminton courts, a rock wall, and futsal pitches
- GSC cinema with IMAX and Gold Class experiences
- Urban wildlife adventure park (IOI City Farm)
- Integrated connection to Le Meridien Putrajaya Hotel
IOI City Mall fun facts
- The IOI City Mall isn’t technically located in Putrajaya. It’s actually located in the Sepang district of Selangor, which is a five-ish mile drive from the capital.
- The mall spans the same square footage as approximately 154 football fields — so bring comfy shoes if you plan to explore it all.
- Like The Dubai Mall, there’s a Symphony Walk featuring dancing musical fountains between 7:20 PM and 10 PM. Come early if you want to catch the show!
Isfahan City Center: Isfahan, Iran
- Total Shops: ~700
- Total Space: 776,000 m2 (8.35 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~200,000
Isfahan City Center is one of Iran’s largest shopping destinations, and one of the few mega malls in the world that includes a museum, five-star hotel, and international financial center under the same roof. Located in the heart of Iran, this mixed-use complex spans eight levels and brings in an estimated 200,000 visitors per day.
There’s more than just shopping to Isfahan City Center, though. You’ll find everything from an indoor amusement park and hypermarket to luxury cinemas and an expo center, all spread across more than eight million square feet.
It’s also one of the first major malls in the region to fully embrace digital signage — including LED video walls and modern navigation kiosks to guide visits through its multi-level layout. Its digital signage system is also synchronized across multiple zones, which can help with crowd flow and promotions during busy hours.
Amenities at Isfahan City Center
- Indoor amusement park (City Center Land)
- Multiplex cinema with IMAX
- Five-star hotel with 350+ rooms
- International financial center
- Hotel and office tower
Isfahan City Center fun facts
- At one time, Isfahan City Center housed the biggest indoor amusement park in the Middle East. You can still visit City Center Land to this day.
- Despite more than eight million square feet, ICC only offers 5,500 car spaces. If you want premium parking, you’ll need to come early.
- ICC used to be the largest shopping centre in Iran when it was constructed in 2012. But as shopping malls continue to grow, it slowly lost its competitive edge. It officially became the second-largest mall in Iran when the Iran Mall opened in 2018.
South China Mall: Dongguan, China
- Total Shops: 2,350
- Total Space: 659,612 m2 (7.1 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~100,000 goal (true numbers unreported)
The South China Mall once held the title of largest mall in the world by leasable space — but for years, it was also known as one of China’s most infamous ‘ghost malls.’ Despite its enormous size and capacity for over 2,000 shops, it struggled with low foot traffic for more than a decade after its 2005 debut.
That’s changed significantly in recent years. These days, a mix of renovations, attractions, and improved branding has brought South China Mall back to life. Today, visitors can explore themed areas based on global cities (like Paris and Venice), plus amusement rides, a full-size indoor rollercoaster, and state-of-the-art digital displays that modernize the mall’s experience.
The new South China Mall is a much livelier place with its updated amenities and state-of-the-art digital signage displays. A big piece of the puzzle was installing lighting and digital signage screens for a year-round night market, which has contributed to significant attendance gains in recent years.
Amenities at South China Mall
- Global-themed shopping zones (Paris, Amsterdam, California, etc.)
- Indoor roller coaster ride and amusement rides
- Rooftop gardens and event venues
- A marine park called Sea Cube
- Indoor canal rides
South China Mall fun facts
- The South China Mall was 99% vacant for multiple decades after opening, despite being technically the largest mall by total area.
- The mall’s revitalization included a massive investment in indoor LED displays and interactive signage to attract younger crowds. And you know what? It worked. 😎
- The South China Mall was one of the most expensive malls ever built, with an estimated price tag of $1.3 billion USD.
SM Mall of Asia: Pasay (Metro Manila), Philippines
- Total Shops: 663
- Total Space: 589,891 m2 (6.35 million sq ft
- Daily Visitors: ~200,000
SM Mall of Asia — affectionately known as ‘MoA’ — is the Philippines' pride and joy. And yes, you read that correctly: it really does have 663 shops, plus 217 dining establishments. You and your Fitbit will definitely get a workout.
MoA is part shopping center, part entertainment district, and part beachfront escape. It features an IMAX theater (with the largest screen in the country), a sprawling seaside amusement park, a science museum, and even its own concert arena (the Mall of Asia Arena) that hosts everything from NBA pre-season games to K-pop superstars.
MoA also makes use of sleek digital signage throughout its enormous campus, from wayfinding kiosks to promotional LED walls. It even supports smart parking and digital queueing systems to help with mall-wide crowd management — a must when you have 200,000+ visitors roaming around on a Saturday afternoon.
Amenities at SM Mall of Asia
- SM by the Bay Amusement Park with a giant Ferris wheel
- Olympic-sized ice skating rink
- Mall of Asia Arena (16,000+ seats)
- Science Discovery Center & Planetarium
- Fireworks displays every weekend
- Seaside esplanade with views of Manila Bay
Fun facts about SM Mall of Asia
- In order to reach such a massive size, the SM Mall of Asia has needed to reclaim land (i.e., fill in part of the bay). The mall expects to reclaim a whopping 1,047 hectares (or 2,590 acres) when all phases are complete.
- The MOA Globe in front of the mall entrance is one of the most Instagrammed landmarks in the country. Just ask Traveloka!
- Speaking of the MOA Globe — you should know it’s more than just a statue. The sphere was turned into an LED display called ‘Globamaze’ in 2009, and today acts as a 360° electronic billboard.
SM City Tianjin: Tianjin, China
- Total Shops: 1,000+
- Total Space: 565,000 m2 (6.080 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~200,000
SM City Tianjin may not get the same level of fanfare as other mega-malls on this list, but make no mistake: this Chinese behemoth is still one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Located just outside of Beijing in the Binhai New Area, it’s the SM company’s largest project in China and currently the largest shopping center in China.
The mall is (literally) designed around a “five-star” concept. Each of the five buildings (nicknamed Metal, Wood, Fire, Water, and Earth) are shaped like a star, then connected to one another via pedestrian-friendly walkways. This makes navigation easy, even with over a thousand stores, 50 restaurants, and enough activities to keep you busy for days.
Like other SM malls, digital signage is baked into the customer experience from the get-go. It won’t take long to notice its massive LED directories, digital ads, and screen-powered promo zones. These are all designed to keep the space modern, high-tech, and easy to explore. They also make it easy to navigate wherever you need to go.
Amenities at SM City Tianjin
- Five interconnected star-shaped retail buildings
- Multiplex cinema and bowling alley
- Kid-friendly play zones and edutainment centers
- Outdoor plazas for events and festivals
Fun facts about SM Tianjin
- SM Tianjin was designed by architecture firm Arquitectonica. This is the same team behind the Mall of Asia in the Philippines.
- The mall's five-star layout covers 530,000 square meters of leasable space, which is roughly the same size as 110 football fields.
- Combined with other SM malls, SM Supermalls reached 5.2 million average daily visitors by the end of 2024.
Golden Resources Mall: Beijing, China
- Total Shops: 750+
- Total Space: 557,419 m2 (6 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: ~50,000 goal (true numbers unreported)
Nicknamed “The Great Mall of China,” Golden Resources Mall had a rocky start. It originally opened in a then-undeveloped part of Beijing, which meant most residents couldn’t reach it (and it was more of a ghost mall as a result). But the area has grown rapidly since 2004: the mall now boasts more than 750 stores, multiple supermarkets, and a dedicated entertainment district for both kids and kids at heart.
While other malls chased modern tech from the start, Golden Resources took a more traditional approach. It’s now playing catch-up with digital signage to advertise everything from fashion boutiques to electronics megastores to Beijing’s first large-scale Western supermarket.
Despite its size, Golden Resources is known for its somewhat quieter shopping environment — especially when compared to Beijing’s more bustling malls. If you’re looking for a little less shopping chaos with a lot more square footage, then this is a mall you should definitely check out.
Amenities at Golden Resources Mall
- Multi-level department stores
- Electronics and appliance superstores
- Fashion and accessory retailers
- Western-style supermarkets
- Indoor amusement facilities
Fun facts about Golden Resources
- The Golden Resources Mall cost nearly $1.3 billion USD to build. For context, that’s more expensive than Australia’s Parliament House.
- The “Great Mall of China” was once the largest mall by gross leasable area. It was overtaken by the South China Mall in 2005.
- The Golden Resources Mall is still 1.5 times the size of the Mall of America. However, additional expansions may be coming that increase the size difference further.
Central WestGate: Nonthaburi (Bangkok Metropolitan Region), Thailand
- Total Shops: 500+
- Total Space: 550,278 m2 (5.9 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: Not disclosed
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to shop inside a theme park, Central WestGate is the answer. This modern mall is known for its colorful, imaginative architecture, as well as the largest IKEA in Southeast Asia (which takes up over 10% of the mall’s total space).
But there’s more to Central WestGate than just cool furniture. This is a family destination first and foremost, with a massive food court, full-sized supermarket, cinema complex, and even multiple zones for live performances. There’s even a monorail and kid-friendly zones that make it feel more like an indoor adventure than a regular mall.
Digital signage at Central WestGate helps manage its sheer scale. Smart displays throughout the building guide visitors to sales, events, and store locations — a must for a mall where it’s not uncommon to spend an entire day. You’re also not far from premium destinations for digital signage shopping, including many retailers in nearby Singapore.
Amenities at Central WestGate
- IKEA West Bangkok (50,000+ m²)
- Cineplex with multiple screens and formats
- Monorail-style transport within the complex
- Giant supermarket and electronics megastores
- Kid-friendly entertainment areas and karaoke center
Fun facts about Central WestGate
- IKEA’s footprint at the Central WestGate mall is equal to about 12 football fields.
- The IKEA store at Central WestGate is a whopping 50,278 square meters, which is 10% of the mall’s entire gross leasable area.
- The mall connects directly to Bangkok’s MRT Purple Line. If you’re staying further away from the mall for walking purposes, you can literally jump on a train to Central WestGate station.
centralwOrld: Bangkok, Thailand
- Total Shops: 600
- Total Space: 550,000 m2 (5.9 million sq ft)
- Daily Visitors: Not disclosed
Not to be confused with Central WestGate, centralwOrld mall is one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks. This is a sprawling multi-level complex featuring everything from Uniqlo and Apple to luxury Thai designers and mega bookstores, with the ability to hold more than 100,000 people at once.
Inside, you’ll find massive digital signage walls guiding you between zones, brands, and big seasonal campaigns. Outside, you’ll find a massive plaza becomes the city’s de facto New Year’s Eve venue — complete with digital countdowns, fireworks, and LED projections.
Fun fact: centralwOrld technically exceeds one million square meters if you count the two high-rise towers attached to the main mall. That means this isn't just one of the largest malls in Thailand — it’s one of the largest multi-use urban centers in the world.
Amenities at centralwOrld
- Zen department store and Thai designer fashion hub
- Two office towers and luxury hotel access
- Gourmet food hall and flagship restaurants
- Year-round cultural events and exhibitions
- Direct skywalk access to other Bangkok malls
Fun facts about centralwOrld
- The mall features a Buddhist shrine on its front lawn, which is frequently visited by locals and tourists.
- This mall was originally named “World Trade Center” until being rebranded as centralwOrld in 2005.
- If you include the two skyscrapers attached to centralwOrld, the full complex would be 1,024,000 m2 (11.02 million sq ft). For context, this is bigger than the IOI City Mall, which already ranks as the third-largest mall in the world ranked by gross leasable area.
Honorable mentions for the world’s biggest malls
We’ve talked about a lot of amazing malls on this list. But what about the runner-ups with similarly impressive square footage? Or wildly popular locations like the Mall of America?
Below is a list of six honorable mentions that still deserve recognition as one of the biggest shopping malls in the world.
ICONSIAM (Icon Siam)
ICONSIAM’s tagline is ‘where miracles happen’ — which honestly, isn’t too far from the truth. It’s one of the only malls in the world that has a unique indoor floating market (yes, literally floating), plus an art gallery, several residential buildings, and a 3,000+ person auditorium for events. Just be prepared to brace for the crowds: as many as 140,000 visitors tour its 5,650,000 square feet of retail space to enjoy the sights (and sounds) of downtown Bangkok.
Bet you didn’t expect it so low on this list! But contrary to popular belief, the Mall of America is technically the 12th largest mall in the world (and the #1 largest mall in the US). That’s not to say it’s not extraordinarily impressive. You’ll find more than 5.6 million square feet and 520 shops, plus an indoor amusement park (Nickelodeon Universe), mini golf, and a virtual reality park located at the center of the mall.
Not to be confused with the American Dream Mall, the Dream Mall of Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s largest shopping mall. You’ll find 1,100+ retail spaces in its 4.1 million sq ft, plus a nine-screen cinema, a Hello Kitty-themed dining hall, and a rooftop amusement park featuring a full-size Ferris wheel. It also connects directly to public transport, making it easy for its thousands of daily visitors to drop in for shopping, food, or a spin on the wheel.
See for yourself in this POV walking tour.
The Mal Taman Anggrek (literally translated as “Orchid Garden Mall”) combines traditional retail with full-blown entertainment. With over 4.2 million sq ft of gross floor area available, it fits a whole lot of fun under just one roof.
Inside, you’ll find seven residential towers, 500+ retail stores, and the country’s very first indoor ice-skating rink. Outside, you’ll find one of the world’s longest LED displays, which stretches across the entire building’s façade in brilliant, flashing colors.
Canada’s famous West Edmonton Mall is less of a shopping center and more of an entertainment center (think theme park meets water park meets resort). There’s a lot to see in 5.3 million square feet of space, including 800 stores, two hotels, an indoor amusement park, a pirate ship, and the world’s largest indoor wave pool. It was the largest mall in the world until 2004 and remains the largest in North America by number of attractions.
When it comes to luxury and sheer wow-factor, few malls can hold a candle to The Dubai Mall. It’s home to a 10-million-liter aquarium, an Olympic-sized ice rink, and the world’s largest candy store (the famous Candylicious).
There’s more than 5.4 million square feet housing 1,200 stores, so you’ll never run out of things to do. And if that’s not enough, you can pop outside to catch a view of the Burj Khalifa — the tallest structure in the world — or the Dubai Fountain’s nightly water shows.
Largest shopping malls by region
So we’ve looked at the world’s biggest malls in general — but not necessarily the biggest malls by area.
Here’s a quick glimpse of the biggest shopping malls by region of the world:
- South China Mall: Largest in China
- Mall of America: Largest in the US
- Blockbuster Mall: Largest in Ukraine
- Lotte World Mall: Largest in South Korea
- West Edmonton Mall: Largest in Canada (350,000 m2 / 3,800,000 sq ft)
- Sarath City Mall: Largest in India (270,000 m2 / 2,900,000 sq ft)
- Greenwich Mall: Largest in Russia (258,673 m2 / 2,784,330 sq ft)
Biggest malls by US state
Where’s the biggest shopping mall in your neck of the woods?
Here’s a quick run-down of the biggest malls by US state*:
*Square footage represents total retail space (Gross Leasable Area)
FAQs about the biggest malls in the world
Q: What are the top 10 biggest malls in the world?
In order of square footage, the top 10 biggest malls in the world include:
- Iran Mall
- The Avenues Mall
- IOI City Mall
- Isfahan City Center
- South China Mall
- SM Mall of Asia
- SM City Tianjin
- Golden Resources Mall
- Central WestGate
- CentralWorld
Q: What are the top 10 biggest malls in the US?
As of 2025, the top 10 biggest malls in the US are:
- Mall of America
- American Dream Mall
- The Galleria
- King of Prussia Mall
- Aventura Mall
- South Coast Plaza
- Del Amo Fashion Center
- Tysons Corner Center
- Ala Moana Center
- Destiny USA
Q: Is Mall of America the largest in the world?
No, the Mall of America isn’t the largest shopping mall in the world. By a square footage comparison, it’s only the 12th largest in the world. The current largest mall in the world is Iran Mall at 1,950,000 m2 (21,000,000 sq ft).
Q: What is the largest outlet mall in the US?
Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet mall in the US. This mall is located in Sunrise, Florida and boasts more than 355 stores, 70 luxury outlets, and 16 restaurants across 2.4+ million sq ft. For context, that’s bigger than 41 football fields chained together (including the end zones).
