One of the world’s largest retail and entertainment complexes will open its doors in Riyadh in March 2027, while its hotel, residential, and office towers will be completed in a later phase

Riyadh | BETH

Shomoul Holding has announced that The Avenues – Riyadh will open in March 2027, becoming one of the largest shopping, entertainment, and hospitality destinations in the Kingdom and the region, while Mabanee has officially set the first quarter of the same year as the opening date.

Located in northern Riyadh at the intersection of King Salman Road and King Fahd Road, the project extends across a built-up area of approximately 1.8 million square meters, with a gross leasable area of nearly 370,000 square meters.

The complex will comprise more than 1,500 units, 19 cinema halls, and nine internal districts offering different designs and experiences, alongside parking spaces for more than 15,000 vehicles. Its design draws inspiration from Salmani architecture, combining Najdi identity with modern and sustainable elements.

Construction of the complex has reached approximately 89%, with leasing progressing ahead of schedule and some major units already being handed over to tenants for interior fit-out, alongside continuing testing and operational preparations.

The project is integrated with five towers comprising offices, residential apartments, and the Waldorf Astoria, Canopy, and Conrad hotels. However, these towers represent a later phase expected to be completed during the first half of 2028.

Commentary

The opening of The Avenues – Riyadh represents more than the addition of a new shopping center to the capital. It marks the creation of an integrated urban attraction combining shopping, entertainment, dining, hospitality, residential living, and work within a single destination.

The scale of the project reflects the expansion of Riyadh’s consumer and tourism markets, while simultaneously raising the level of competition among shopping centers. Success will no longer be determined by the number of stores or the size of the complex alone, but by the quality of the experience, the diversity of its offerings, ease of access, and the destination’s ability to keep visitors for longer periods.

The opening of the complex in March does not mean that the project will be complete in all its components. The first phase will bring the commercial destination into operation, while the towers will later add residents, hotel guests, and employees, gradually transforming the site from a place to visit into an urban district operating throughout the day.

The most important test, however, will be managing traffic around the project. The availability of 15,000 parking spaces indicates the scale of expected demand, but it also confirms that roads, entrances, public transportation, and the overall arrival experience will be decisive factors in the destination’s success.

The Avenues – Riyadh is not entering the competition merely as one of the largest complexes. It also represents a test of the ability of megaprojects to turn scale into experience, investment into life, and a building into a destination that endures beyond the moment of its opening.