The Avenues – Kuwait

The Avenues opened its first phase in 2007 in Kuwait City’s Al Rai district, inaugurated by His Highness the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The property has since become the largest and most visited retail destination in Kuwait, and one of the largest shopping centers in the Middle East.

Mabanee Company S.A.K. owns and manages the asset. Built-up area totals 1,300,000 square meters, with 360,000 square meters of gross leasable area distributed across 12 themed districts. 1st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Prestige, SoKu, The Mall, and The Souk handle the first three phases of development. The 2018 Phase 4 expansion added five further districts: The Arcades, Grand Plaza, Electra, The Forum, and The Gardens.

The tenant roster runs to more than 1,100 stores, a deliberate mix of international luxury, mid-market international, regional brands, and traditional Kuwaiti formats. Alshaya Group, the Mabanee co-shareholder, operates a substantial portion of the franchised retail space across brands like H&M, Starbucks, Pottery Barn, and The Cheesecake Factory. Hilton Garden Inn opened adjacent to the mall in 2019, and a Waldorf Astoria followed in August 2022.

Operationally, the property holds LEED Silver certification (LEED O+M) for existing buildings, the first such recognition for a Kuwaiti mall, and a Diamond rating from the Kuwaiti Health Promoting Mall Initiative. Parking accommodates 13,000 vehicles across multiple levels.

For retail expansion teams, The Avenues anchors Kuwait’s consumer market with volumes that few regional malls match outside of Dubai. Mabanee is now extending the format internationally through The Avenues Riyadh, scheduled for Q4 2026, with Saudi partners Al Fozan Group and Alshaya driving the joint venture.