Kuwait's largest shopping mall has grown through four phases into a complex with more than 1,100 stores, though sources disagree on its exact size, parking and hours.

KUWAIT CITY, October 2026 – The Avenues, a mall in the Al-Rai area of Kuwait City, opened in April 2007 and now holds 12 districts. Its owner, Mabanee, lists opening hours of 8:00 to 22:00, but other listings differ, and store and parking figures vary by source.

The mall matters now because it keeps changing. New brands opened as recently as May 2026, and the same company has taken the format to Bahrain and, reportedly, Riyadh. For visitors, the practical problem is scale: the complex is long, has many entrances and is easy to misjudge. This report separates confirmed facts from figures that are only reported.

The Avenues Key Facts

Item Detail Status
Location Al-Rai area of Kuwait City, off the Fifth Ring Road and Al-Ghazali Street Confirmed
Owner Mabanee Company Confirmed
Opened April 2007, under the patronage of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Confirmed
Leasable area About 360,000 sq m; built-up area is given as 1.2 to 1.3 million sq m Sources differ
Districts 12 on the mall's own list; one encyclopedia entry counts 16 Sources differ
Stores More than 1,100 per the mall; some sources say 1,400 Sources differ
Parking 13,000 cars per the mall; other sources say 10,000 to 17,000 Sources differ
Hours 8:00 to 22:00 per the mall's site; other listings show 9:00, 10:00 or later Sources differ, as of October 2026
Typical visit Half a day or more; one visitor walked the full length, about 1.3 km, with lunch Reported
Main costs No admission fee found; parking and attractions are not confirmed Reported
Sources disagree on size and counts. Figures for stores, parking and area come from different years and may count different parts of the complex. Use them as approximate, and check the mall's own site or app for current numbers.

How The Avenues Developed

The Avenues grew in stages. Each phase added districts, and the later ones changed its shape from a single mall to a long chain of connected streets and squares. Mabanee owns it, Gensler is credited as designer, and the contractor Alghanim International lists it among its projects.

Period What happened
December 2006 Phase I is reported complete.
April 2007 The mall opens under the Emir's patronage.
2008 to 2009 Phase II opens in parts, in May 2008 and August 2009.
2012 or 2013 Phase III, including Grand Avenue, opens. Sources give November 2012 or November 2013, and say it nearly doubled the complex.
2013 The mall wins an ICSC Gold Award for expansion and design in the Middle East and North Africa.
March 2018 Phase IV adds five districts: The Arcades, Grand Plaza, Electra, The Forum and The Gardens. A trade report values it at about $900 million.
2019 A Hilton Garden Inn opens next to the mall.
August 2022 A Waldorf Astoria hotel follows.
April 2024 Chipotle opens its first restaurant in the Middle East here, per a retail group's announcement.
May 2026 Korea Town by Boutiqaat opens its eighth store here, according to Kuwait Times.

Mabanee later reused the name and concept abroad. The Avenues Bahrain opened on 29 October 2017. A Riyadh version has been reported for 2026, but sources give different opening quarters.

What Is Inside The Avenues Today

1st Avenue and Prestige

1st Avenue was the original district. One local source says it has more than 200 stores, mostly fashion, accessories and perfume. Prestige is the higher-end area of the first phases. Brand lists change often, so check the directory before you plan around a particular shop.

Grand Avenue

Grand Avenue came with Phase III and acts as the long spine of the mall. A visitor describes a covered walking street with different building styles and many restaurants. The same visitor parked underground at that end and walked the full length of about 1.3 km.

The Souk

The mall describes The Souk as modelled on a traditional Kuwaiti market, with Mediterranean, Persian, Arabian and Indian food. A travel listing warns that its small twisting lanes make it easy to get lost, so note your parking zone first.

The Phase IV districts

Grand Plaza is described as a public square inspired by civic squares elsewhere. A trade report says Phase IV includes a 70-metre steel and ETFE dome, called the largest unsupported one in the GCC. Electra, The Forum, The Gardens and The Arcades complete the group.

Family entertainment

KidZania Kuwait opened here in June 2013. An encyclopedia entry lists two of the three SuperPark sites, including a SuperPark Arena. A cinema and an IKEA warehouse store are also reported. Ticket prices for attractions were not verified.

Dining

Alshaya opened a Kuwaiti-cuisine restaurant, Amiti Noura, here in January 2019. A Cheesecake Factory opened in February 2013. Other listings claim more than 100 food outlets, though the number is not confirmed.

Hotels and services

The mall's services page lists visitor information, pre-booked parking, power bank vending machines and a Zakat House. A Kuwait Airways sales office is also reported. Hilton Garden Inn and Waldorf Astoria sit alongside.

Getting to The Avenues and Using the Parking

Most visitors arrive by car, and the mall promotes multi-level parking. I found no mall-specific public transport details.

Parking

  • The mall quotes capacity of 13,000 cars
  • Other sources say 10,000 to 17,000
  • Pre-booked parking is listed as a service
  • Prices were not found
  • Choose a lot near the district you want, since walking between ends is long

Hours and information

  • Mall site: 8:00 to 22:00 daily
  • A mall directory: typically 10:00 to 21:00
  • A travel site: 9:00 to 21:00
  • Another listing: 10:00 to 23:00, later on Thursday and Friday
  • Individual shops and restaurants can differ
Sources disagree on opening hours. The mall's own site gives 8:00 to 22:00, while directories and travel sites show later or shorter hours. Check the mall's website or app, and the specific shop or restaurant, before you leave.

A Worked Example of a Visit

An illustrative plan for Tuesday 10 November 2026. Times are examples only, and opening hours should be confirmed first.

  1. Check the mall's hours and the opening times of any specific shop or restaurant.
  2. Decide your main district and park in the closest lot. Note the level and zone.
  3. Start at the far end, such as Grand Avenue, and walk back toward your car.
  4. Stop in The Souk for food or tea, and keep your location in mind in its narrow lanes.
  5. Leave extra time before closing, since the full walk can take over an hour with stops.

Reported Costs at The Avenues

Item Reported cost Note
Entering the mall No fee found Not stated explicitly in sources
Parking Not confirmed Pre-booked parking is listed; check price
Attractions such as KidZania or SuperPark Not verified Separate tickets; check each operator
Food and shopping Varies Set by each tenant

These notes are current as of October 2026 and can change without notice.

Rules, Safety and Respect in the Mall

  • Rules on site. I found no published dress code or photography policy. Follow posted signs and staff instructions.
  • Modest dress. Visitors are generally advised to dress modestly in Kuwaiti public places.
  • Children. Large malls are easy places to lose track of a child. Agree on a meeting point.
  • Parking mix-ups. With so many levels and zones, note where you parked as soon as you leave the car.
  • Prayer and meal times. Some shops and restaurants may adjust hours, so avoid planning around a single tight slot.

Entry and Travel Notes

The Avenues is in Kuwait City, so you need valid permission to enter Kuwait first. Check the list of eligible countries, prepare the required visa documents and review the current visa fees.

When you are ready, you can start your application or use the status checker for one already submitted. The official portal for Kuwait's visa is run by the Ministry of Interior. This site is a private information and assistance service, and its fees are separate from government charges.

What We Know and What Is Still Unclear

  • Known: the mall opened in April 2007, is owned by Mabanee and has 12 districts on its own list.
  • Known: Phase IV opened in March 2018 and added five districts.
  • Unclear: the exact number of stores and the current parking capacity.
  • Unclear: which opening hours apply on a given day.
  • Unclear: whether Phase III opened in 2012 or 2013.
  • Unclear: parking fees and attraction ticket prices.

Voices and Sources

This report draws on the mall's own website, trade press about its expansion phases, encyclopedia entries and retail-group announcements. It also uses Kuwait Times coverage of recent store openings and traveller reviews for practical details. No interviews were conducted, and no quotes are attributed to individuals. Where sources conflict, the conflict is stated in the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mabanee Company owns and manages it, according to a retail directory. The mall's website also credits Mabanee as the developer.

The first phase opened in April 2007. Later phases followed in 2008 and 2009, around 2012 or 2013, and in March 2018.

The mall's site says more than 1,100. Older reports say 800, and one encyclopedia entry says more than 1,400.

The mall's website lists 8:00 to 22:00. Other listings show different times, so confirm before you go.

Yes, multi-level parking is promoted, with 13,000 spaces per the mall. Pre-booked parking is listed as a service.

Reports list KidZania Kuwait, SuperPark and a cinema. Prices and age limits were not verified, so check with each operator.

You need valid permission to enter Kuwait, which depends on your nationality. See the eligible countries page and, if you plan to apply, how to apply. Our refund policy and a page on visa rejection explain what happens if an application does not go through.

The mall lists 12: 1st Avenue, 2nd Avenue, Prestige, Grand Avenue, SoKu, The Mall, The Souk, The Arcades, Grand Plaza, Electra, The Forum and The Gardens. One encyclopedia entry counts 16 by splitting some districts into parts.

Final Thoughts

The Avenues rewards visitors who plan their route, choose parking near their main district and check the day's opening hours. It is large enough to fill a half day, but figures for stores, parking and hours are not fixed. Confirm what you need on the mall's own channels, and check your entry permission for Kuwait before you travel.

Disclaimer: This site is a private information and assistance service. It is not government-affiliated. The content is general information only, and details such as hours, prices and store lists may change. Last reviewed: October 2026.