SINGAPORE – Johor Bahru City Square, the shopping mall that is for many cross-border travellers a first and last port of call in southern Malaysian state Johor, is set to add new offerings, including hotel accommodation and a health and wellness hub.
As part of its asset enhancement initiative, work on the mall started in November and is set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027, said the mall’s management, Johdaya Karya, in a release on Nov 3. The mall is expected to remain “fully operational” during the transformation, it added.
Some tenants, including bookstore Popular and home improvement retailer Mr DIY, had moved out of their retail spaces on the mall’s top levels earlier in 2025 to facilitate the renovation works.
Built in the mid-1990s in Johor Bahru’s city centre, it is connected to the Sultan Iskandar checkpoint, immigration and quarantine building by an overhead bridge.
Its location has meant that the shopping centre is often the first and last stop for many travellers crossing the border between Johor Bahru and Singapore.
Johor Bahru City Square’s location has made the shopping centre the first and last stop for many travellers crossing the border between Johor Bahru and Singapore.
PHOTO: JBCS
In recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which temporarily shut international borders, Johor Bahru City Square has faced competition from newer, shinier kids on the block, including Mid Valley Southkey and Paradigm Mall.
Key additions to the revamped mall announced on Nov 3 include a 15,000 sq ft children’s adventure park, a 41,300 sq ft health and wellness hub, and hotel apartments above the existing mall.
Mr Tan Wee Tiam, executive director of Olive Tree Property Consultants, told The Straits Times the wellness hub and hotel apartments can become Johor Bahru City Square’s magnets to draw visitors to Johor Bahru.
“Apart from F&B or going to the cinema, wellness services have become one of the must-tick boxes for Singaporean visitors to JB who want to capitalise on exchange rate advantages.
“Adding potential offerings like massage, beauty or slimming centres and hair salons could be a good move,” he said, adding that such services in nearby malls, such as KSL City, have drawn visitors.
“If priced competitively or even a tad higher, City Square could offer an alternative to other malls.”
The hotel apartments and renewed building facade may also be a multi-pronged draw for short-term visitors to Johor, Mr Tan said, adding that it may attract a new category of international visitors who plan to also visit Singapore but are priced out by the higher hotel rates in the Republic.
“It could be a double-win for retail in JB and Singapore because those staying close to the checkpoint would likely have plans to visit and spend in Singapore as well,” he said, noting that his firm has observed visitors from China, India and Indonesia choosing accommodation options in JB while crossing the border to visit Singapore’s integrated resorts.
He noted that Johor Bahru’s top-tier malls already have hotels attached to them, including Hyatt Place at Paradigm and St Giles Southkey at Mid Valley.
The hotel apartments above the existing mall are set to be added by the second quarter of 2028, according to Johdaya Karya.
The mall’s revamp comes at a time when the
RTS Link connecting Singapore and Johor Bahru
will begin rail operations in December 2026, with improved transport connectivity expecting to bring higher footfalls.
The mall’s floor space will be expanded by more than 20,000 sq ft to 568,927 sq ft and will house more than 300 retail outlets, along with upgrades in waste management and energy-efficient cooling systems.
“City Square has long been a beloved mall for both local shoppers and cross-border travellers,” said Mr Tho Leong Chye, managing director of the mall’s owner, Allgreen Properties group.
“We are investing in City Square’s future to ensure it continues to thrive as the vibrant heart of retail, leisure and lifestyle for generations to come.”
An artist’s impression of the new Level 2 entrance to Johor Bahru City Square.
PHOTO: JBCS
Allgreen bought a stake in the mall in 2024 from the real estate arm of GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.
The Singapore-based developer is a member of the Kuok Group, which is linked to Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok, and its retail portfolio includes Singapore malls such as Great World, Tanglin Mall, Pasir Ris Mall and The Seletar Mall.
Mr Tan, who enjoys a front-seat view of Johor Bahru City Square’s developments as his Olive Tree office is in the office tower connected to the mall, said the planned transformation of the building’s facade in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak facing the checkpoint building will likely draw visitors to the mall.
“City Square can be seen from the Causeway, and already trumps other malls with its convenient location within walking distance to the checkpoint,” he said.
“I see queues at 10am waiting for the mall’s shutters to open, City Square will still be a crowd-puller.”
