Ayala Land’s IKEA-anchored mall in Cebu opens this December
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is expanding its presence in the Visayas with the launch of a new mall in Cebu that will host the region’s first IKEA store, strengthening its recurring-income portfolio outside Metro Manila.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ayala Malls said it would open Ayala Malls Gatewalk in December 2026 within the Gatewalk estate in Mandaue City.
The project will add a 56,000-square-meter (sq m) retail and lifestyle destination to Ayala Land’s growing mall network.
The four-level, air-conditioned complex will be connected to an office tower and a public transport hub, serving the residential, office and visitor markets in the area.
A key feature of the development is IKEA, which will occupy about 4,000 sq m. The Swedish home furnishings retailer will offer its full range of home products to consumers in one of the country’s fastest-growing regional markets.
Also, the mall will house a mix of international and local brands, new dining concepts, a Shopwise supermarket and two cinemas.
The project will also feature a central outdoor courtyard with a large-scale play element and the ARTrium, an interactive digital art hallway located at the main entrance.
Paul Birkett, chief operating officer of Ayala Malls, said the project reflects the company’s strategy of creating destinations that go beyond traditional retail centers.
New frontier
“Ayala Malls Gatewalk represents a new frontier in retail for us, aligned with our vision to create spaces that are not just commercial centers but truly experiential and deeply connected to the communities they serve,” he said.
Birkett added that Cebu remained a key growth market, noting that the arrival of IKEA underscores the company’s confidence in the province’s long-term potential.
Mariana Zobel de Ayala, ALI senior vice president and head of leasing and hospitality, described the project as a significant milestone for the property giant’s expansion in the Visayas.
She said the opening of Ayala Malls Gatewalk and the entry of IKEA into Cebu reflect ALI’s long-term commitment to the fast-growing region and its goal of building integrated developments that support communities.
Once completed, Ayala Malls Gatewalk is expected to strengthen Cebu’s retail and lifestyle landscape while supporting the continued growth of Gatewalk as a major urban center in the Visayas.
The project also forms part of ALI’s broader effort to expand its recurring-income businesses, which include malls, offices, hotels and other commercial assets.
