Makkah's getting its own world-class retail destination

Makkah is finally getting a retail destination worthy of the city.

Al Huda Park is set to transform the retail landscape across Makkah - a city that, for many years, has lacked a strong retail offering, whether due to the absence of renowned brands or simply sub-par quality. That is about to change.

Located towards the south-west of the city, directly adjacent to the Fourth Ring Road, Al Huda Park creates an entirely new destination for Makkah. It is expected to go live by March 2027, which puts us less than a year away from seeing 50,000 sqm of new leasable space bringing fresh brands into the city.

Neighbouring cities have long been the default for a proper shopping trip. Jeddah has its fair share of destinations, from Red Sea Mall to Arab Mall by Cenomi. With Al Huda Park, Makkah finally has a strong reason for its retail spend to stay within the city.

Across its footprint, 35,000 sqm will be given over to 300 stores, creating a platform for both local and international brands to lift the quality of retail on offer in Makkah. The remainder of the space is set aside for food and beverage and entertainment.

Hamat, the developer behind Al Huda Park, is currently inviting interested tenants, and handovers have already begun - with the likes of Panda Retail among the first to take space.

Al Huda Park is no anomaly. With the rise of residential real estate projects across the city, and fresh momentum as new deals get signed, retail destinations of this scale are becoming a necessity to serve the needs of Makkah's current and future residents.

Beyond Al Huda Park, several more destinations are taking shape: Masar Mall (also developed by Hamat), Baraka Mall (developed by Cenomi), and the Seven project (developed by PIF) near Umm Al Quraa University.

Investments on this scale will create a sizeable shift in quality of life for Makkah's residents, bringing the city on par with its neighbours across the Kingdom. Baraka Mall is expected to add 80,000 sqm of retail space, Masar Mall a further 130,000 sqm (planned to be the largest shopping destination in Makkah), and Seven another 80,000 sqm.

Through these four projects alone, Makkah is forecast to gain an additional 300,000 sqm of retail space over the next 12 to 24 months.

And the progress is not limited to retail. In recent months we have seen the introduction of the Jabal Thawr Cultural District, following the success of the Hira Cultural District by Samaya Investment Company.

The direction of travel for Makkah's retail scene is clear. With Al Huda Park already at 70% construction as of today, the pace of announcements is being matched by the pace of execution.