Johor Bahru City Square is getting a major facelift. The shopping mall connected to Sultan Iskandar checkpoint will feature hotel apartments, a health and wellness hub, and more than 300 retail outlets by late 2027.
Allgreen Properties started the multi-phase renovation in November 2025. The work wraps up in the fourth quarter of 2027.
What’s Being Added
The mall grows from 547,076 square feet to 568,927 square feet. That’s an extra 20,000 square feet of shopping space.
New attractions include a 15,000 square foot children’s adventure park. A 41,300 square foot health and wellness hub comes too. There’s also a large-format event space in the plans.
Hotel apartments sit above the existing mall. They open by the second quarter of 2028.
Retailers jump from 247 to over 300. Anchor tenants and specialty stores spread across themed floors like Fashion and Athleisure, Home and Hobbies, and International Fashion and Cosmetics.
Food precincts serving international cuisine and local favorites join the mix.
Popular bookstore and Mr DIY vacated their upper-level spaces earlier in 2025. The move made way for renovation work.
Timing the RTS Link
City Square’s revamp lines up with the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System. The RTS Link starts operations in December 2026.
Mr Tan Wee Tiam from Olive Tree Property Consultants spoke to The Straits Times about the strategy. He said the wellness hub and hotel apartments could pull in visitors.
The hotel apartments might attract international travelers from China, India and Indonesia. These visitors plan Singapore trips but find Republic hotels too expensive.
Olive Tree has noticed these travelers picking Johor Bahru accommodation while crossing over to visit Singapore’s integrated resorts.
“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,” Mr Tan said.
Green and Smart Upgrades
The redevelopment brings energy-efficient cooling systems. Smart parking, better connectivity and improved waste management roll out too.
Fighting for Shoppers
City Square opened in 1999. Its location steps from the Johor Bahru-Singapore Causeway made it a go-to for JB residents and Singaporean day-trippers.
Competition heated up in recent years. Mid Valley Southkey and Paradigm Mall pulled shoppers away during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Top-tier Johor Bahru malls already have hotels. Paradigm has Hyatt Place. Mid Valley has St Giles Southkey.
