AYALA Land Inc. is expanding its retail presence in the Visayas with the launch of Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Mandaue City, a new shopping and lifestyle destination that will house IKEA’s first store in Cebu and the Visayas region.
Scheduled to open in December 2026, the four-level mall will occupy 56,000 square meters within the Gatewalk estate and is expected to serve the region’s growing residential, office and visitor markets.
The development will be anchored by a 4,000-square-meter IKEA store, marking the debut of the Swedish home furnishings retailer outside Metro Manila and its first venture in the central Philippines.
Ayala Malls Gatewalk will also feature a mix of international and local retail brands, dining concepts, a Shopwise supermarket and two cinemas.
The project will be integrated with an office tower and a public transport hub.
“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,” Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer Paul Birkett said.
Cebu remains a key growth market for the company, Birkett added, noting that the introduction of IKEA reflected confidence in the province’s long-term economic prospects.
Mariana Zobel de Ayala, senior vice president and head of leasing and hospitality at Ayala Land, described the project as part of the company’s commitment to building future-ready destinations in fast-growing regional markets.
The project should also contribute to the expansion of Ayala Land’s recurring-income portfolio through mall leasing operations, the company said.
Ayala Malls currently operates more than 30 shopping centers nationwide and continues to expand its footprint in key growth areas outside Metro Manila.
Ayala Land shares slipped P0.08, or 0.60 percent, to close at P13.20 each on Wednesday.
