1 Utama
1 Utama is a large Malaysian shopping and lifestyle complex in Bandar Utama, combining retail, dining, entertainment, sports, nature-themed attractions and transport facilities.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
1 Utama is a major shopping centre located in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. It was developed as part of the Bandar Utama township created by See Hoy Chan Holdings Group and has grown from a single retail phase into a large mixed-use lifestyle destination. The original section, now generally known as the Old Wing, opened in August 1995 after the developer identified strong demand for a regional shopping centre serving the expanding residential and commercial district. The mall was fully leased at opening and was anchored by the Malaysian operations of Jusco, which later became AEON. The centre expanded substantially in response to rising visitor numbers and a waiting list of prospective tenants. Its New Wing was developed in the early 2000s, soft-opened in December 2003 and formally opened in April 2004. The expansion increased the number of retail lots from approximately 220 to about 600 and linked the two principal sections with a covered pedestrian bridge. Rather than functioning only as a conventional mall, the New Wing introduced attractions such as an aviary, zoo elements, a diving pool and a climbing wall. A rainforest feature, planted inside the complex in 2003, became one of the centre's distinctive environmental and experiential elements. The Old Wing underwent a major renovation beginning in 2011. The project refreshed the original building, relocated the Jusco supermarket, added cinema capacity and improved access to the adjacent 1 First Avenue office development. A further extension, known as 1 Utama E, opened in January 2018. This phase added approximately 592,015 square feet of space and emphasized sport, leisure and entertainment, including a surfing pool, an indoor skydiving wind tunnel, restaurants and cafes. It also added parking capacity and improved pedestrian access to the Bandar Utama transit interchange. The completed complex contains approximately 5.59 million square feet of total floor area, including about 203,000 square metres of retail space, and has around 713 stores. Its tenant mix spans mass-market and premium retail, department stores, supermarkets, specialty shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and recreational operators. Current or recent anchor operations have included AEON Department Store and Supermarket, Jaya Grocer and Parkson. Former tenants included Tangs, Isetan, Cold Storage, MPH Bookstores and IKEA's first Malaysian store, which opened at 1 Utama in 1996 before relocating to Mutiara Damansara in 2003. 1 Utama's non-retail offer includes cinemas operated by TGV Cinemas and GSC, a bowling facility, climbing attractions, a baseball cage, a surfing pool and an indoor skydiving facility. The centre is also integrated with the Bandar Utama transport network, including the Bandar Utama MRT station and bus services. Road access is provided through the Damansara–Puchong Expressway and Lebuh Bandar Utama. The complex has approximately 14,000 car parking bays, bicycle parking and electric-vehicle charging points. Its scale, tenant diversity and emphasis on leisure have positioned it as a regional destination rather than simply a neighbourhood shopping centre. The mall reported more than 33 million annual visitors in 2019, with traffic typically increasing during major holiday periods.
History
1 Utama emerged from the development of Bandar Utama, a new township created by See Hoy Chan Holdings Group in Selangor during the 1990s. As residential and commercial activity in the township grew, the developer planned a large shopping centre to serve the surrounding population. The project was influenced partly by American shopping-centre models observed by the developer in 1993. A central design objective was to secure established anchor tenants before opening, leading to an agreement with AEON's predecessor, Jusco. The first phase opened on 19 August 1995 and is now called the Old Wing. It reportedly cost RM89 million to build and opened with its premises fully rented. The mall quickly became a regional retail destination. On 25 April 1996, IKEA opened its first Malaysian store at 1 Utama. The store occupied approximately 7,431 square metres and initially sold many products manufactured in Malaysia. Strong demand eventually led IKEA to move to a substantially larger site in Mutiara Damansara on 14 August 2003. Increasing customer traffic and demand for additional retail space prompted a major second phase. The New Wing increased the mall's retail lots from roughly 220 to 600 and cost about RM300 million. It was connected to the Old Wing by a covered pedestrian bridge and broadened the centre's offer with attractions including an aviary, zoo features, a diving pool and a climbing wall. The New Wing soft-opened on 13 December 2003 and received its formal opening on 2 April 2004 in a ceremony officiated by the Sultan of Selangor. Around the same period, the mall introduced an indoor rainforest. A Tabebuia rosea tree was transplanted from a nearby forest to form part of the canopy, with additional plant species used to create a layered interior landscape. The first substantial refurbishment of the Old Wing began in June 2011, approximately sixteen years after the original opening. The RM160 million project included the relocation of the Jusco supermarket, additional cinema screens and a new entrance serving the 1 First Avenue office building. The centre later added a further extension called 1 Utama E. Opened on 24 January 2018, the extension covered about 592,015 square feet and cost approximately RM150 million. Its facilities included a surfing pool, an indoor skydiving wind tunnel, restaurants and cafes, as well as approximately 500 additional parking bays and pedestrian access toward Bandar Utama MRT station. Today, 1 Utama is one of Malaysia's largest shopping centres. It has approximately 5.59 million square feet of total area, about 203,000 square metres of retail space and around 713 stores. Its commercial mix includes AEON, Jaya Grocer, Parkson, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and specialty retailers. Its leisure infrastructure includes bowling, climbing, baseball, surfing and indoor skydiving. The centre is connected to major roads, the Bandar Utama MRT station and bus services, and provides extensive vehicle parking together with bicycle facilities and electric-vehicle charging points. The complex has also received property and retail-industry awards, including a Gold award in the 2019 EdgeProp Malaysia's Best Managed Property Awards retail category and a Platinum award in the Retail World Excellence Awards shopping-complex category for 2006/07.
- 2019
Recognition in Malaysian property awards
[1]1 Utama receives Gold recognition in the retail category of EdgeProp Malaysia's Best Managed Property Awards.
- 2018
1 Utama E opens
[1]The mall adds a large expansion focused on sport, entertainment, dining, parking and transit access.
- 2011
Old Wing refurbishment begins
[1]A major renovation updates the original phase, relocates the supermarket and adds cinema capacity.
- 2004
New Wing formally inaugurated
[1]The New Wing receives its formal opening on 2 April.
- 2003
New Wing soft-opens
[1]The second phase begins operations, adding retail lots and leisure facilities.
- 1996
First IKEA store in Malaysia opens
[1]IKEA establishes its first Malaysian store at 1 Utama.
- 1995
Old Wing opens
[1]The first phase of 1 Utama opens in Bandar Utama on 19 August with a fully leased tenant base.
Products and positioning
A large-scale Malaysian shopping and lifestyle destination that combines mainstream and premium retail with dining, entertainment, sports, indoor nature attractions and public-transport connectivity.
Shopping-centre retail · 1995
Old Wing
The original 1 Utama phase, opened in 1995, contains a broad mix of department-store, supermarket, fashion, specialty retail, dining and entertainment tenants. It has been substantially refurbished since opening and remains one of the principal commercial areas of the complex.
Shopping-centre retail and leisure · 2003
New Wing
The New Wing was developed to address demand for more retail space and opened in stages between late 2003 and 2004. In addition to shops and restaurants, it introduced distinctive leisure features including an aviary, animal attractions, a diving pool and climbing facilities.
Sports, entertainment and lifestyle extension · 2018
1 Utama E
Opened in 2018, 1 Utama E extends the centre's positioning beyond conventional shopping. It includes a surfing pool, an indoor skydiving wind tunnel, food and beverage venues, additional parking and improved pedestrian connectivity with Bandar Utama's public-transport facilities.
Nature-themed attraction · 2003
Indoor rainforest
The indoor rainforest is a planted environmental feature within the mall. Its design uses a transplanted Tabebuia rosea tree as part of the canopy and a range of tropical plant species to create a multi-layered interior landscape.
Brand decisions
2018
Opening of 1 Utama EGeneration changeBackground
The mall sought to respond to changing consumer expectations by adding more experiential, sporting and entertainment uses alongside retail.
Action taken
A new extension introduced a surfing pool, indoor skydiving, restaurants, cafes, parking and a pedestrian connection to Bandar Utama MRT station.
Aftermath
1 Utama strengthened its position as a regional lifestyle and leisure destination rather than a purely transactional shopping centre.
Development cost. RM150 million (2018)
2011
Refurbishment of the Old WingStrategyBackground
After sixteen years of operation, the original phase required modernization and better integration with surrounding office and retail development.
Action taken
The Old Wing was renovated, the supermarket was relocated, cinema screens were added and access to 1 First Avenue was improved.
Aftermath
The project refreshed the oldest part of the complex and supported the centre's continuing expansion as a mixed retail and entertainment destination.
Renovation cost. RM160 million (2011)
2003
Development of the New WingGeneration changeBackground
Rising customer traffic and demand for additional retail lots produced a tenant waiting list and prompted the mall's second major development phase.
Action taken
The operator and developer built a second wing, connected it to the original building and added retail, dining and leisure facilities.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the mall's retail capacity from approximately 220 to 600 lots and broadened its appeal as a destination complex.
Recent events
- 2021
Police investigate death after fall at the New Wing[1]
Other
A woman died after falling from the fourth floor of the New Wing. The mall's emergency team responded before the case was handed to police for investigation.
- 2018
1 Utama launches 1 Utama E expansion[1]
Product launch
The E expansion added approximately 592,015 square feet, sport and entertainment facilities, more parking and improved access to Bandar Utama MRT station.
- 2014
Food-court kitchen fire reported at 1 Utama[1]
Other
A second minor fire began in a food-court kitchen. No casualties were reported.
- 2014
Jewellery shop burglary during Chinese New Year period[1]
Other
A jewellery retailer at the mall was burgled in a highly planned break-in. Reports described stolen jewellery valued at approximately RM10 million and the use of methods intended to disable alarms and surveillance.
- 2013
Fire reported at a children's-playground equipment storage facility[1]
Other
A fire broke out in a storage area associated with a children's playground equipment store. The incident caused a building-wide power interruption, but no casualties were reported.
- 2003
New Wing expands 1 Utama's retail and leisure offer[1]
Product generation
The second major phase soft-opened in December 2003 and added retail capacity, a pedestrian connection and several leisure attractions.
- 1996
Malaysia's first IKEA store opens at 1 Utama[1]
Product launch
IKEA opened its first Malaysian store inside 1 Utama. The branch later moved to a larger location in Mutiara Damansara.
- 1995
1 Utama opens its first major retail phase[1]
Other
The original mall phase opened in Bandar Utama with a fully leased tenant base and AEON's predecessor, Jusco, as a principal anchor.
Sources4 sources
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