Madrid Xanadú
Madrid Xanadú is a large regional shopping and entertainment complex in Arroyomolinos, near Madrid, distinguished by its indoor ski slope.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Madrid Xanadú is a super-regional shopping mall and leisure complex in Arroyomolinos, in the southwestern metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain. Developed beside the Autovía de Extremadura, the complex combines conventional retail with dining, cinema, family entertainment and a distinctive indoor snow-sports facility. Its most recognizable attraction is Madrid SnoZone, an indoor ski slope developed using technology and expertise associated with the Canadian company Intrawest. The centre also contains a 15-screen Cinesa cinema, a major El Corte Inglés department store and an associated Hipercor food and retail operation, in addition to more than 220 shops and restaurants reported in reference descriptions. The original concept was more specialized than the completed development. Iraqi-born businessman Al Yalabi Yafar Yawad acquired the Spanish company PGC, which controlled the site, and initially proposed an artificial-snow ski slope. The concept was subsequently expanded into a full shopping and entertainment destination through a joint venture involving PGC, the United States-based Mills Corporation and Germany-based KanAm International. The resulting project was significant for Mills because it represented the company's first and only shopping-centre development outside North America. The name Xanadú was inspired by the 1980 film Xanadu starring Olivia Newton-John. The complex opened to the public with a major launch celebration on 16 May 2003. Its opening generated strong immediate interest, including severe traffic congestion on the approach road from Madrid. Before and around the opening, the project attracted opposition from local business organizations, trade unions and environmental groups. A key dispute concerned whether the centre could open on public holidays under the Community of Madrid's retail-opening rules. The regional government sought to classify Arroyomolinos as a tourist municipality, which would permit year-round opening; the Federation of Merchants and Entrepreneurs of the South of Madrid challenged that measure. Ownership changed several times. PGC sold its interest to The Mills Corporation in 2003, leaving Mills as the principal project owner. In 2006, amid financial difficulties and a United States Securities and Exchange Commission investigation involving Mills, the company sold its Canadian and international assets, including Madrid Xanadú, to Ivanhoé Cambridge, a real-estate subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. During the Ivanhoé Cambridge period, Primark opened a large store in November 2007 and Apple opened a store in September 2010. Ivanhoé Cambridge placed the property on the market in 2016, and the sale to British shopping-centre operator Intu Properties closed in March 2017 for a reported amount of approximately £530 million in reference material. The complex was rebranded intu Xanadú in December 2018. The site later continued to be publicly associated with the Madrid Xanadú name. In 2023 it marked two decades since its opening with summer workshops, music performances and other visitor activities. Its identity remains based on a hybrid proposition: a large-scale regional retail destination supported by anchor tenants and everyday services, but differentiated from conventional malls by indoor skiing and a broad leisure offer. Ownership and corporate control after the Intu period are not specified in the supplied reference material.
History
Madrid Xanadú originated as a proposal for an indoor artificial-snow ski slope in the municipality of Arroyomolinos, southwest of Madrid. The initial concept was associated with Al Yalabi Yafar Yawad, an Iraqi-born businessman who acquired PGC, the Spanish company controlling the land. Rather than remain a single-purpose sports venue, the plan evolved into a mixed retail and entertainment complex. The Mills Corporation, a United States developer of large shopping centres, joined PGC and German company KanAm International in a development joint venture. The project became notable within Mills' portfolio as its first and only shopping-centre development outside North America. The completed centre was built next to the Autovía de Extremadura, positioning it to draw visitors from Madrid and surrounding parts of the Community of Madrid. Its design combined a large shopping offer with restaurants, a multiplex cinema and leisure facilities. The indoor ski slope, later known as Madrid SnoZone, supplied the complex's main point of differentiation. The name Xanadú was taken from the 1980 musical film Xanadu, whose title referenced the legendary place described in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" and which starred Olivia Newton-John. Madrid Xanadú celebrated its grand opening on 16 May 2003. The launch was highly successful in terms of visitor interest, but it also produced extensive congestion, with reports describing traffic queues extending for several kilometres on the route from Madrid. The development faced political and social opposition before and around its opening. Employers' groups, trade unions and environmentalists criticized aspects of the project. Comisiones Obreras argued that the centre's holiday trading plans could conflict with Decree Law 130/2002, the Community of Madrid rules governing shop openings on public holidays. The regional government, led at the time by Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, pursued the designation of Arroyomolinos as a tourist municipality, a status that would allow the complex to operate throughout the year. FECOESUR, the Federation of Merchants and Entrepreneurs of the South of Madrid, filed an appeal against that request. Ownership shifted soon after launch. In 2003, PGC sold its shares to The Mills Corporation, which thereby took over the project. Mills later experienced serious financial problems and was under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by May 2006. On 15 August 2006, the company sold its Canadian and international assets, including Madrid Xanadú, to Ivanhoé Cambridge, a Canadian real-estate investment and management company affiliated with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The transaction was reported at £770 million for the relevant asset package. During Ivanhoé Cambridge's ownership, the centre added significant international retail tenants. Primark opened a store measuring approximately 2,610 square metres on 15 November 2007, described at the time as the Irish retailer's fourth Spanish location and employing about 198 people. Apple opened a store in September 2010 as the company expanded its Spanish retail presence. In October 2016, Ivanhoé Cambridge placed the complex on the market, citing favourable conditions for Spanish properties of this type. The sale to Intu Properties closed on 10 March 2017 for nearly £530 million according to the supplied reference account. Intu subsequently changed the public identity of the centre to intu Xanadú in December 2018. The centre continued operating as a major retail and leisure destination, retaining the Madrid SnoZone, cinema, department-store and restaurant components that defined its proposition. In 2023, the complex celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a programme of summer workshops, live musical activities and other visitor initiatives. The supplied material does not establish the current legal owner or provide a detailed account of corporate changes after the Intu period. The centre is therefore best described by its established public brand, Madrid Xanadú, while the later ownership position remains unresolved in this dossier.
- 2023
Twentieth anniversary programme
[1]Madrid Xanadú marked twenty years of operation with workshops, music and other summer activities.
- 2018
Rebrand as intu Xanadú
[1]The centre adopted the intu Xanadú name in December.
- 2017
Acquisition by Intu Properties
[1]Intu Properties completed its purchase of the centre on 10 March 2017.
- 2010
Apple store opens
[1]Apple opened a store at Madrid Xanadú in September.
- 2007
Primark opens
[1]Primark opened a large store at the centre, expanding the complex's international fashion-retail offer.
- 2006
International assets transferred to Ivanhoé Cambridge
[1]The Mills Corporation sold its Canadian and international assets, including Madrid Xanadú, to Ivanhoé Cambridge.
- 2003
Grand opening
[1]Madrid Xanadú opened on 16 May 2003 as a large shopping and entertainment complex with retail, dining, cinema and an indoor ski slope.
- 2003
PGC sells its interest to The Mills Corporation
[1]The original Spanish development partner sold its shares to The Mills Corporation after the centre opened.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping and entertainment destination that combines mainstream retail and dining with an unusual indoor snow-sports attraction.
Indoor snow sports · 2003
Madrid SnoZone
Madrid SnoZone is the complex's signature attraction: an indoor ski slope using artificial snow and designed for skiing and snowboarding activities throughout the year. Its presence distinguishes Madrid Xanadú from conventional regional shopping centres and reflects the original concept that preceded the wider retail and entertainment development. The slope is associated in the reference material with Canadian specialist Intrawest.
Cinema
Cinesa Xanadú
The Cinesa cinema operation provides a 15-screen movie-theatre offer within the complex. It forms part of the centre's strategy of combining shopping with scheduled entertainment and helps extend visitor activity beyond retail hours.
Department store and food retail
El Corte Inglés and Hipercor
El Corte Inglés is a principal anchor at Madrid Xanadú, accompanied by Hipercor. Together they provide department-store merchandise, fashion, household goods, food and related everyday retail services, supporting the centre's broad regional catchment.
Retail and food service · 2003
Shopping and dining portfolio
The wider complex contains more than 220 reported shops, eateries and leisure-related businesses. The portfolio spans apparel, specialty retail, services, restaurants and cafés, giving Madrid Xanadú the characteristics of a full-day destination rather than a purely transactional shopping centre.
Marketing campaigns
- 202320th anniversary celebrations
Spain
Madrid Xanadú organized a twentieth-anniversary programme featuring summer workshops, musical performances and additional visitor initiatives.
Outcome. The programme commemorated the centre's two decades of operation and reinforced its positioning as a combined retail and leisure destination.
Brand decisions
2017
Sale to Intu PropertiesM&ABackground
Ivanhoé Cambridge placed Madrid Xanadú on the market in 2016 amid rising Spanish commercial-property values.
Action taken
Intu Properties completed the acquisition of the complex on 10 March 2017.
Aftermath
The centre was subsequently presented under the intu Xanadú identity from December 2018.
Reported acquisition price. Nearly £530 million (10 March 2017)
2006
Sale to Ivanhoé CambridgeM&ABackground
The Mills Corporation faced financial problems and a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation concerning its affairs.
Action taken
Mills sold its Canadian and international assets, including Madrid Xanadú, to Ivanhoé Cambridge.
Aftermath
Ivanhoé Cambridge operated the centre during a period of tenant expansion, including Primark and Apple openings.
Reported value of Mills Canadian and international asset sale. £770 million (15 August 2006)
2003
PGC sells its shares to The Mills CorporationM&ABackground
The original project was developed through cooperation between PGC, The Mills Corporation and KanAm International.
Action taken
PGC sold its interest in Madrid Xanadú to The Mills Corporation after the centre opened.
Aftermath
The Mills Corporation became the principal owner before transferring the asset as part of its international portfolio sale in 2006.
2002
Pursuit of tourist-municipality statusStrategyBackground
Trade unions and merchant organizations questioned whether the planned holiday opening schedule complied with Community of Madrid retail regulations.
Action taken
The regional government sought to classify Arroyomolinos as a tourist municipality, which would permit Madrid Xanadú to open throughout the year.
Aftermath
FECOESUR challenged the request through an appeal. The supplied material does not state the final legal outcome in detail.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/xanadú-madrid · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled