The Waterfront Shoppes Penang soft-opens 29 Oct with Xventure park

The Waterfront Shoppes in Gelugor, Penang, is due to soft-open on 29 October. Developers describe it as the state’s largest mall.

It is the retail arm of The Light City, a joint venture between IJM Corp and Perennial Holdings. Earlier guides had given different opening dates.

Below is what has been confirmed, what is still unknown, and what is opening nearby.

What is confirmed about the opening of Waterfront Shoppes

The mall will soft-open on 29 October 2026, The Edge Malaysia reported on 8 September. The report cited a press statement from the developer.

It will span about 1.6 million sq ft over four levels. The Edge said it has around 300 retail spaces.

The developer calls it Penang’s largest mall. That is the company’s own claim, so we have not tested it. We have also not compared floor areas with other Penang malls.

The mall links to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, which can hold over 10,000 guests. The wider Light City is a 4.1 million sq ft seafront development.

Perennial’s Jasmine Chua explained the aim to The Edge.

“Our vision for TWS is to create a destination that brings together the best of Penang by the water.”

Earlier guides gave other dates. TheSmartLocal noted a previous target of April 2025, and a July guide said September 2026.

Xventure adventure park: What to expect

Indoor adventure park Xventure will open its first Malaysian outlet at the mall on the same day. It follows launches in Thailand and Hong Kong, The Sun reported.

Xventure said it is investing RM8 million. The park spans 1,800 sq m and has 11 adventure zones, aimed at teenagers, adults, families and groups.

Signature attractions include an 8m-tall Challenger Arena with a digital tagging system and live leaderboard. There is also a 4.5m-high Aerial Rope Course.

A Gigantic Seesaw completes the trio. Xventure bills it as the largest of its kind in Penang, which we have not independently checked.

Non-peak two-hour tickets start from RM40 for X-Junior and RM60 for X-Plorer, based on height. Peak rates and packages vary.

From 29 October to 1 November, the first 100 customers can buy a second ticket for RM1, while stocks last. The park opens at 11.30am on 29 October.

After that, it will operate daily from 10am to 10pm, Xventure said. Group CEO Heidi Tian said Penang was chosen for its tourism economy and openness to new leisure concepts.

Which tenants and zones have been named by Waterfront Shoppes

The mall has begun naming tenants. Its own Facebook page has posted about the soft launch, including Bakestone, Mixue and Mii Korea Concept Store.

Other tenants featured include 65c Ondo, Zai San Bei, Loud Speaker Karaoke and Para Thai, with more posts to come.

Signage offers some clues too. A photo posted on TikTok by @jerejaktrekkers shows Decathlon, Mercató and Xventure signboards on the building.

Three other panels in the photo were still blank. We could not verify when it was taken. Neither Decathlon nor Mercató has confirmed its place in the reports we found.

Rakyat Post also described four themed zones, Rakyat Post reported on 10 September. They are Union Square, Campbell Court, Victoria Square and Rodeo Drive.

Three draw on Penang streets, such as Campbell Street and Victoria Street. Rodeo Drive takes its cue from Los Angeles.

Rakyat Post said the mall also plans an immersive cinema, a premium supermarket and a food court.

What else is coming and what is unclear

A Hyatt hotel is due at the Light Waterfront in December, Penang Hyperlocal reported. It will have 459 rooms and sit beside the convention centre.

Two July guides, Sethlui and TheSmartLocal, also list planned features. These include a 750m promenade and a 30,000 sq ft heritage food hall.

They also mention a 45,000 sq ft cinema. Treat these as planned, not confirmed.

Several basics about the Waterfront Shoppes remain unclear. The developer has not published a tenant list in the reports we found. Nor have we seen the mall’s own opening hours or parking details.

A grand opening date is also missing. Rakyat Post said the opening will be phased from 29 October, so not every store may trade on day one.

Sethlui gives the address as Jalan Pantai Sinaran in Gelugor, with access via the Penang Bridge. Visitors should check the official channels before travelling on 29 October.

We will update this story when the developer shares tenants and hours. For more on Gelugor, read our story on affordable homes at Residensi Bukit Gelugor.