118 Mall opened on 1 November 2026 at the foot of Merdeka 118 and expects up to 22 million visitors in its first year. In KL, the homes that gained from a new mall were the ones closest to it and to the train.
- Closest wins: at TRX, the two residences connected to the mall and the MRT resell at the top of the district, at about RM2,300 psf.
- Early wins: near Pavilion Bukit Jalil, landed homes rose 24% per sq ft in the two years after it opened.
- Hands-off wins: a managed suite next door, like MABA Suitez, turns those visitors into income while someone else does the work.
What opened at 118 Mall, and why does it matter to an investor?
Every part of the precinct gives people a reason to come, and people who come need somewhere to stay.
- The landmark: the mall sits at the base of Merdeka 118, the world’s second-tallest building, which draws visitors on its own.
- The shops: 158 stores opened on day one and more than 300 are planned, with SOGO118 and Village Grocer as anchors, so daily needs are a short walk for guests and tenants.
- The events: a 40,000 sq ft food hall and an event space under an 88-metre glass dome bring crowds back on weekends and holidays.
- The hotel and the train: Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur shows that visitors already choose this address, and Merdeka MRT Station puts the city one stop away.
Merdeka MRT Station, Entrance B, below 118 Mall
Do new malls push nearby property prices up?
Yes, for the right homes. Two recent openings in Kuala Lumpur show which ones.
The Exchange TRX, opened November 2023
The two residences connected directly to the mall and the TRX MRT station resell at about RM2,266 to RM2,307 psf, the top tier of the district. Homes a walk or a drive away resell for less.
Lesson: buyers pay most for the homes closest to the mall and the train.
Pavilion Bukit Jalil, opened December 2021
Within 1.5 km of the mall, landed homes rose from RM596 psf in 2022 to RM739 psf in 2024. High-rise homes in the same suburb did not follow, because new condos kept launching around them and most needed a car to reach the mall.
Lesson: the gain goes to homes buyers cannot easily find elsewhere. A suburb condo has many rivals, while an address 118 metres from the world’s second-tallest building has few.
Studies abroad agree that distance decides it. A study of new Walmart stores across the United States found homes within half a mile rose 2 to 3%, and those further out rose less.
Three things decide whether a suite near 118 Mall gains:
- Distance: a short walk to the mall and the MRT, not a short drive.
- A reason to stay: a landmark, a five-star hotel and office workers that bring people who need a room.
- Something rivals cannot copy: a landmark outside the window and a team that runs the suite for you.
Why does it matter more for a hands-off investor?
A mall that expects 22 million visitors a year, next to a five-star hotel, brings people who need a place to stay. A suite rented by the night earns from them, but it comes with work: guests to check in, cleaning between stays, repairs, reviews and setting the price every week.
A suite with its own management team keeps the income and hands that work to someone else. You own beside a world landmark from wherever you live, and the busier the neighbour, the more that suite can earn.
A team that looks after the guests and the upkeep
Which new launch is closest to 118 Mall?
MABA Suitez, by Exsim with the Malaysia Basketball Association, sits 118 metres from Merdeka 118 and 160 metres from Merdeka MRT Station, two minutes on foot. Short-term rental is allowed, and a management team is ready to run your suite and your guests on a profit share. Suites start from RM699,000.
Keys are expected in 2031. Until then you pay in stages as the towers go up, not the full price at once, and Exsim has completed and handed over 37 developments before this one.
Artist’s impression · MABA Suitez beside Merdeka 118 at sunset
What a brochure will not tell you
These are the questions that decide whether this suite pays for itself. We answer each one in the full review.
- Which side of the tower faces Merdeka 118, and which faces the Twin Towers?
- Which of the three suite types suits nightly guests, and which a long-term tenant?
- How the profit share works, and what you still pay each month?
- How much cash you need on signing day?
MABA Suitez
Managed for you, next to Merdeka 118
Own stay 4.2/5Investment 4.5/5
- From
- RM699,000
- Bedrooms
- Studio, 1 bedroom
- Completion
- 2031
