IKEA to open first Cebu store at Ayala’s Gatewalk Mall by December

Insider Spotlight

• IKEA will open its first Cebu store as part of Ayala Land’s upcoming Gatewalk Mall development
• The Swedish home furnishing retailer is among the key tenants set to begin operations in December 2026
• Gatewalk Mall is expected to strengthen Cebu’s retail landscape with a mix of local and international brands
  
  
  

IKEA is bringing its signature Scandinavian home furnishing concept to Cebu, becoming one of the anchor tenants of Ayala Land’s upcoming Gatewalk Mall in Mandaue City scheduled to open in December 2026.

The Swedish furniture retailer’s Cebu branch — set to be officially revealed on Wednesday, Jun 10, 2026, with the mall’s target opening date — will mark its first store in the Visayas, expanding its footprint beyond Metro Manila and giving consumers in Central Philippines easier access to its products and services.

The opening forms part of Ayala Land’s broader strategy to expand its retail presence outside Metro Manila and capture growing consumer demand in key regional markets.

Why it matters

The arrival of IKEA is expected to boost Gatewalk Mall’s appeal as a major retail destination in Cebu, attracting shoppers from across the Visayas and potentially generating increased foot traffic for other tenants.

The furniture giant joins a roster of local and international brands that are expected to open alongside the mall’s launch in December next year.

Ayala Land has positioned Gatewalk Mall as a mixed-use lifestyle and commercial destination designed to serve Cebu’s expanding residential, business, and tourism sectors.

The bigger picture

Cebu continues to attract investments from major retailers amid sustained economic growth, rising household consumption, and increasing urbanization.

The province has emerged as one of the country’s most dynamic regional economies, supported by strong tourism activity, infrastructure development, and a growing middle-class consumer base.

For IKEA, the Cebu expansion represents a strategic move to strengthen its presence outside Luzon and improve accessibility for customers in the Visayas and neighboring regions.

What’s next

Construction and tenant fit-outs are expected to continue ahead of the mall’s planned December 2026 opening.

Once operational, IKEA and other locators at Gatewalk Mall are expected to contribute to Cebu’s evolving retail landscape, providing consumers with a wider range of shopping, dining, and lifestyle options while creating new employment opportunities in the region.

Ayala Malls’ Gatewalk is slated to open in late 2026 with a size of 56,000 square meters of gross leasable area (GLA) and space for around 350 merchants.  Cebu previously had an IKEA collection point, not a full-format store.  —Daxim L. Lucas| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma