Araneta City has always been a place where history and progress meet. Known as the ultimate hub for commerce, entertainment, and transit in Metro Manila, it has grown into a cornerstone that reflects nostalgia while embracing modern urban culture. And among the many landmarks that have defined The City of Firsts, Ali Mall has stood for decades as one of its most recognizable icons.
This year, Ali Mall is celebrating its 50th anniversary, a milestone that further highlights its enduring role in Araneta City’s story of evolution.
Ali Mall was named after American professional boxer Muhammad Ali, who fought in the legendary “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum. It was opened to the public in June 30, 1976, with Ali personally leading its inauguration.
Ali Mall introduced a multitude of “firsts” that changed the consumer landscape in the country. It was home to the first two cinemas inside a shopping mall, the first seven-screen cineplex, and the first multi-level car park directly connected floor by floor to the mall. In 1979, it opened the country’s first proper fast-food center inside a shopping mall, known as the Food Gallery. These milestones made Ali Mall a trailblazer in consumer experiences.
It then underwent significant developments throughout the years bringing new facilities and services to the people. It transitioned into a highly practical civic center, introducing a centralized, one-stop hub for banking and essential government satellite offices. It houses one of the largest satellite offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the DFA NCR-Northeast branch. Ali Mall ushered in Ali X, a dedicated lifestyle wing curated specifically for antiques, nostalgia, art, and memorabilia.
Ali Mall instantly became a destination that shaped the everyday life of Filipinos. It was where people went to watch movies, share meals, and spend weekends together, where families and friends went to create lasting memories. That spirit remains alive today, as the mall continues to welcome generations of visitors who see it as both a familiar destination and a place to make new experiences.
In time for its 50th Anniversary, Ali Mall calls for all those who were born in 1976 to join a digital promo from June 30 to July 5, 2026. Winners will get a chance to win one (1) of fifty (50) limited edition Ali Mall 50th Anniversary Copper Medal. For more details on the promo visit and follow Araneta City’s social media pages @AranetaCity.
This celebration invites everyone to revisit Ali Mall’s historic past and discover new and exciting offerings. Ali Mall will continue to undergo modernization and will remain as a premier commercial hub in Araneta City.
