Watergarden

What Watergarden does

Watergarden is a privately operated open-air lifestyle and shopping mall located in Ataşehir, Istanbul, adjacent to the Istanbul Financial Center. Founded in 2016, the property spans multiple floors (B3 to Floor 3) and houses approximately 80 retail stores and 40 food and beverage outlets alongside multiple entertainment venues. The mall targets local Istanbul consumers, families, entertainment seekers, and pet owners, and offers amenities including free parking for the first three hours, EV charging stations (ZES/Eşarj), children's play areas, accessibility services, and a pet-friendly policy for open-air areas. Distribution is exclusively physical — there is no e-commerce or direct online product sales channel.

The mall's offering is organized around four pillars: retail (fashion, electronics, automotive showrooms, supermarkets, services); food and beverage (international chains such as Starbucks, McDonald's, and Burger King alongside Turkish brands); entertainment and sports (a show pool claimed as Europe's largest featuring daily synchronized water, light, laser, and fire performances, Jolly Joker Arena concert venue, Duru Tiyatro theater, X Media Art Museum, Playland, Play Bowling, Mac Fit, and basketball training); and events programming (children's workshops, MotoFest, chess tournaments, drama workshops, roller skating events, and seasonal celebrations). Notable tenants include Togg, Harley-Davidson İstanbul East, Royal Enfield, Koton, Mavi, Watsons, Gratis, Migros, Macro Center, and Miniso.

Watergarden generates revenue primarily through retail leasing — renting space to a diversified mix of brands across fashion, food and beverage, automotive, entertainment, and services categories. The company also operates or co-brands certain venues directly (Duru Tiyatro theater, Jolly Joker Arena, X Media Art Museum). Marketing is conducted through active social media channels (Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok under @watergardenist), event programming, and a bilingual Turkish/English website. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Watergarden

Legal name

Watergarden Alışveriş Merkezi

Website

https://watergarden.com.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Watergarden is a privately operated open-air lifestyle shopping mall in Ataşehir, Istanbul, housing 80+ retail stores, 40+ food and beverage outlets, and entertainment venues including what it claims is Europe's largest show pool, serving local consumers, families, and entertainment seekers through a retail leasing model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lifestyle Shopping Center

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks) (THAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Park Concessions & Guest Services (Food, Retail, Lockers, Cabanas) (THAAABAH)

Keywords

• Shopping center operations
• Retail leasing services
• Lifestyle mall management
• Entertainment venue hosting
• Tenant leasing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Leasing: Watergarden generates revenue by leasing retail space to various brands and stores including fashion, electronics, food & beverage, services, and entertainment venues. Tenants include international chains (Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King), Turkish brands (Koton, Mavi, Watsons), automotive showrooms (Togg, Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield), and entertainment venues (Duru Tiyatro, Jolly Joker Arena, Playland).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Watergarden is an open-air lifestyle shopping and entertainment destination in Ataşehir, Istanbul. It leases retail space to 80+ stores (fashion, electronics, automotive, supermarkets) and 40+ food and beverage tenants, and operates signature attractions including Europe's largest show pool (daily water/light/laser/fire performances), Duru Tiyatro theater, Jolly Joker Arena concert venue, and X Media Art Museum. The center also hosts family-oriented events and provides visitor amenities such as free parking (first 3 hours), EV charging, children's play areas, and pet-friendly zones.

Product overview

Watergarden is an open-air lifestyle and shopping center in Ataşehir, Istanbul, positioned adjacent to the Istanbul Financial Center. The venue is structured around four core experience pillars: (1) Mağazalar (Stores) — a retail mix of fashion, home goods, automotive, and specialty brands; (2) Lezzet (Food & Beverage) — approximately 40 restaurants and cafés spanning international fast food chains, Turkish cuisine, and specialty coffee; (3) Eğlence & Spor (Entertainment & Sports) — featuring the Show Pool (Europe's largest show pool with free water/light/fire performances), Jolly Joker Arena (concert venue), Duru Tiyatro (theater), X Media Art Museum, Playland, Play Bowling, Mac Fit, and sports facilities; and (4) Etkinlikler (Events) — a year-round programming calendar of children's workshops, art exhibitions, MotoFest, chess tournaments, and seasonal celebrations. Supporting infrastructure includes floor plan navigation, visitor services (parking, pharmacy, baby care, accessibility), and a leasing/contact platform for prospective tenants. The center is pet-friendly for open-air areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duru Tiyatro: Theater venue within Watergarden hosting plays and performances
• Jolly Joker Arena
• Show Pool (Şov Havuzu)
• X Media Art Museum

Products and services

• Mağazalar (Stores) Retail store directory and shopping section of Watergarden open-air lifestyle center, featuring dozens of fashion, accessories, home goods, automotive, and specialty retail brands including Koton, Mavi, Watsons, Gratis, Migros, Macro Center, Miniso, Togg, Harley-Davidson, and Royal Enfield. Targets individual consumers seeking a one-stop shopping destination in Istanbul's Ataşehir district.
• Lezzet (Food & Beverage) Restaurant and café section featuring approximately 40 dining establishments including international chains (Burger King, McDonald's, Starbucks, Kahve Dünyası), Turkish cuisine restaurants, coffee shops, and fast-casual eateries. Targets visitors seeking diverse dining options during their shopping/entertainment visit.
• Eğlence & Spor (Entertainment & Sports) Entertainment and sports venue section featuring Duru Ataşehir (theater), Jolly Joker Arena (concerts), X Media Art Museum, Playland, Play Bowling, Mac Fit, Hightouch Basketball School, and ECZACIBAŞI sports club. Targets visitors seeking on-site entertainment, fitness, and cultural experiences beyond traditional shopping.
• Şov Havuzu (Show Pool) Europe's largest show pool featuring daily water, light, laser, and fire performances with synchronized music. Shows are free to attend, with best viewing from surrounding restaurants and terrace. Targets visitors and families seeking unique free entertainment during their mall visit.
• Duru Tiyatro (Duru Theatre) Live theater venue within Watergarden presenting plays and performances. Located at Floor 0, operating as a separate theater brand inside the mall. Targets theater audiences and culture-seeking visitors in Istanbul's Asian side.
• Jolly Joker Arena Concert and live event venue at Floor 2, open from 10:00 to 01:00, hosting concerts and entertainment events. Operates as an independent brand within Watergarden. Targets concert-goers and live-music audiences in Istanbul.
• X Media Art Museum Media art museum and exhibition space within the entertainment section of Watergarden, hosting digital and media art exhibitions and installations. Targets art and culture enthusiasts visiting the mall.

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Istinye Park: Upscale Istanbul shopping mall operated by Orjin Group under the FNMAC brand. Directly comparable to Watergarden as a premium Turkish lifestyle center combining international luxury and high-street retail with dining and entertainment in an open-format setting.
• Mall of Istanbul: One of the largest shopping malls in Istanbul and Turkey, operated by Torunlar GYO. Directly comparable to Watergarden as a multi-tenant, multi-entertainment lifestyle center combining retail, F&B, cinema, and family attractions on the Asian/European sides of Istanbul.
• Akmerkez: Iconic Istanbul shopping mall in the Etiler district operated by Akmerkez REIT. Comparable to Watergarden as a high-end multi-tenant retail destination with premium brand mix, dining, and entertainment under one roof in the Istanbul market.
• Forum Istanbul: Large Istanbul shopping mall in Bayrampaşa operated by Multi Turkmall/Multi Corporation. Comparable to Watergarden as a multi-tenant retail and entertainment complex with F&B, cinema, and family attractions targeting Istanbul consumers.
• Cevahir Shopping Mall: One of the largest shopping centers in Europe, located in Şişli, Istanbul. Comparable to Watergarden as a major Istanbul AVM anchored by international retail and entertainment tenants, competing for the same Istanbul footfall pool.
• Emaar Square Mall: Istanbul shopping mall in Üsküdar on the Asian side, operated by Emaar Properties. Comparable to Watergarden as a premium Istanbul lifestyle mall targeting Asian-side consumers with retail, F&B, and entertainment, including proximity overlap to the Ataşehir catchment.
• Marmara Forum: Istanbul shopping mall in Bakırköy operated by Turkish REIT/REIT-backed management. Comparable to Watergarden as a mid-to-large Istanbul AVM combining retail, dining, cinema, and family entertainment venues in a single indoor/outdoor destination.
• Kanyon: Istanbul lifestyle center in Levent operated by Eczacıbaşı/Koçali partnership. Directly comparable to Watergarden as an open-air, mixed-use shopping and entertainment destination in Istanbul targeting affluent consumers with retail, F&B, and event programming.

Broad incumbents

• Majid Al Futtaim (City Centre Mirdif): UAE-based mall operator running large shopping and entertainment destinations across the Middle East (e.g., City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates). Comparable to Watergarden as a broader incumbent operating integrated retail, dining, and entertainment lifestyle centers at scale in regional markets.

Regional players

• ViaPort Outlet: Turkish outlet shopping center operated by Rönesans/operators with locations including Tuzla (Asian Istanbul). Comparable to Watergarden as a Turkish multi-tenant retail and entertainment destination focused on shopping, F&B, and family attractions, though outlet-format rather than full-price AVM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/watergardenist
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Watergardenist
• Facebookfacebook.com/watergardenist
• Instagraminstagram.com/watergardenist/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@watergardenist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watergarden