Inside South Africa’s most exclusive shopping arcade

·7 Jan 2025

Sandton City’s Diamond Walk is where South Africa’s rich and famous shop, with the world’s most exclusive brands available in one area.

The Diamond Walk Arcade was launched in May 2015 as the premier retail destination for luxury and super-luxury retail brands.

The stylish walk was created through a R185 million redevelopment project to fashion a setting befitting the world’s most coveted luxury retail brands.

It features the who’s who of top-end fashion and accessories, including Burberry, Bvlgari, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

It also offers fashion and goods from Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Montblanc, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Versace.

Sandton City, owned by Liberty Group, Liberty Two Degrees, and Pareto, is the perfect home for these luxury brands.

It features some of the most exclusive shops in Africa and is a leader in retail innovation, fashion, and entertainment.

Sandton City was constructed and developed by Rapp and Maister on behalf of the Liberty Group.

Following its official opening in 1973, the mall became one of the most prestigious shopping centres in Africa.

Sandton City paved the way for Sandton to become what is now known as ‘Africa’s Richest Square Mile’.

Since its inception, spanning just 50,000 square meters, Sandton City has enjoyed much growth and development.

In 2011, it embarked on a R1.77 billion expansion and introduced additional retail space, known as The Protea Court, which took the centre to 146,803 square meters.

Sandton City’s owners continued to invest in the centre, and since 2015, hundreds of millions have been spent on the redevelopment.

This redevelopment included The Fun District, The Food District, The Checkers Court, and the exclusive Diamond Walk.

The shopping centre, managed by JHI Retail, is located in the heart of South Africa’s financial district, surrounded by highly affluent neighbourhoods.

Sandton City is frequented by over 30 million South Africans and tourists annually, including many rich South Africans visiting The Diamond Walk.

As revealed in its latest results, the Diamond Walk is a core part of Sandton City’s success and strong financial performance.

Sandton City boasted a 99% occupancy rate in the last financial year. The luxury goods sector contributed 19% to its turnover in 2024 despite only occupying 3.6% of floor space.

Liberty Two Degrees said The Diamond Walk remains a unique and key differentiator for Sandton City.