The Peninsula Kota Kinabalu: KK’s new icon on the waterfront rises with Aris Tower
The Peninsula Kota Kinabalu is a landmark integrated mixed-development project that is fundamentally reshaping the skyline and economy of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The project envisioned as a “city within a city,” has enter it’s second phase which includes the construction of Aris Tower.
Aris Tower marks a major acceleration of the development in the whole project with the tower positioned to be another iconic vertical structure, standing at 30 levels and comprising 511 commercial suites along with 53 commercial retail units.
Groundbreaking for this phase was done in September 2025, with a targeted completion by 2029.
The entire focus of Aris Tower is on the short-stay market, providing larger-than-average serviced apartments.
Unit types range from approximately 531 sq. ft. studio apartments to spacious 1,065 sq. ft. dual-key units, all equipped with essential kitchen facilities and modern smart features.
Once completed, the whole Peninsular Kota Kinabalu will add over 800 rooms to the city’s capacity.
More about The Peninsular Kota Kinabalu
The Peninsular Kota Kinabalu is ambitious undertaking by Trillium Development Sdn Bhd on 14.89 acres of reclaimed land right in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
With an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM3.5 billion, the master plan features a total of nine towers, including luxury residences, 4-star and 5-star hotels, commercial hubs, modern offices, and a retail mall.
Its strategic location adjacent to the new Tourist Ferry Terminal and close to Suria Sabah Shopping Mall capitalizing on its breathtaking seafront views of the South China Sea.
The architectural vision for The Peninsula comprise of nine towers that are are designed to elevate the city’s profile.
This architectural design was done by GDP Architects, with the design emphasising on maximizing the sea and city views is a core principle.
The commercial units, such as those in the Agate and Aris Towers, are built to be “Airbnb-ready,”.
Phase One of the project introduced the Agate Tower and the 24-storey Grandis Peninsula Hotel with the Agate Tower comprising of 408 commercial suites and 24 commercial retail units over 28 levels.
The unit layouts in this inaugural phase included a mix of studio apartments and larger dual-key units, ranging from approximately 556 sq. ft. to 1,149 sq. ft. Facilities include an enchanting Infinity Pool that offers panoramic ocean views, a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Gymnasium, and an Observation Deck/Skydeck.
Agate Tower is scheduled for completion in Q2 2027, while the Grandis Peninsula Hotel is expected by 2028.
News and image Sources: Peninsular KK, Hotel Grandis, Trillium, DailyExpress