Navigation inside malls should feel as natural as in the city”: how Ilya Karakhanov created NaviMall
Malls in the UAE are not just shopping destinations, but cultural and social landmarks that bring people together. Yet, finding the right store or service inside these vast complexes often feels overwhelming. Addressing this gap is NaviMall, a new-age navigation app created by Ilya Karakhanov, designed to make mall visits as seamless as city navigation.
When a dog leads to a tech startup
The story of NaviMall began with an everyday episode. In 2024, Ilya Karakhanov got a toy poodle puppy named Jenny. Looking for toys, he went to Dubai Hills Mall — and faced a problem familiar to every visitor of large shopping centers: how to quickly find the right store?
“I instinctively asked ChatGPT if it could build me a route inside the mall. It turned out it couldn’t. At that moment, I realized millions of people face the same issue,” recalls Karakhanov.
Why existing solutions don’t work
- Information desks require standing in line, and the suggested route is easy to forget.
- Individual mall apps are overloaded with ads and lack proper navigation.
- Google and Apple Maps work great outdoors but are useless inside shopping complexes.
“None of these tools solved the problem comprehensively. I wanted to create a product I myself would gladly use,” says the founder of NaviMall.
From idea to prototype in nine months
Karakhanov started with a detailed concept. He wrote about twenty pages of features and scenarios: from finding parking to restaurant recommendations.
He then built a team, and within nine months a full-fledged prototype appeared: a 3D map, convenient search, and a built-in AI guide. It was no longer a sketch on paper, but a living application ready for testing.
Meeting the partner
At the development stage, marketing specialist Viktor Popov joined the project as co-founder.
“I knew: to attract investors and enter the market, we needed a strong presentation. Viktor is an expert in international marketing and startup launches. We had a call, and he was inspired by the idea of NaviMall. Since then, we’ve been working together every day,” says Karakhanov.
What NaviMall changes
The app promises to turn a mall visit from a tiring quest into an easy and enjoyable experience.
- The AI concierge remembers where the car is parked, suggests free cafés or quiet work zones, and recommends new places based on visit history.
- 3D maps let you “walk” through a mall in advance, see every point of interest, and build accurate routes.
- Social features allow users to meet directly on the map.
- Gamification makes exploring a mall exciting: badges, bonuses, discounts.
Prospects and market
The UAE is one of the most mall-saturated countries in the world. According to consulting companies, the retail market here is valued at hundreds of billions of dollars and continues to grow. In such an ecosystem, services that enhance convenience and customer engagement are becoming an essential part of the future.
“Our goal is to make a mall visit stress-free. We want NaviMall to become a personal assistant for millions of people who come to shopping centres not only for purchases but also for experiences,” says Karakhanov.
Ahead — scaling
Today, the NaviMall team is focused on launching in Dubai. The nearest plans include partnerships with major malls and expansion into neighbouring Gulf countries.
An idea born thanks to a puppy and a casual trip to a shopping center now has every chance to grow into an international product — transforming the mall experience just as Google Maps once changed city navigation.
Conclusion
As Dubai positions itself as a global leader in retail innovation, NaviMall emerges as a timely solution. What began as one man’s personal frustration has evolved into a visionary app that could redefine how millions navigate malls. With expansion plans on the horizon, NaviMall may soon become an indispensable digital companion for shoppers across the Gulf and beyond.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navimall
