JOHOR BARU: The long-awaited Ikea Tebrau will open its doors to the public on Nov 16.

The Swedish furniture giant's retail director Mike King said the outlet is Ikea's largest store in South-East Asia at 46,713 sq m.

"We have been operating in Malaysia for more than 20 years and there has been a demand for more Ikea stores beyond the Klang Valley.

"Ikea Tebrau is a response to that demand and we are happy to bring affordable and functional furniture closer to more Malaysians," he said during the outlet's roof-capping event on Thursday.

With the opening, he said, more than 1.8 million people living within a 60-minute drive from the store would have easy access to the outlet.

Customers would be able to enjoy over 8,000 home furnishing products and get furnishing ideas from 54 Swedish-inspired showrooms catered to local homes.

The outlet will also be equipped with a 750-seat Ikea restaurant where customers can sample their signature Swedish meatballs after a day of shopping, said King.