Johor Bahru is often thought of as Singapore's hinterland, similar to what Shenzhen is to Hong Kong. The presence of Singapore-owned companies and tourists are significant. Johor Bahru's many shopping complexes cater to tourists from Singapore who visits the city for shopping and entertainment, taking advantage of the stronger Singapore dollar. As such, Johor Bahru's retail scene is highly developed for a city of its size. The main shopping districts are located within Johor Bahru city, with a number of large shopping malls located in the suburbs.

The heavy industrial areas are Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat, located east of the metropolitan area. They contain clusters of refineries, chemical processing plants, and shipbuilding factories. Light to medium industrial areas are mainly located north and north-west of the metropolitan area in Tebrau, Tampoi, Senai, Skudai and Kulai.
Johor Bahru enjoys a close economic relationship with Singapore. A large number of residents in Johor Bahru work in Singapore due to higher salaries for the same jobs in Malaysia, partially because of the stronger Singapore Dollar.  For the same reason, many Singaporeans visit Johor Bahru for shopping, entertainment and dining, or live there. Many Singaporeans own property, businesses and factories in Johor Bahru. It is estimated that 300,000 Malaysians work in the republic and as many as 150,000 commute daily to work in Singapore. The daily severe traffic jams at the Woodlands and Tuas Immigration Checkpoints reflects the sheer volume of people working in the republic as well as the large number of Singaporeans entering Johor Bahru.

Under the Iskandar Development Region masterplan, Johor Bahru is expected to grow to a large urban area of over 3 million residents by 2025, second in Malaysia only to the Klang Valley. The growth is also expected to spill over into the neighbouring districts of Pontian and Kota Tinggi, creating an urban area that would be even larger than that envisaged in the masterplan, possibly over five times the size of Singapore.

Internal Network
Johor Bahru Central Business District (CBD) or Daerah Sentral Johor Bahru, is located on the southern tip of the metropolitan area. Two major highways link the CBD to outlying suburbs, with Tebrau Highway linking the city to the north-east and Tun Abdul Razak (TAR) Highway/Senai-Skudai Highway linking it to the north-west. Pasir Gudang Highway and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway crosses Tebrau Highway and TAR Highway about midway and serves as the middle ring road of the metropolitan area.

The Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road, which connects with Sultan Iskandar customs complex, aids in controlling the traffic in and around the CBD.

Intercity Network
Access to the national expressway system is possible via the North-South Expressway, with entry-exit points located strategically within the metropolitan area.  The Causeway links the city to the Singapore with a six-lane road and a railway line. The Second Link Expressway located west of the metropolitan area was constructed in 1997 to help alleviate the congested Causeway. It is linked directly to Johor Bahru Parkway and North-South Expressway.

Radio Stations
Johor Bahru is also home to three radio stations. Best 104 is the country's first private radio station, Johor FM is a government-owned regional station, and FMJB, is another government-owned station covering only the city.


SHOPPING

Shopping in Johor can be fun and also less of a strain on the budget. Johor Bahru City is a shopping heaven - a magnet to many - for its variety, trends, and choice of large numbers of shopping malls available. Most products are home-made. The various handicraft centers provide an interesting and tempting variety of items to choose from as souvenirs or gifts. If you are interested in pottery items, then the "Aw" pottery factory and showroom in Air Hitam is the place for you. Shops in the modern shopping complexes are equally competitive and offer bargains.  The mega malls are fascinating sights, an intriguing study of their own uniqueness in design and architecture. Take a trolley along for a shopping spree and bargain hunting. You will be surprised how far your wallet will take you. For additional shopping fun, try the many pre-war shop houses for curious and mementos. Besides these, Night Markets and Farmer Markets are experiences not to be missed.

Plaza Pelangi
Johor Bahru's most exciting shopping mall, has a multitude of stores that offer a wide array of value-for-money quality merchandise from handicraft items and souvenirs to large selections of fashion apparel, accessories, and trendy footwear. If hunger gnaws, head for the local eateries, patisserie, or fast food outlets. The shopping mall is a mere 10-minute's drive away from the Singapore-Malaysia Causeway and is well served by taxis and regular bus services.

The Holiday Plaza
This modern shopping complex in Jalan Dato' Sulaiman, Century Garden, has a unique design. Almost every tenant on its three floors has prime space opening out onto the pedestrian mall or the road. The complex also includes a large cinema, a medical center, a night club, banks, a children's playground, a hawker's center, and a number of fast food outlets catering to shoppers.

Kompleks Lien Hoe
Approximately 5km north of Johor Bahru, just off Jalan Tebrau, this well-known budget shopping center houses department stores, retail outlets, furniture showrooms, and restaurants aplenty. A regular bazaar on the ground floor concourse offers a wide range of apparel, shoes, handbags, handicrafts, and household items at bargain prices. The food court on the first floor offers fifty food stalls with a wide variety of local cuisine.

Johor Bahru Duty Free Complex
Johor Bahru Duty Free Complex (ZON is one of the largest duty free complexes in the world. Just 2km away from the Singapore Causeway, ZON is easily accessible via daily international ferry services from Tanah Merah in Singapore, and Batam and Bintan in Indonesia.


LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Town Forest Reserve as wide as area 50 acres located in JalanTasek, Johor Bahru, about 1.5 kms from city centre.   Among the component inside including Laman Tembusu, Medan Selera, Laman Permainan Kanak-Kanak, Kawasan Tasik, and Campsite.

Orchid garden Johor Bahru Lies within this Town Forest’s area was stripped to people in middle year 2003. Themed "Ecology Exhibition Orchid", this garden having as wide as area about 10 acres, own building which combines design eternal architecture based on concepts "environmentally friendly" and "open".

Laman Merdeka located in Tasek Utara about 3 kms from this Johor Bahru City Centre having as wide as 31 acres area.  Here, tourist not only get exercise but also can learn relate to independence through component development that provided.

Laman Pandan Recreational Lake located in Jalan Harmon, Taman Desa Harmon, Johor Bahru district near to Ponderosa Golf Club.

Pride with energetic and full activity with festivity, Danga Bay also offers unique experience affect. With as wide as area 1800 acres and length offshore 25 kms, Danga Bay was a integrated development offshore which combines financial centre, commercial, entertainment and ideal friendly family hub in Johor. It is a town in town with world’s standard infrastructural facility. Located just 5 km from Bandar Johor Bahru, Danga Bay had wrenched many local citizen from all Malaysia.