If you grew up in Dubai in the late 1990s or 2000s, chances are you remember Lamcy Plaza. The Oud Metha mall is finally coming back after nearly a decade, this time under a new name: The Plaza.
Lamcy Plaza Was Once A Dubai Favourite
Lamcy Plaza opened in 1997 and quickly became one of Dubai’s earliest and most loved community malls, long before Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates existed. Across five floors, it housed more than 150 stores, from fashion retailers and a grocery store to cinemas and small driving schools. Families and teenagers alike made it their weekend default.
What people remember most, though, are the details no other mall had. There was the rope-climbing clown that scaled all the way to the fifth floor before making its way back down. There were also the cascading waterfalls stretching across multiple floors, which doubled as a favourite photo spot in the days of film cameras.
Why Did Lamcy Plaza Close?
The mall closed its doors in March 2017, meant to be a temporary shutdown for renovation. Instead, the site sat vacant for years on Oud Metha’s 21st Street, with no one going in or out.
That changed in September 2025, when the property was sold through Emirates Auction for Dh188.7 million, roughly $51 million. More recently, residents have noticed major changes to the exterior, a sign that a new chapter was underway. According to What’s On, the return was confirmed when Gulf News announced the comeback on its social channels, along with the new brand name.
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When Will The Plaza Open?
So, when can you visit? That remains unclear. The exact opening date and timings have not been announced, and there is no word yet on which brands, cinemas or attractions will move in. Whether the famous clown and waterfalls will make a comeback is also unknown, though plenty of Dubai residents are hoping so.
For now, here is what we know for sure: the mall is set to reopen as The Plaza, it has been shut since 2017, the site was sold at auction last year, and exterior work is now visible.
A New Chapter For A Dubai Landmark
For a city that reinvents itself constantly, Lamcy Plaza’s return feels like a rare moment of looking back. There is nothing to visit on Oud Metha’s 21st Street just yet, so keep an eye on this space for the opening date and confirmed brands as soon as they are shared. Until then, the memories will have to do, clown included.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Mahmoud Farrag