A fire erupted at the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai on Saturday, injuring four people, as Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. The attack on the luxury resort, located on Dubai’s famed Palm Jumeirah island, came in response to a joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets earlier in the day.
Witnesses reported hearing an explosion and observing a plume of smoke rising from the Palm Jumeirah area. “I saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the Palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene,” one witness told AFP. The Dubai Media Office confirmed an “incident” in a building within the Palm Jumeirah area, resulting in a fire and injuries to four individuals. “Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities,” the office stated.
The strikes targeted multiple Gulf nations, with Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait also reporting intercepted missiles. Huge plumes of smoke were observed near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, though the extent of any damage remains unclear. Qatar’s defense ministry stated it intercepted missiles targeting the al-Udeid air base, the largest US base in the region.
The Iranian retaliation followed a large-scale US-Israeli military offensive, designated ‘Operation Epic Fury’ by US Central Command, which targeted Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, nuclear program infrastructure, and senior leadership. President Donald Trump confirmed the start of “major combat operations in Iran,” stating the intention was to eliminate “imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
The UAE military reported intercepting three waves of ballistic missiles from Tehran. Debris from the intercepted attacks fell on several areas in Abu Dhabi, resulting in one fatality – a worker of Asian nationality, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense. The UAE stated it “reserves the right to respond” to the Iranian strikes.
The Fairmont The Palm, a five-star luxury hotel, was visibly engulfed in flames, with video footage showing a large fireball and significant smoke. The incident prompted the evacuation of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, as a precautionary measure. Dubai International Airport also experienced an “incident” resulting in minor damage and four injuries, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Roughly 90 percent of the UAE’s population consists of foreigners, and Dubai is its most populated city, known for its opulence and glamour. Iran launched strikes on all oil-rich Gulf countries except Oman, which has been acting as a mediator in US-Iran talks.
