A major fire erupted late Friday night at a 67-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina, prompting the evacuation of nearly 4,000 residents. The sudden blaze caused widespread confusion and panic, as many tenants claimed the building’s fire alarms never went off. Instead, they only became aware of the danger after noticing smoke or receiving urgent calls from friends or neighbors.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of fear and disarray, with thick smoke quickly engulfing stairwells. Some residents, desperate to escape, resorted to using elevators despite the risks. Many evacuees were left outside overnight, unsure where to seek shelter. One resident recalled, “I was on the 24th floor with my wife when we smelled something burning around 9:45 p.m. At first, our apartment seemed fine, but when we looked out from the balcony, we saw firefighters and crowds below. A friend called to say he couldn’t get into the building due to the fire. We only learned we needed to evacuate after contacting building security.”
Fire crews battled the blaze for several hours, working to contain it and protect neighboring structures. While there have been no confirmed fatalities, authorities have not yet released information on possible injuries or the fire’s cause. The incident has sparked concern over fire safety protocols in Dubai’s high-rise buildings. Residents are questioning the apparent failure of alarm systems and the lack of timely communication from property management. An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the fire and assess the tower’s compliance with safety regulations. In the meantime, officials are coordinating temporary housing and support for those displaced by the incident.
