A fire broke out at Dubai's iconic Burj Al Arab hotel on Saturday after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck the building. The incident occurred following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted retaliatory attacks across the region.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed on X that a drone was intercepted, and its debris caused a minor fire on the hotel's outer facade. Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the situation under control. No injuries were reported.
The 60-storey luxury hotel, situated on an artificial island off Dubai's coast, was one of several structures damaged on Saturday. Four people were injured at Dubai International Airport, and debris from an aerial interception ignited a fire at Jebel Ali Port. A fire also broke out outside the Fairmont The Palm hotel in the Palm Jumeirah area.
The chaos in Dubai follows a joint attack by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, which President Donald Trump announced early Saturday. The operation, dubbed 'Epic Fury,' aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme and eliminate its leadership. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Iran's foreign minister stated that all U.S. and Israeli bases and assets in the region are considered 'legitimate military objectives.' The strikes have drawn condemnation from Russia and China, while European nations urged Iran to seek a negotiated solution.
