Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising on Saturday after what authorities described as an “incident” in the Palm Jumeirah area amid reports of an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
Videos on social media showed dark smoke billowing into the sky from a building on the city’s iconic man-made island. Israeli media reported that smoke and fire were seen near the Fairmont Hotel, popular with Western visitors.
Dubai Media Authority said emergency response teams were deployed to the scene and confirmed that four people were injured. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the extent of the damage.
Witnesses describe a loud explosion and rushing ambulances
Two witnesses told AFP they heard a loud explosion and saw smoke rising from The Palm. One witness described thick black smoke coming from the hotel and said ambulances rushed to the scene. Residents and AFP correspondents reported hearing several loud bangs after the initial explosion.
The incident occurred at a time of heightened regional tensions following the escalation of exchanges in the Persian Gulf. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause of the explosion and the investigation is ongoing.
Explosions reported across Gulf states
The Middle East has reportedly witnessed a sharp escalation of hostilities after Iran launched retaliatory attacks following US and Israeli attacks.
Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, although damage or casualties were not immediately confirmed.
Across the bay, multiple locations reported explosions and heightened security alerts. Missiles were reportedly aimed at the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, with residents hearing sirens and explosions. Smoke was also seen rising from US bases in Manama and Abu Dhabi.
Panic spread in Doha after reports of a falling rocket hitting a residential area. In Abu Dhabi, witnesses described missiles flying overhead as residents of the Bahraini capital were evacuated from areas near the Fifth Fleet base. Loud explosions were also reported in Riyadh.
Closure of airspace and mass disruption of flights
The escalation disrupted regional air traffic, with Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closing their airspace. Dubai International Airport announced more than 700 flight cancellations, with operations suspended at the city’s main airports. American diplomatic missions in the region have advised citizens and employees to take shelter as part of the security situation.
Read also | The Burj Khalifa was evacuated during the Iranian attack, reports say
Iran defends the attacks as self-defense
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the attacks by the United States and Israel were “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate”.
In an interview with Reuters, Araghchi said Iran’s retaliatory strikes were justified.
“We are attacking military bases in the region as an act of self-defense. What we are doing is an act of self-defense that is completely legal and legitimate,” he said.
He added that the initial attacks against Iran should be “condemned” under international law.
Closure of airspace and mass cancellation of flights
United Airlines said flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai had been diverted or returned to the United States and announced cancellations through the weekend, offering affected passengers an exemption from travel.
The unfolding crisis has sent tremors across the Gulf, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and threatening the stability that has underpinned the region’s economic growth for decades.
Read also | The moment Dubai hit Iran and how air defense systems responded – Watch
