A towering blaze ripped through a 67-story residential skyscraper in Dubai Marina on Friday night, forcing thousands to evacuate as flaming debris cascaded to the streets below. The dramatic moment was caught on video, showing the Marina Pinnacle engulfed in flames against the night sky.
The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m., sending shockwaves through the upscale neighborhood. Home to over 3,800 residents across 764 apartments, the tower was swiftly cleared as emergency teams sprang into action.
After an intense six-hour battle, Dubai Civil Defence crews successfully extinguished the fire in the early hours of Saturday. Miraculously, no injuries were reported.
“All residents were safely evacuated,” confirmed the Dubai Media Office. “Ambulance and medical teams remain on-site, providing full medical and psychological support.”
Authorities, in coordination with the building’s developers, have arranged temporary housing for displaced residents as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
Displaced Residents Scramble for Shelter After Dubai Tower Inferno
With no clear timeline on when they can return home, residents of Dubai’s Marina Pinnacle are making temporary living arrangements after a massive fire tore through the 67-story skyscraper late Friday night.
Among them is Indian expat Prateek M., who now finds himself in a hotel room with his wife and young son. Their apartment was on the 22nd floor — dangerously close to the heart of the blaze.
“Neighbors from the next building shouted that our tower was on fire,” Prateek told Khaleej Times. “I grabbed my son and told my wife we had to run.”
The family fled through thick, choking smoke, navigating the darkened stairwell floor by floor. “We had to hold on to the shoulders of the person in front of us just to see,” he said. “It wasn’t until we reached the parking levels — where there was more air — that we could breathe properly.”
Now safe but shaken, Prateek is eager to return home. “I want to check for damage and retrieve some important documents. We’re grateful to be alive — but we hope to go back soon.”
‘Everyone Was Just Trying to Help Each Other’
Raza, another long-time resident of Marina Pinnacle, wasn’t home when the fire started. He returned around 1 a.m. only to find the building surrounded by emergency crews and the roads sealed off.
“It was obvious I wasn’t getting in,” he said. But instead of panicking, Raza stepped in to help. Seeing neighbors who had evacuated without their phones or belongings, he began calling cabs to help them reach friends or family.
“I’m just glad everyone made it out,” he added. “My boss has been understanding and gave me time off to sort things out. For now, I’m just waiting to know when we can retrieve our stuff.”
Still No Word on the Fire’s Cause
Video footage shared online appears to show the fire erupting from the upper floors of the tower, though the exact cause remains under investigation. It’s not the first incident at the Marina Pinnacle; a fire in 2015 was blamed on a kitchen mishap on the 47th floor.
Public Transit Disruptions and Safety Measures
The fire also disrupted city transit. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) warned commuters of delays between Palm Jumeirah Station and Dubai Marina Station, rerouting passengers via alternate bus services.
“This is to ensure passenger safety and support the work of firefighting teams on-site,” the RTA said in a statement.
As investigations continue, residents are left to cope with the emotional and logistical fallout of the terrifying night — uncertain when, or if, they’ll return to their homes.
