Late Friday evening, a significant fire broke out in a 67-storey residential building in Dubai Marina. The blaze, which lasted for approximately six hours, was successfully extinguished by teams from Dubai Civil Defence in the early hours of Saturday morning. According to official updates from the Dubai Media Office (DMO) posted on X (formerly Twitter), emergency services, including firefighters, ambulance teams, and medical staff, responded promptly to the incident. Their coordinated efforts ensured that all 3,820 residents from 764 apartments were safely evacuated without any reported injuries. A nearby resident told reporters, “At around 1:30am, the fire started to slow down. It has been burning for the past two hours. Plenty of debris has been falling. It looks like the Civil Defence is getting the fire under control.” As per DMO’s live updates:
- 1:44am: It was confirmed that all residents had been successfully evacuated.
- 2:09am: Medical and mental health professionals were on-site to provide support to those affected.
- 2:21am: The final evacuation count was announced, 3,820 people safely removed from the tower.
- 2:34am: Authorities confirmed that after ensuring residents’ safety, Civil Defence teams were continuing efforts to fully extinguish the blaze.
No surrounding buildings were impacted thanks to containment strategies implemented during the operation. The Dubai Civil Defence teams were praised for their efficient and rapid response in protecting both lives and property.
Tram Services Disrupted Amid Firefighting Efforts
In response to the fire, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) temporarily suspended tram services between Dubai Marina Station (No. 5) and Palm Jumeirah Station (No. 9). The authority stated that the step was taken as a precaution to ensure the safety of passengers and operational staff. To accommodate commuters during the disruption, the RTA activated a replacement shuttle bus service between the affected tram stations. The rest of the tram network remained fully operational. In an official statement, the RTA said:“The safety of our passengers and operations is our top priority. We are working closely with emergency services and relevant authorities to monitor the situation and resume full services as soon as it is deemed safe.” The RTA added that full tram service will resume only after comprehensive safety inspections of the tracks and related infrastructure are completed.“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time,” the statement concluded.
Safety Prioritised, No Casualties Reported
This large-scale evacuation and containment effort marks one of the most significant recent emergency responses in Dubai. Despite the size and intensity of the blaze, authorities ensured:
- No loss of life or injuries,
- A smooth, complete evacuation,
- On-site medical and psychological support,
- Controlled spread of the fire to avoid further property damage.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and are expected to provide further updates as investigations and recovery efforts progress. While the fire has been successfully contained, the cause has not yet been disclosed by officials, and investigations are expected to follow.