A drone crashed into a residential building in Dubai Creek Harbour early Thursday morning, causing a fire and forcing residents to leave the building for safety.
The incident happened at around 2:45 am on March 12. Authorities quickly reached the area after the drone hit a high-rise tower in the luxury waterfront district.
The building seen in official photos is Address Creek Harbour (Tower 2). It is a luxury residential tower that also has hotel facilities.
Officials said the building was evacuated as a safety step. No injuries were reported from inside the tower.
Fire Quickly Brought Under Control
The Dubai Media Office confirmed the incident and said emergency teams responded immediately.
Civil Defence teams worked quickly and brought the fire under control. Videos shared on social media showed flames rising from the building before firefighters managed to stop the fire.
Authorities said residents were safely evacuated while emergency teams secured the area.
Drone Believed to Be Linked to Iran
Officials believe the drone may be of Iranian origin. The attack comes as tensions rise in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, United States, and Israel.
The situation became more serious after the United States and Israel carried out pre-emptive strikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury and Operation Lion’s Roar.
Iran later launched drone and missile attacks aimed at targets across several Gulf countries.
Other Drone Incidents in Dubai
The incident in Creek Harbour was not the only drone event reported in the city.
Two drones also fell near Dubai International Airport on Wednesday. Officials said airport operations continued normally.
However, four people were injured in that incident. The injured included two Ghanaian nationals, one Bangladeshi citizen with minor injuries, and one Indian national who was moderately injured.
Another fire was reported in Palm Jumeirah, adding to concerns about safety in the city.
Earlier Drone Debris Incident
An earlier drone-related incident happened on February 28 at Fairmont The Palm.
Drone debris fell near the hotel and caused limited damage. Four people were injured and a small fire started in the area. Hotel security and emergency teams quickly controlled the fire.
Some debris was also found in a nearby parking area.
Fire Reported in Abu Dhabi
Another drone-related incident was reported in Abu Dhabi.
Air defence systems intercepted Iranian drones, but debris caused a fire at the old airport. Authorities confirmed that no one was injured in that incident.
Officials also advised residents to stay indoors whenever national emergency alerts are issued.
UN Security Council Responds
The United Nations Security Council has also responded to the situation.
The council passed a resolution asking Iran to stop attacks on Gulf countries. The resolution received 13 votes in favour, while China and Russia chose to abstain.
The resolution called on Iran to stop attacks on several countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
The council also warned against any attempt to block shipping through the important Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes.
UAE Officials Criticise the Attacks
Senior UAE officials strongly criticised the attacks.
Anwar Gargash said the number of drones and missiles launched shows that Iran’s claims of targeting only military sites are not accurate.
Meanwhile, Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi said attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure cannot be justified.
Growing Security Concerns
The drone strike in Dubai shows how the ongoing conflict in the region is affecting Gulf cities.
Major locations such as airports, residential towers, and tourist areas are now under higher security as governments try to protect people and infrastructure.
For many residents in Dubai and across the Gulf, the recent incidents have raised concerns as the regional conflict continues to develop.
Megan Davies is a reporter for White Pine Tribune. After graduating from the University of Toronto, Megan got an internship at the CBC News and worked as a reporter and editor. Megan has also worked as a reporter for Global Toronto. Megan covers economy and community events for White Pine Tribune.
