Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Fairmont hotel engulfed in flames after Iranian missile attack
This is the moment Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah resort was hit by falling debris from an Iranian airstrike.
Smoke and flames were seen billowing from near the beachside Fairmont The Palm Hotel, after several bangs were heard by holidaymakers across the Emirati city.
Footage of the incident showed the five-star £245 million ($330 million) hotel engulfed in flames as air defence systems intercepted several Iranian missiles bound for targets in the UAE.
The incident was caused by falling shrapnel from an struck down airstrike, local reports said.
The luxury property was opened on Dubai’s iconic palm-shaped artificial archipelago in 2012 and boasts almost 400 rooms on 14 storeys.
Emergency services were pictured on the scene where at least four people have been reported injured.
Elsewhere in Dubai, visitors at swimming pools filmed air defence systems shooting down suspected Iranian missiles.
A clip shared on social media showed the moment an airstrike was intercepted over the Jumeirah Golf Estates south of Dubai’s city centre.
The resort is located near the Dubai Sport’s City and the Trump International Golf Club.
Several other holidaymakers reported hearing loud bangs in the city.
Leah Mai, a British influencer staying in the Emirati hotspot, wrote on X: ‘Every so often you get reminded that ur really in the middle of a war zone.’
Earlier today, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace had been temporarily closed in light on the regional escalation until further notice.
The announcement has suspended most flights from airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the hubs of Gulf giant carriers Etihad and Emirates respectively.
It comes as the UK’s foreign office urged citizens in the Middle East, including Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to ‘immediately’ shelter.
The government department also advised against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
On Saturday US forces began ‘major combat operations’ with the aim of destroying Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities.
However Donald Trump’s speech also hinted at more ambitious aims for the offensive, including to topple Ali Khamenei’s regime.
Iran has responded with airstrikes targeting sites in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Iraq and Israel.
Metro has contacted Fairmont and Accor hotels for comment.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.