A major fire broke out late Friday night in a 67-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina, prompting the evacuation of nearly 4,000 residents. The blaze was brought under control after around six hours, and officials confirmed no reported injuries .
The fire ignited in the upper floors of the building—known as Marina Pinnacle or Tiger Tower—around 9:30–9:45 PM, according to local reports .
Dubai Civil Defence, supported by ambulance and medical teams, coordinated a large-scale response, successfully evacuating all 3,820 residents from 764 apartments .
Many residents flagged alarm system failures, noting they were alerted by smoke, balcony views, phone calls, or neighbors, not by alarms .
One person on the 24th floor told Khaleej Times:
We smelled something burning around 9:45 pm… Security only told us to leave when we called them.”
They added that stairwells were filled with smoke, forcing them to use the elevator, which thankfully stayed operational .
The fire alarm never rang… The stairs were full of smoke, so we took the elevator. The lobby was smoky too.”
The Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) temporarily suspended tram operations between Dubai Marina Station and Palm Jumeirah Station for safety reasons. Shuttle buses were arranged as an alternative .
Authorities are coordinating with the building’s developer to provide temporary accommodation for the displaced residents; some reported being moved to hotels for at least two nights .
The fire was largely extinguished by early Saturday morning after a six‑hour battle by Dubai Civil Defence. Cooling operations continued into the morning due to lingering smoke and heat .
The Dubai Media Office said the operation was under full control, with no threat of spreading to nearby buildings .
The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time .
Given the reported failures in alarms and smoke control, a safety audit—possibly mandatory—could follow. The incident echoes prior high‑rise fires in Dubai, including one at Marina Pinnacle in 2015 .
The blaze quickly went viral online. One X user, Ada Lluch (@ada_lluch), tweeted:
This morning, a massive fire started in a Dubai’s residential building. Yet, the 3,820 residents were rescued without injuries. I promise you, I have never seen a more efficient country than the UAE.”
A serious fire erupted on the upper floors of the 67‑storey Marina Pinnacle late Friday. Emergency teams evacuated all 3,820 residents safely, extinguished the blaze within six hours, and ensured no casualties. However, significant concerns about lack of alarms, stairwell smoke, and reliance on the elevator during evacuation have surfaced. Authorities are providing temporary housing and pursuing a detailed investigation, likely prompting reviews of fire safety systems in Dubai’s residential high‑rises.
