A major fire broke out early Saturday morning at Marina Pinnacle, a 67-storey residential skyscraper in Dubai Marina, triggering a swift and large-scale emergency response that led to the safe evacuation of more than 3,800 residents. Authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or fatalities.
According to Khaleej Times, the Dubai Civil Defence battled the blaze for nearly six hours before bringing it under control. The fire prompted the evacuation of 3,820 residents from 764 apartments. The Dubai Media Office (DMO) reported that the evacuation was completed smoothly and without incident.
“Control measures remain in place, and the situation is being fully managed by firefighting teams,” the DMO said in a statement. It noted that lingering smoke at the site was due to continued cooling operations.
Authorities are now collaborating with the building’s developer to arrange temporary housing for the displaced residents. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Marina Pinnacle, also known as Tiger Tower, has experienced a fire incident before. In 2015, a kitchen fire spread between two floors before it was contained. The tower is situated close to The Torch, another high-rise that suffered fires in both 2015 and 2017.
While officials praised the effectiveness of the emergency response, some residents expressed concern over the initial handling of the situation. Speaking to Gulf News, several occupants reported that they were unaware of the fire until they saw fire trucks outside or neighbors alerted them.
“I don’t think the fire alarm worked,” said Aron, a local worker. “People were just staring out of their windows, not realizing the fire was in their own building until others came knocking.”
The fire began around 9:30 p.m. and drew significant attention, with crowds gathering as emergency personnel from Dubai Civil Defence, police, and medical teams arrived on the scene. Social media videos captured residents rushing out of the building, covering their faces as smoke poured from the upper floors.
“It was terrifying,” one resident said. “We were asleep when it started, but thankfully we got out in time. The firefighters were amazing, but I’m not sure if anything we owned survived.”
Another resident said they noticed the smell of smoke but didn’t realize the urgency until emergency sirens blared and a neighbor warned them. “Only then did we understand the building was actually on fire.”
Despite the confusion in the early moments, Dubai Civil Defence conducted an orderly evacuation, safely assisting residents—including pets—through stairwells and elevators. No casualties were reported.
