UAE on high alert as Palm Jumeirah hotel on fire, Burj Khalifa evacuated amid Iran's retaliatory strikes

UAE's Ministry of Defense has condemned Iran's strikes on its soil, warning that it was well within its 'right to respond' if the attacks continued

uae-fairmont-burj-khalifa - 1 Visuals from the fire at the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah (L) and the Burj Khalifa (R) | X, Reuters

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The United Arab Emirates is one among a number of Middle Eastern countries working to repel waves of attacks from Iran aimed at US airbases on its soil.

The Fairmont Hotel in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah is the latest casualty of the third wave of Iran's offensive, titled Operation True Promise 4, as it was reportedly hit by debris from a missile intercepted by the UAE's defences.

However, other reports claim that it was one of Iran's kamikaze Shahed drones that managed to hit the hotel.

At least four people have been reported injured, as the firefighting crews quickly worked to bring the fire under control.

Visuals from the scene show thick plumes of smoke billowing from the buildings in the posh area, while a few even show explosions, but no details of casualties have emerged so far.

This comes after the iconic Burj Khalifa was also evacuated over security concerns, as air defence systems are already engaged in repelling the third wave of Tehran's attacks, due to which the UAE—and the wider Middle East—has seen widespread flight disruptions.

Abu Dhabi faces graver concerns, as it houses Washington's Al Dhafra airbase, which is the main target of Iran's airstrikes on the UAE.

Residents in the capital emirate received emergency alerts on their phones warning of “potential missile threats" and have been advised to take immediate shelter in secure spots, away from windows and open areas.

At least one person, identified as a Pakistani national, has also died due to shrapnel from an airborne interception, which also caused some damage to property, state news agency WAM said.

"The Ministry stressed that the targeting constitutes a blatant violation of national sovereignty and International Law, affirming the UAE’s full right to take all necessary measures to protect its territory and people, and to safeguard its sovereignty, security and stability," the nation's Ministry of Defense said in an X post.