Dubai’s iconic Fairmont hotel engulfed in flames after Iranian drone attack

The country has closed the airspace

The iconic resort in Dubai was hit by falling debris from an Iranian airstrike on Saturday.

The five-star £245 million hotel is seen engulfed in flames in footage shared on social media, as air defence systems intercepted several Iranian missiles bound for targets in the UAE.

As per local reports, the incident was caused by falling shrapnel from a struck down airstrike.

The luxury property, which boasts almost 400 rooms on 14 storeys, was opened on Dubai’s iconic palm-shaped artificial archipelago in 2012.

At least four people have been reported injured, as emergency services were pictured on the scene.

Several other holidaymakers in Dubai reported hearing loud bangs in the city, as visitors at swimming pools filmed air defence systems shooting down suspected Iranian missiles.

Earlier on Saturday, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace had been temporarily closed, as it has suspended most flights from airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

It comes as the UK’s foreign office urged citizens in the Middle East, including Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to “immediately” shelter.