Fairmont The Palm Dubai on Fire: Iran's Missiles Hit the Gulf's Most Iconic Luxury Hotel — 4 Injured
The Iran war has reached one of the world's most recognizable luxury addresses. The Fairmont The Palm hotel on Dubai's famous Palm Jumeirah island is on fire Saturday evening after being struck by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile. Four people are injured. The Burj Khalifa has been evacuated. A tower block in Bahrain's Seef district is burning. And the Gulf's skyline — from Manama to Doha to Abu Dhabi — is lit up with missile interceptions and rising smoke columns.
Fairmont The Palm Dubai: Struck, On Fire, Four Injured
Dubai authorities confirmed that an incident triggered a fire in a building on Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island known for its luxury hotels and residential towers. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as emergency sirens echoed across the Palm. Four people were injured in the fire in the Palm Jumeirah area, which has now been brought under control, Dubai authorities said.
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 defenses. Some sources claim that US military personnel were also present at the site. The BBC and CNN both independently verified multiple videos showing the moment of impact — a projectile striking near the hotel entrance, followed by an enormous orange fireball and thick black smoke engulfing the lower floors.
CNN Verified Drone Footage: The Moment of Impact on Camera
Videos show the moment a drone dives towards the ground in Dubai's luxurious Palm Jumeirah district, before an explosion rocks the Fairmont Hotel, leaving it in flames. CNN has verified the videos posted to social media. One video verified by the BBC showed the sky turning orange as a massive explosion hit the hotel entrance. The clip ended in a large plume of smoke. The incident was captured from multiple angles.
Some reports claim that US military personnel were present at the hotel at the time of the strike. Five explosions were reported in the area in the last 10 minutes of the attack window, with 15 in the 30 minutes prior. No bomb shelters exist in Dubai — people are hiding in underground parking lots. One tourist staying near the Palm told reporters he had moved away from mainland Dubai entirely, adding that he could still see and hear missiles flying overhead from his new location.
Burj Khalifa Evacuated, Palm Jumeirah Closed to Vehicles
Smoke billowed over Dubai's famous Palm Jumeirah on February 28, 2026, as the city's luxury Fairmont The Palm Hotel was engulfed in flames — a dramatic scene caused by falling debris from an Iranian airstrike intercepted over the city. The incident left at least four people injured. The Burj Khalifa — the world's tallest building — was evacuated as a precautionary measure as the missile barrage continued. All entry and exit roads onto the Palm Jumeirah were closed to civilian vehicles as emergency response teams flooded the island.
Dubai's media spokesperson confirmed it has deployed emergency response teams to the location in response to an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area. Formula One has said it is "closely monitoring" the situation in the Middle East as strikes are exchanged between Gulf states. The F1 announcement is significant given the UAE Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi is one of the most commercially critical races on the entire calendar.
Bahrain: Iranian Suicide Drone Hits Seef District Tower Block
In neighboring Bahrain, Iranian suicide drones slammed into a tower block, setting the high-rise ablaze. Smoke rose from the burning building in Manama's Seef district as emergency crews responded to the aftermath. The Seef district is one of Bahrain's most densely populated commercial and residential areas, sitting just kilometers from the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Juffair. The tower block strike marks the first confirmed Iranian attack on a purely civilian high-rise building across the entire Gulf region during the crisis.
Israel's military says that "dozens" of missiles have been fired by Iran at Israel. While many have been intercepted and no serious injuries have been reported, the missile barrages were continuing after sundown on Saturday. Israel's military chief gave an address on national TV warning that the defenses are not "hermetic" and the public should obey safety instructions and remain vigilant.
Saudi Arabia Repels Attacks on Riyadh and Eastern Region
Saudi Arabia said on state-run media that it had repelled attacks by Iran on its capital and eastern region, and sirens sounded in Jordan. Riyadh and the Eastern Province — home to the world's largest oil infrastructure and the Saudi Aramco facilities that supply a substantial portion of global energy — were both targeted in what Riyadh described as "cowardly" Iranian aggression. No confirmed damage or casualties were reported in Saudi Arabia as of Saturday evening ET.
What Dubai, UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar Residents Should Do Right Now
All US embassies across Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait maintain active shelter-in-place orders for all American citizens. The UAE Ministry of Interior urges all residents to avoid non-essential movement, rely only on verified government sources, and report any suspicious objects or falling debris immediately to civil defense authorities rather than approaching them. The Palm Jumeirah, typically a haven for luxury travelers and expatriates, became a symbol of the unpredictable dangers posed by geopolitical tensions — leaving Dubai's residents and visitors to grapple with the reality of living and vacationing in a region where the lines between war and peace can blur in an instant.
