Karmactive Staff
A massive fire tore through the 67-story Marina Pinnacle building in Dubai’s upscale Marina district on Friday evening, forcing nearly 4,000 residents to flee their homes. The blaze, which started around 9:30 PM local time on June 13, 2025, engulfed multiple floors of the residential skyscraper also known as Tiger Tower.
Despite the severity of the fire, all 3,820 residents from the building’s 764 apartments were safely evacuated with no injuries or deaths reported – a remarkable outcome praised by local officials. Dubai Civil Defence teams battled the inferno for nearly six hours before bringing it under control in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“We had to hold on to the shoulders of the person in front of us,” recalled Prateek M., an Indian expatriate who escaped with his wife and young son from their 22nd-floor apartment. “Once we reached the parking levels, where it’s more ventilated, we could breathe a little better.”
The family is now staying in a hotel while authorities assess the damage. “We’re safe and that’s what matters. But we hope to return soon,” Prateek told local media.
Videos shared online show flames and debris pouring from the upper floors of the building, creating a frightening scene in the popular residential and tourist area. Many residents reported being alerted by neighbors shouting warnings or by the smell of smoke.
Another resident named Raza, who has lived in the building for three years, wasn’t home when the fire started but arrived around 1 AM to find roads blocked. After finding neighbors who had evacuated without their phones, he helped arrange taxis to get people to friends and relatives.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed on social media that ambulance teams and medical staff were on site throughout the night, providing both physical and psychological support to those affected. “Full medical and mental support has been made available,” authorities stated.
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In a coordinated effort between city authorities and the building’s developer, displaced residents have been offered temporary accommodation in hotels. However, there’s currently no timeline for when residents might be able to return to their homes.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Footage appears to show the blaze starting in the upper floors of the building, but officials have not confirmed the origin point. This isn’t the first fire at Marina Pinnacle – a smaller kitchen fire occurred on the 47th floor in May 2015, according to reports.
The incident temporarily disrupted public transportation in the area. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority suspended tram services between Dubai Marina Station and Palm Jumeirah Station to facilitate access for emergency responders. Alternative bus services were quickly arranged to minimize disruption to commuters.
Dubai has experienced several high-profile skyscraper fires in recent years, including incidents at The Address Downtown Dubai, Sulafa Tower, and The Torch. Many of these previous fires were linked to flammable facade cladding materials, which has led to stricter building codes and fire safety regulations in the city.
The successful evacuation of nearly 4,000 people without injuries highlights the effectiveness of Dubai’s emergency response systems. The city has invested heavily in advanced fire safety technology and strict building codes following previous incidents.
As cooling operations continue and investigators work to determine the cause, residents face an uncertain wait before they can assess damage to their homes and belongings. Many evacuated with only the clothes they were wearing, leaving important documents and possessions behind. The Dubai Civil Defense’s rapid response and the building’s evacuation procedures likely prevented what could have been a major tragedy in one of the world’s most densely populated high-rise districts.
