Architecture News

Dubai landmark Burj Al Arab skyscraper damaged by Iranian strikes

Jennifer Hahn

Dubai’s sail-shaped Burj Al Arab skyscraper and man-made Palm Jumeirah island were among several highly recognisable structures in the UAE that were damaged by Iranian strikes on Saturday.

Videos captured on the ground show flames and smoke billowing out from the base of the 321-metre-tall hotel – a 1999 landmark designed by British architect Tom Wright that is considered one of the country’s most iconic buildings.

Local authorities confirmed on Sunday that the damage was caused by debris from an intercepted Iranian drone, launched by Iran as part of a series of retaliatory strikes against US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.

“A drone was intercepted, and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab’s outer facade,” the Dubai Media Office wrote on X.

“Civil Defense teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control. No injuries have been reported.”


Videos show flames billowing out from the base of the Burj Al Arab

An intercepted missile also caused a fire and injured four people on nearby Palm Jumeirah – a palm-shaped man-made island filled with luxury hotels and residences.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s international airports also sustained damage, killing one person and leaving 11 injured while hundreds of flights were cancelled.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, Iran has fired 137 missiles and 209 drones at the country since Saturday, most of which were intercepted.

The strikes form part of a broad range of retaliatory strikes aimed at countries in the Middle East that contain US military bases – including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – following a US-Israeli attack on Iran.

The US and Israel initiated sweeping military attacks on Iran on Saturday, following tense negotiations between the US and Iran over the latter’s nuclear programme, and threats from Trump that he would order military action if Iran did not agree to a deal.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by a joint US-Israeli air strike on Saturday.

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