Electrical faults main reason behind UAE fires: study

A study of more than 5,000 fires in Dubai over the past eight years has shown that a large percentage of these fires are accidental. Only 4.6 per cent were caused by arson - which shows a low rate of deliberate fires according to international standards - and reflects the low crime rate in the UAE in general.

According to the study, a vast majority of fires took place in cars; followed by fires in residential houses, villas and apartments; and shops, construction sites, electrical panels, government ships, boats and used tyres, solid waste and institutions.

Electrical faults were found to be the main reason behind the fires.

According to data from the Dubai Statistics Centre, between 2011 and 2013, electrical sparks caused 22 per cent of the total fires, of which 27 per cent occurred in Bur Dubai.