E-Paper
Sign In
Drone falls on building in Dubai's Creek Harbour, residents evacuated
The building was evacuated to ensure the safety of residents, according to the authority
- PUBLISHED: Thu 12 Mar 2026, 3:53 AM UPDATED: Thu 12 Mar 2026, 8:16 AM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
In the early hours of Thursday, March 12, a drone fell on a building in Dubai's Creek Harbour around 2.45am. Residents were evacuated, and no injuries have been reported.
Recommended For You
According to the Dubai Media Office (DMO), authorities immediately responded to the incident that caused a minor fire and Civil Defence teams brought the blaze under control. The building in the photo shared by DMO is Address Creek Harbour (Tower 2) in Dubai's Creek Harbour district, a luxury residential tower with hotel facilities.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
The drone is believed to be of Iranian origin amid the war in the Middle East. UAE is among the Gulf States targeted by Iranian forces in retaliatory strikes on American assets following the US-Israel's ‘pre‑emptive’ operations on Tehran.
Residents react to Creek Harbour drone fall
Residents in the Dubai Creek Harbour neighbourhood initially reacted with panic, fear and uncertainty. Some saw the drone crash into the building; however, after witnessing the efficiency of the authorities in bringing the situation under control, many took to social media to express pride in the UAE’s leadership and confidence in the country’s handling of the crisis.
A resident of Address Creek Harbour (Tower 1), who said he witnessed the drone strike on Tower 2 from his window, described the response by authorities as “unbelievable”. “There are police boats in the water, and there were around 40 fire engines and police cars outside. Everything was quickly brought under control, and thankfully, no one was hurt,” he said.
Standing on his balcony and looking out over the city’s skyline, the realtor said he felt strongly about the place he calls home.
“I am very protective of this city because it has given me so much happiness,” he said. “Flights are still taking off, life is continuing, and I wanted to share this video to show people that I’m safe and that I stand with the UAE.”
He added that he had no plans to leave despite the incident. “I’m not going anywhere. This city has given me so much, and its leadership deserves our support. This isn’t our war to fight, and we hope it ends soon. Dubai will be fine again.”
Another eyewitness said, "In a matter of minutes, the situation was in the hands of the civil defence, fire department, police and ambulance and the fire was put out."
He heard the loud boom and saw the fire across the street from his building. He urged fellow Dubai residents to stay calm and safe, and to follow the rules, reminding them that panic only creates problems.
Attack on civilian infrastructures
On Wednesday, two drones fell near Dubai International Airport (DXB), and Bahrain evacuated some planes on the same day, as attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf continued to disrupt air traffic, as the war on Iran entered its 13th day on March 12.
Dubai's media office confirmed the incident near Dubai airport, but said air traffic was operating as normal. Four people were injured, including two Gahanian nationals, a Bangladeshi, who sustained minor injuries and one Indian national was moderately wounded as well.
A fire also broke out at Abu Dhabi's old airport after the UAE air defence systems intercepted Iranian drones. The authority said the incident resulted in no injuries and reminded residents to remain indoors and in a safe location when the national emergency alerts are sounded.
Drone debris fell on Fairmont the Palm on February 28, causing limited damage and injuring four people. Debris was also reported in a nearby car park. A small fire then broke out there and was quickly contained by hotel security working with Civil Defence and local authorities.
Iran has continued to target civilian infrastructure in the UAE despite claiming to strike US military bases in the Gulf. Top UAE officials called out Tehran's blatant violation. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the volume of missiles and drones launched tells a story that sharply contradicts Tehran’s narrative. Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, a leading parliamentarian, also condemned Iran’s actions, noting that missile strikes directed at cities and civilian infrastructure cannot be concealed behind political rhetoric.
