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The Emirati authorities evacuated the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, on Saturday after explosions were reported across Dubai following Iranian missile strikes targeting the Gulf, Israeli media reported.
Emergency teams cleared the 828-meter tower after sirens went off in parts of the city and residents reported multiple blasts, in one of the most visible precautionary steps taken in Dubai as part of broader safety measures, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The Burj Khalifa is one of Dubai’s most visited tourist landmarks, drawing millions of visitors each year to its observation decks on the 124th, 125th, and 148th floors, where guests can take in panoramic views of the city and the Arabian Gulf.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles targeting Abu Dhabi, but debris from one intercepted projectile fell on a residential area in the capital, killing a civilian of Asian nationality.
Hours later, the ministry said it intercepted a second wave of missiles and added that no injuries were reported in the affected locations.
Explosions were heard in Dubai as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, along with U.S.-linked bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Qatar said it intercepted two missiles over its territory, while Bahrain said an Iranian missile strike targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet’s service center.
All flights across the region were suspended, as Gulf airspace closures grounded carriers and forced cancellations and reroutings in response to heightened security risks.
The missile strikes on Gulf countries hosting tens of thousands of American troops followed joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran earlier on Saturday, which President Donald Trump said marked the beginning of "major combat operations."
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