Dubai Marina fire: Wave of kindness as Dubai residents offer homes, meals, and relief
From essentials to shelter, WhatsApp groups with over 1,000 members coordinated urgent aid for Marina Pinnacle residents
Three days after a major fire broke out in Dubai
Marina
's Tiger Tower, also known as The Marina Pinnacle, the community response has been nothing short of extraordinary. As emergency crews continue to investigate the cause of the fire that erupted on Friday evening, residents across Dubai have mobilized to help the displaced.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed that all 3,820 residents from 764 apartments in the 67-storey building were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported. The blaze, which began around 9:30pm, was brought under control within six hours, and emergency teams remained on-site through the weekend. While the charred upper floors remain sealed, many tenants are now grappling with the challenge of temporary displacement.
Grassroots Aid: Shelter, Food, and Community Support
Much of the relief effort has been coordinated through two WhatsApp groups titled "Support Group to Help", both initiated by Dr Deepti Arora, an HR manager at a luxury retail company. The groups quickly grew past their member limits as hundreds joined in to offer food, clothing, transport, and toiletries.
'We've arranged 35 non-veg and 15 veg meals for one of the buildings today,' a member posted on Sunday.
A pinned message reads: "The past two days have seen immense generosity with donations pouring in from all over.
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The locations are now full, so please stop all donations, perishable and non-perishable. All locations remain open for those in need of clothes, food, and water."
Dr Deepti shared with Khaleej Times that the idea stemmed from a call she received from a distressed employee, a young man from Brazil who lived in the building.
'I tried to take the tram to check on him, but it wasn't working. So, I followed the smoke and walked to the building,' she recalled.
'What I saw was gut-wrenching.'
Motivated by what she witnessed, she quickly created the WhatsApp group and laid clear rules: no cash donations, only essentials like food, clothing, undergarments, and toiletries.
'Within hours, our group crossed a thousand members, and I had to start a second one,' she told
Khaleej Times
.
Stories of Kindness and Action
Another citizen-driven support initiative was launched by Sevgi Anar, a Sydney-born health and fitness professional living on the 72nd floor of a nearby tower.
She was among the first to notice the fire.
'People in our building were shouting across to the tower, trying to alert residents,' she said. 'It was hard to tell who had seen the smoke and who hadn't. Everyone just acted instinctively.'
The following morning, while walking her dog, she found two men sleeping near a tram station — their feet covered in soot. Upon learning they had escaped the fire, Sevgi and a friend booked them into Rove Dubai Marina Hotel for the night.
As more displaced tenants reached out, Sevgi created a WhatsApp group titled
Accommodation for Tiger Tower Residents
, now with around 150 members, focused solely on providing emergency housing.
'Ten boys, mostly Asian, were roughing it out near Princess Tower. We found them an apartment. Later that night, we put four more into Rove just for the night,' she shared.
One grateful resident posted the next day:
'My roommates and I were able to sleep peacefully last night.
Thank you, everyone.'
Temporary Housing and Continued Needs
While the building's management has provided temporary accommodation to residents with tenancy or ownership contracts, including at Nobles Tower in Business Bay, those in shared accommodations have struggled to find shelter.
An Indian resident from the 20th floor said:
'I was told to go to Nobles Tower, but by the time I reached, it was full.'
He is now staying at Staybridge Suites in Dubai Internet City with support from his company.
His wife, who had just left for India two days prior, is expected to return this week.
Another account came from Ross, an Azerbaijani expat living on the 60th floor. He was among the first to notice the fire:
'It started small. I thought it was coming from the 62nd floor and went up to check, but then I realised it was the floor right above mine. We tried using extinguishers and then the fire hoses, but it was too intense. Once Civil Defence arrived, we ran down the stairs.'
Ross sustained a minor injury from a balcony door that shattered from the heat. He was treated by paramedics.
'The firefighters arrived quickly and handled it very efficiently. I am really thankful for how fast they took control.'
A Web of Help: Businesses and Residents Join Hands
The network of help has extended beyond shelter and food. One message in the support group read:
'Dear friends, we are a family with three kids and a small dog and urgently need a place to stay.'
A response followed almost immediately:
'I have a vacant villa in Dubai Hills. It's unfurnished, but power and water are available. You can stay for a week.'
Several businesses also stepped in:
Clever Dogs Pets Care in Jebel Ali is offering free pet boarding for displaced animals.
Sisters Beauty Lounge in JBR is providing complimentary wash and blow-dry services to 20 women from the tower, upon presentation of a tenancy or ownership contract.
'It's just our way to pitch in,' said Mary, the lounge's marketing manager. 'These women have been through a lot. We wanted to offer a bit of relief.'
As investigations continue and residents await clearance to return, what remains clear is the strength of community bonds in Dubai.
'Dubai isn't only home,' said one volunteer as they packed essentials. 'It's where we look out for each other.'
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