Dubai Marina fire: Displaced victims still returning to ruins, struggling to move on

Dubai: More than a month has passed since a massive fire tore through the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle Tower, but for many former residents, the scars remain raw and the ordeal is far from over.

Returning to the ruins

Amal, who lived on the 65^th floor with his parents, still returns to the now-closed building every week.

“I had been living there for the past 15 years. I go back once a week just to get some stuff out,” he said, noting that even now, tenants continue to wander through the remains of their homes, searching for anything left behind.

Aftermath brings uncertainty

Thanks to rapid intervention within hours of the Friday, June 13 blaze, more than 3,800 residents were safely evacuated. In the chaotic aftermath, tenants with title deeds or tenancy contracts were offered temporary alternative accommodation. But for many, this brought little comfort.

According to some tenants, there has been no official word on compensation for destroyed belongings and no clarity about what lies ahead.

Sleeping in malls and parks

Amal was among the ‘lucky’ ones, managing to find a 3BHK flat in Dubai South. Others weren’t as fortunate.

“We were in the flat when it happened. We just ran out,” said Jean, a former tenant who didn’t possess a tenancy contract.

“We slept in malls and parks. It was difficult to find a vacant space in the middle of the month. We’ve now moved into a shared flat,” added Jean, who works at a nearby facility.

'Many partitioned flats'

Sebastine, another tenant who now lives in a shared flat in the same neighbourhood, alleged that several units in the tower had been partitioned to accommodate more people, including tourists.

“Over the years, there were so many partitioned flats. Even tourists stayed there through Airbnb. I remember seeing listings even after the fire. Some tourists were stranded when their bookings were abruptly cancelled,” Sebastine said.

'Room become a balcony'

Some tenants have reportedly filed police complaints, hoping for accountability, but they noted having lost their peace of mind.

“I saw one flat where the walls were just gone,” Amal recalled. “The living room had become a balcony. There was no bed, no cupboard… everything had burned away.”

Amal has since moved into a new apartment in a quieter, gated community.

“Yes, we’re lucky to have found a new place. But the home where I grew up that’s gone.”