Dubai Marina fire: Resident shares how his dog was rescued after 27 hours trapped in high-rise blaze

Dubai: Ali Roozitalab took Maya, his golden retriever, for a walk that evening, like he always did. Afterwards, he left her safely at home while he popped out to get some groceries. But within an hour, everything changed.

“When I came back, all the roads were closed and the building was on fire. I parked my car and ran to the authorities, begging them to let me go inside to save my dog. But they were evacuating the building and no one was allowed in. I stood there by the building, hoping someone could help me save my dog,” he recalled to Gulf News.

Roozitalab recounted the terrifying night when a massive fire tore through a high-rise residential tower in Dubai Marina on June 13, forcing the evacuation of over 3,000 residents. More than 14 pets trapped inside the smoke-filled building were bravely rescued by the Dubai Police Search and Rescue team.

Living on the 36th floor, Roozitalab, a coach at Dubai Athletics Cheer, could only watch helplessly, hoping for a miracle as rescuers risked their lives to save both people and animals.

“No one was allowed inside. I stood there helpless, watching as the fire spread. Civil Defence were doing everything they could to fight the flames. Through a pet camera in my apartment, I could see Maya, terrified and alone.”

Word of Maya’s situation quickly spread, with Ali’s friends from a Golden Retrievers group rushing to the scene to support him. Amnah, a member of the group, shared his plea widely on social media. “I thought if we raised awareness about Maya, people would realise other animals might also be trapped,” she said.

Throughout the night, they waited, hoping for a breakthrough. By 9am (next day), the camera feed from Ali’s apartment went dark.

Mohammad Fadel Al Quasar from Civil Defence tried to enter but was forced back by heavy smoke. Despite repeated attempts, access remained impossible.

Roozitalab’s post quickly went viral, circulating through WhatsApp groups and Instagram, as strangers rallied to help. One of those who saw the post was Ahmed Almurr Saeed from Dubai Civil Defense. Though his shift had already ended, he returned to the scene to help.

“He did everything he could to save Maya,” said. “He kept trying to find a way inside, refusing to give up. My friends from the Golden Retrievers group also came to support me. We were all desperate, just hoping for a miracle.”

Roozitalab was added to a dedicated WhatsApp group for pets trapped in the building, where volunteers worked around the clock, compiling a detailed list of animals, apartment numbers, descriptions, and owners’ contact details.

Captain Yaqoub Abdullah from Dubai Police’s Search and Rescue department received the list and led his team into the burned-out building. 

“He saved so many lives that day,” he said with deep gratitude. “He took my apartment key and went in. Maya is a big golden retriever, so carrying her wasn’t easy, especially when we had no idea what condition she was in. Then, at around 10:30pm, Captain Yaqoub emerged from the building carrying Maya in his arms, like a scene from a movie. A true hero.”

Meanwhile, Ali’s friends Amand and Mahi had managed to contact Dr Gelah Magtuba from Dreamers Veterinary Clinic. She rushed to the scene within 30 minutes with her medical supplies.

“Maya had just been rescued and was still in shock. I gave her oxygen, stabilised her, made sure she had water, and wrapped her in a warm towel to comfort her.”

They later took Maya to the clinic for further care. “We put her on a drip, ran blood tests, gave her a bath to wash off the ash, and did X-rays,” Dr Gelah said. 

“The X-rays showed cloudiness in her lungs from smoke inhalation. Thankfully, she’s responding well to medication. Her lungs will heal in time. But emotionally, she has been through severe trauma. Still, Maya is an incredibly smart, strong dog and very lucky to be alive after nearly 27 hours trapped in that fire.”

“She has a reason to live,” Dr Gelah added. “Ali often brings her along to his gymnastics classes. The children love her, and she brings so much happiness to them. That may be her purpose — she brings joy wherever she goes.”

Ali was overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness from strangers. 

“In the last few days, I’ve received so many calls and messages from people who were worried about Maya. It has been so heartwarming to see how many people care and wanted to help. I want to thank Mr Ahmed from Dubai Civil Defence, Captain Yaqoub and his team, Dr Gelah and Dreamers Veterinary Clinic, the volunteers from the WhatsApp group, and all my friends from the Golden Retrievers community.”

While many pets were thankfully rescued from the blaze, a few remain missing. One of them is Cami, a white male Scottish Fold cat who was rescued but may have become misplaced during the chaos. Cami is neutered and microchipped.

His owners, Emma and Bisma Siddiqui, have widely shared his details across social media, veterinary clinics, and pet rescue groups. They are urging anyone who may have seen him to call 055 6134896 and are also providing a Dh500 reward for anyone who finds him.

Another cat remains missing as well — a white male who was reportedly in a carrier at the time of evacuation. The search continues as volunteers and owners cling to hope.