Vinay Kumar
In the quiet hours after disaster, the first residents of the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle Tower, also known as Tiger Tower, have been allowed back into the building to retrieve what little may be left. The high-rise in Dubai Marina was partially gutted by a fire on Friday night. Days later, the reality of what was lost is beginning to sink in. For many, it’s not just belongings, but entire lives turned to soot. Charred walls, soot-covered furniture, and gutted rooms greeted them, turning tearful reunions with their homes into moments of anguish. Salma Sherif Elhouseny, an Egyptian business consultant, had only been in Dubai for a year and a half. Her apartment on the 40th floor had been her safe space in a new country. She returned to it escorted by a Dubai Police officer, stepping carefully over blackened rubble. A video she later shared shows her sobbing uncontrollably as she is led through the ruins by a Dubai Police officer.“My master bedroom… it’s completely gone. I’m devastated, everything’s lost. My jewellery, my laptop, my clothes, birth and education certificates, all the money I had, it was all here,” she told Khaleej Times, her voice still trembling.“I know others have lost more, but I am alone in this city. This was everything I had.” She had waited several hours just to be allowed in, eventually escorted up through a cargo elevator shortly before midnight.“I was just lucky they let me in,” she said.
Tightly Controlled Access and an Exhausted Crowd
Authorities have implemented strict controls to manage the entry of displaced tenants. Dubai Police and Civil Defence now require residents to register their names, present Emirates ID and tenancy (Ejari) documents, and wait for their turn. Entry is granted to small escorted groups, each allowed only around 10 minutes inside. Passports, medications, laptops, car keys, these are the urgent items people are prioritising as they step into their damaged homes.“There’s a system in place, and they are trying their best,” one tenant told Khaleej Times, acknowledging the structure amid the chaos. But the process hasn’t been smooth for everyone.“Some people are misusing the opportunity by carrying heavy suitcases and staying longer than allowed. It slows everything down and delays those still waiting,” said another resident. Some floors, particularly the lower ones, appear to have escaped major damage. An Indian homeowner who visited his third-floor apartment said he felt fortunate.“Some smoke damage, but nothing serious. I consider myself lucky, given what others are going through.” For many others, especially those living on higher floors, access is still out of reach.
Voices from the Upper Floors: Missed Chances and Near Escapes
Yasemin Fuentes, a Turkish expat who lived on the 47th floor with her husband, daughter, and three pets, has made multiple attempts to retrieve essentials, all unsuccessful.“More than 200 people were waiting, and it was too hot. I was told only those with medical needs or flights were being allowed in briefly,” she said. “We’re still wearing the clothes we fled in. I haven’t been able to get my ID or second phone.” The night of the fire, Yasemin hadn’t even been aware of the danger until a friend from a neighbouring tower called her around 10pm.“There was no alarm. I grabbed my daughter, our two cats, and the dog. By the time we got to the stairwell, it was filled with smoke. That’s when panic really kicked in.” Others, now allowed in, are documenting and sharing their losses through WhatsApp support groups.
- “Got our passports and car keys. Room and kitchen were safe, but the living room was hit by smoke since the balcony door was open.”
- “Went to the 43rd floor. Kitchen and hall were intact, just blackened by soot. But the master bedroom is gone.”
- “Update from 34th floor: Room partially damaged, hall completely gone.”
- “From the 19th floor: Living room fully destroyed, hall partially affected.”
For residents living in shared accommodations, the experience has been even more constrained. “You’re only allowed into your own room. Police were very strict about that,” said one tenant. “And if you’re above the 40th floor, there’s no electricity at all. We were given enough time to collect essentials, though.”
Grief Meets Generosity: A Community Stands Up
Even as residents cope with trauma and uncertainty, community solidarity has begun to fill the gaps left behind by the fire. A WhatsApp group named ‘Support Group to Help’ has grown to over 1,000 members. It now functions as a central hub for aid, offering everything from temporary accommodation and clothing to food supplies. Volunteers continue to show up, helping neighbours with what they can. Mental health professionals have stepped in too, offering free counselling to those impacted. Daily virtual sessions featuring laughter therapy and traditional yoga are being held every morning from 6:45am to 7:45am until Friday, providing some emotional relief for those still processing what happened. There are no easy recoveries from events like this, but in the ruins of Marina Pinnacle, the compassion of a city is beginning to rebuild what flames took away.
