Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah hit by missile debris as Iran strikes spread across Gulf | Watch

One of the witnesses said he saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.

• Iranian debris ignites fire at Dubai's Palm Jumeirah hotel
• Four people injured, fire now under control, say officials
• Incident heightens anxiety amid escalating Gulf tensions

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Tensions in West Asia spilled closer to civilian zones after debris reportedly struck a hotel or resort on Dubai’s iconic man-made island, Palm Jumeirah, following Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the Gulf.

Two witnesses told AFP they heard a powerful explosion and saw smoke rising from the area.

One of the witnesses said he saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.

Dubai residents and AFP correspondents in the city heard several loud bangs following that explosion.

Visuals of fire and smoke from the Fairmont Hotel on Dubai's Palm Street#USIran#IsraelIranWar#IsraelIranConflict#USIsraelIranpic.twitter.com/fcCunIVg94

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The Dubai media office later confirmed an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area that resulted in a fire and four people injured.

"Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities," it added.

The incident targeting a Dubai landmark shocked residents, and was followed by several bangs heard by Dubai residents and AFP correspondents in the city.

Roughly 90 percent of the UAE's population consists of foreigners and Dubai is its most populated city, long associated with opulence and glamour.

Iran launched strikes on all the oil-rich Gulf countries except for Oman, a mediator in the US-Iran talks.

The developments come amid escalating hostilities after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory action across the region.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it intercepted multiple "hostile aircraft" that took off from Iran on Saturday, likely referring to drones.

"In the last few hours the Israeli Air Force intercepted a number of hostile aircraft that were launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said.

While there has been no official statement from Dubai authorities confirming the extent of damage on The Palm, the incident has heightened anxiety across Gulf cities, many of which host large Indian expatriate populations.

Residents have been advised to follow official advisories and avoid spreading unverified information as regional tensions continue to evolve.