The 75-storey high Sufala Tower in Dubai caught fire Wednesday in the lower levels of the building, triggering a massive evacuation as civil defense and police were fighting the blaze.
There were no immediate reports about casualties. The fire broke out somewhere around the 35th floor of the skyscraper, local media said.
Hundreds of tenants left the building, some of the coughing from smoke inhalation. Light wind and a clear sky amid temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius aided the flames which arose quickly upwards from level to level.
One Arab tenant of the 285 meters tall building who managed to take out his most valuable belongings in a hand luggage-sized suitcase told Xinhua the building was quickly evacuated when the fire alarm went off.
Dubai Police sealed off the surroundings of the tower in a radius of around 300 meters and urged drivers coming from nearby to take alternative roads as space was made for fire brigades and ambulance vehicles. Until 5pm local time the fire fighting was still ongoing.
The Dubai Marina district, a popular outskirt area for affluent Dubai residents and tourists alike, is an area in the southwest of the sheikhdom and has one of the highest luxury resort and skyscraper densities in the UAE.