Fire has broken out in a residential building near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 storeys of the building near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.
Burning debris rained down from the building as fire engines raced to the scene. It was not immediately clear if anyone was wounded in the blaze.
Dubai planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays.
The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organisers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights. They said 1.6 tons of fireworks would be used in the display.
From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai Marina.
Fireworks also will be on display in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country of seven emirates.
Tens of thousands of people whistled and cheered at the display taking place at the Burj Khalifa.
Meanwhile, teams of firefighters were working to put out a blaze that has engulfed a 63-story luxury hotel and residential building.
At least 14 people were slightly injured and one person suffered a heart attack from the smoke and over-crowding during evacuation late on Thursday.