DUBAI // No one was hurt in the fire that destroyed a floating restaurant docked in Dubai Marina on Wednesday, Civil Defence has confirmed.
Firefighters were alerted at 7.26pm and dispatched crews from Al Quoz, a spokesperson said. Marine firefighters were also sent to the scene after the restaurant boat Waterworld caught fire near the Rahim Mosque at the southern end of the marina.
The spokesman said guests had left the boat as soon as the fire started. No one was injured.
The spokesman said crews returned to the site on Thursday morning. Investigations into the cause of the fire will be carried out by Dubai Police, he said.
The fire drew crowds of onlookers from nearby buildings.
Anita Vahedi, 47, and her daughter left their apartment in the Al Sheebani building, joining other residents to watch the blaze.
“It was a big fire,” said the Iranian housewife, adding and everyone around her was calm about the situation.
Tony Chalabi, 27, a partner in a mobile phone shop, stepped outside after seeing the crowd, as well as several police and ambulances. Firefighters arrived on the scene about 20 minutes after he first spotted the fire, he said.
“The fire was too big, it lit up the whole marina,” said Mr Chalabi, who is originally from Syria.
The flames spread fast around the boat, said Mr Chalabi, who just six months ago had visited the floating restaurant which offers dinner cruises around the marina.
“I have been to that boat before,” he said, adding he had enjoyed the experience at the time. “I hope the owner has insurance.”
The National was not able to reach Water World Yacht Rental, the company that operated the boat.
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