A huge fire has broken out in a high-rise hotel in central Dubai close to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa.
Burning debris could be seen falling from the 300m-tall (1,000-feet) building, called The Address, as firefighters arrived at the scene.
It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
The blaze erupted ahead of a major New Year’s Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa.
Crowds gathering to watch the display have been asked to leave.
Fire appeared to have engulfed much of the building, which has more than 60 storeys and is a luxury five-star hotel and apartment complex.
There is no indication so far of what might have caused the fire.
The Dubai government tweeted (in Arabic) that the fire had started on the 20th floor.
A tourist, Michelle Duque, who is visiting Dubai, told the BBC: “All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel.
“The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames.”
BBC