Three weeks after the Dubai Marina blaze gutted large portions of a residential tower, the kindness of strangers is helping residents get back on their feet.
Many were left with nothing after fire ripped through the Marina Pinnacle building, known as Tiger Tower, on June 13, home to more than 3,800 people.
Families thanked Dubai’s ‘angels’ who continue to arrange baby cots, phone chargers and accommodation in studios and hotels.
Nigina Shakirova, 32, from Uzbekistan, was working late and frantically waited outside as her husband and young daughter ran out of the burning building.
“Our condition was terrible, my daughter had a burn on her hand and legs, people helped with medication and she is OK now,” said Ms Shakirova, who works with a real estate developer. The family now live in a one-bedroom apartment that a Dubai resident offered them.
“We feel blessed my husband and child are alive, that is the most priceless thing to have after that inferno. We deeply appreciate the angels, the amazing lady who gave us the apartment and is helping find a house with low rent. God bless these strangers for their kindness.”
Partitioned homes
The fire brought attention to the apartments in the tower, which were broken up into partitions with makeshift doors, and beds were lined up in the living room.
Occupants said they were charged between Dh2,000 and Dh3,500 monthly for partitioned spaces that afford some privacy with a bed, cupboard and dressing unit. The ‘bedsits’ or rows of beds cost about Dh1,000 a month.
Dubai Municipality has recently cracked down on partitioned units and demolished illegal sublets across the emirate.
Authorities have warned landlords against adding unauthorised partitions, as these can pose a fire hazard.
Zahra Finech, 45, who works in a Moroccan bath and spa nearby, lost all her belongings and is busy trying to obtain a replacement passport.
“My home is finished, ID cards, gold, money, clothes, everything is gone,” said the Moroccan citizen, who has lived in the UAE for eight years. “I cry a lot, I feel crazy, I want to go home because all the money I saved is gone, it’s become dust in the fire.”
She paid Dh3,000 for a partitioned space with five other women in a one-bedroom space. After the fire, the owners’ association managing the tower said it provided temporary accommodation for affected residents as per directions of the authorities.
It was then she realised that without a tenancy contract she had no legal rights.
“I will tell people now, ‘Don’t live in partition, don’t live without a contract,”” she said. “If a fire happens, no one can help you. You cannot prove your rights. I gave rent every month, I got a paper (receipt) so in my head this was legal. But I checked with a lawyer and he said that I don’t have a contract.”
Many low-wage earners are in a similar situation. Their salary is between Dh3,500 and Dh5,000, and they spend half on rent, send a chunk home and live on about Dh500. They live in partitioned apartments close to work instead of paying for transport and spending hours commuting each way.
Lost all savings
Souad Jaafro, 40, a chef at a Lebanese restaurant, has put her July holiday plans on hold as she lost her documents, money and gifts she bought for her children and parents.
She slept on the street near the tower for two days until a Dubai resident paid for hotel accommodation.
“I was in my pyjamas when firefighters told us to run. On the 20th floor there was too much smoke, I fell and woke up in an ambulance,” said the Moroccan citizen.
“I have not seen my family for two years, I bought so much for them. My salary is Dh3,000, I pay Dh1,500 for [a] bed space, send money to my family, spend what is left for my food. How can I go on holiday now? I must start from the beginning.”
Zakaria Abizaid has lived in the UAE for seven years and is currently looking for a job, having previously worked as a salesperson.
“Everything I’m wearing was given by people,” said the Moroccan citizen who lived in a bed space. “Everything in the apartment is black from the smoke. We stayed in a mosque and then this angel comes in, this lady who paid for a hotel room.”
Best, 35, a Ugandan waitress who gave just one name, fled her apartment with her laptop, bag and passport. She paid Dh1,800 for a partitioned unit in a one-bedroom apartment divided into six units.
“I must give a shout out to all the women who helped us,” she said. “One lady called us home and spread new slippers, clothes, jeans, make-up, perfume on her bed. She gave us food and hugs, made us feel at home, gave us a bag and asked us to pick up anything. She told us to be happy to be alive.
“We were shattered, these women made sure we would not go hungry. They are helping us get back on our feet.”
Community to the rescue
Dozens of people swooped in to support the residents by connecting them with people who opened up furnished homes, picked up hotel tabs and provided daily meals.
Sevgi Anar, an Australian resident, helped place more than 60 people in hotels and private apartments, and was described as an angel by the fire survivors
“My building faces Tiger and I saw what happened. I also saw a couple of boys sleeping on the ground with soot under their feet and so I split the cost of putting them in a hotel with another girl,” said Ms Anar, head of sales for a health company. “I'm not an angel. I just want to help people in difficult situations.”
Deepti Arora, head of human resources with a retail company, helped connect people who needed basic supplies.
A WhatsApp group soared to more than 1,000 members, with people offering everything from bassinets to bedsheets and pillowcases.
“When I saw people sitting on the road, a couple crying and hugging each other, it really hit me,” the Indian national said. “Our motive was to help as many people as we could based on their requirements. The community has really come forward in the Year of the Community and it has been overwhelming. None of us knew each other, we are just humans helping out humans.”
Company%20Profile
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
More on Quran memorisation:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
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How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20and%203.6-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20235hp%20and%20310hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E258Nm%20and%20271Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh185%2C100%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
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The%20specs
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Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')
Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
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