Reform Treasurer Nick Candy today told how his hotel ‘shook’ as a devastating barrage of Iranian missiles and drones rained down on Dubai.
The billionaire property developer was on one of the upper floors of the Bulgari Resort in Jumeria Bay, Dubai, when one of a series of missiles struck.
‘We heard a missile strike and felt the shake of it,’ he said.
‘We heard the shudder and the whole building shook. The area is covered in police now.
‘To begin with, I was calm. You could see missiles, and you could hear them over the beaches. But when they start landing and hitting areas, it gets a bit more scary.’
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mr Candy, 53, said that just minutes earlier, debris from a shot down Iranian missile had smashed into nearby City Walk, a luxury shopping area in downtown Dubai.
Videos posted online showed black smoke billowing over the shopping area, which has around 60 shops and boutiques, after the strike.
‘In downtown Dubai, City Walk has just been hit by a missile that has been shot down but then landed,’ he said.
Reform Treasurer Nick Candy today told how his hotel ‘shook’ as a devastating barrage of Iranian missiles and drones rained down on Dubai
Dramatic footage and images have captured the moment the five-star Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel was hit and set ablaze by an Iranian missile
‘This is all missiles being shot down and debris from those missiles falling over civilian areas.
‘This is an area of Dubai where you have shopping, commercial properties, residential, restaurants.
‘This is like a missile landing in Knightsbridge or Kensington in London.’
Mr Candy was speaking after the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel, which is around 12 miles from where he is staying, was hit by what appeared to be an Iranian suicide drone. A large fire broke out near the entrance of the luxury hotel after the strike
Extraordinary videos posted on social media show the building, which is popular with tourists, on fire, with plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
Terrified residents and tourists were filmed running for shelter as air raid sirens sounded. At least three big blasts have been heard over the city, witnesses told Reuters.
Mr Candy hit out at Iran and condemned the Labour Government for not joining its US and Israeli allies in the military operation.
‘The fact that Keir Starmer wasn’t willing to help is a disgrace.
Four people are said to have been injured in the attack, according to the Dubai media office, with witnesses stating ambulances had rushed to the scene
‘It’s a disgrace by Iran because they are effectively damaging countries that wouldn’t allow Trump and America to use their air space. It’s a total disgrace.’
‘This won’t last long – there is no way Iran should be doing this. These people have nothing to do with it. I think it will be over very quickly.’
Mr Candy, who shared several videos that had been sent by friends showing strikes in Dubai, said is preparing to leave the UAE but his plans might be frustrated by the closure of Dubai’s two huge airports: Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC).
The decision is set to cause travel chaos and has left thousands of Britons stranded across the Middle East amid the escalating conflict.
In scenes few imagined possible, Iranian strikes have brought terror and chaos to one of the world’s most luxurious playgrounds. The Bulgari hotel and resort in Dubai is one of the world’s most opulent hotels and boasts a private marina featuring 50 berths for super yachts.
The hotel is built on the manmade Jumeira Bay, an island carved into the shape of a seahorse and adjoined by a 300 metre bridge to the central Dubai coastline.
