![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JQ3I3X7BQ6CRTLZQLELFN7QSJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d5c2858e37e1395548223b7b12e3f044dafb0d9d3f8fe0e987c45c3ada92f56&width=400&height=225)
Residents flee with their pets from the burning Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFDVEKLSA7N43XJ63OXM6UX3AQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=391a8b2a35a5910861bbb9db398bde12ff8c1dc9a56273dd68d1bddc6a5cc91b&width=400&height=225)
Apartment owner Ashfaq Bandey stands by the burnt out building in Dubai Marina. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDNNDQ3CUF7FZKKJTXXGF6THGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d743b5aa3c46ec5d86c4b7cbda569cd2c36c3f7c5e990b72f779836f38905cc2&width=400&height=225)
Workers clear debris from the damaged building to allow repair work to begin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHUOEWZ7KHJK6ATWW5WZA4C52A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed498d63defdc18600c82aec40c60d4cf4985cee0dbcec9cea2a3aea9b1dd41e&width=400&height=225)
The building has been uninhabitable since the fire in May 2018
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4X5SVXCQERMWJTZEPRT3AV4FJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=35af851785ec9cfb768dbd2e9adc924e22ff73f4ad698490d574d9004667e4ee&width=400&height=225)
Falling debris set fire to several vehicles that remain on site today
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZVUY2LW2XMQ66SNQXUFV7UP2LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5fe05b22ed0eda66a46577b217d9aa53b2d2fb8f418cd4156f65df623eac50b6&width=400&height=225)
Pictures taken on May 28, 2018 show the damage in the immediate aftermath of the blaze. More than 100 residents fled the fire and the building has been empty since. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYBV7ZQDLCBLH2A3JBM2JV7HEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf070a08f4b878fab6f2f4c67bc82648bfeae987ee44518e8d1106d059cd2148&width=400&height=225)
It took firefighters about 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze on May 13, 2018. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYUUKB4JIK6GCHR6L6VHFIRDR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3755bbb107e54c7fb344ed4e3da9618eaf511b677b80cf1e353f726f90b423a8&width=400&height=225)
The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit that set furniture stored on a balcony alight. The fire spread from the balcony on the first floor and up the sides of the building's cladding. Courtesy: Lubna Nassor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YRG5KHOPQZ3HYNHFJUUFSVYUAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff2b13f35f6fa7147bd23f12c5b76b53ea11d30a96381ef10af723324e4a7efc&width=400&height=225)
Crews respond to the incident on May 13, 2018. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D56KCCL3WIXSDA2QRHAWXQHKBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c266b077005b2c29eadade387d704db501f2faf0fc1fdb28af6ca104debec5b&width=400&height=225)
Crews respond to the incident on May 13, 2018. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JQ3I3X7BQ6CRTLZQLELFN7QSJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d5c2858e37e1395548223b7b12e3f044dafb0d9d3f8fe0e987c45c3ada92f56&width=400&height=225)
Residents flee with their pets from the burning Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFDVEKLSA7N43XJ63OXM6UX3AQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=391a8b2a35a5910861bbb9db398bde12ff8c1dc9a56273dd68d1bddc6a5cc91b&width=400&height=225)
Apartment owner Ashfaq Bandey stands by the burnt out building in Dubai Marina. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDNNDQ3CUF7FZKKJTXXGF6THGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d743b5aa3c46ec5d86c4b7cbda569cd2c36c3f7c5e990b72f779836f38905cc2&width=400&height=225)
Workers clear debris from the damaged building to allow repair work to begin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHUOEWZ7KHJK6ATWW5WZA4C52A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed498d63defdc18600c82aec40c60d4cf4985cee0dbcec9cea2a3aea9b1dd41e&width=400&height=225)
The building has been uninhabitable since the fire in May 2018
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4X5SVXCQERMWJTZEPRT3AV4FJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=35af851785ec9cfb768dbd2e9adc924e22ff73f4ad698490d574d9004667e4ee&width=400&height=225)
Falling debris set fire to several vehicles that remain on site today
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZVUY2LW2XMQ66SNQXUFV7UP2LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5fe05b22ed0eda66a46577b217d9aa53b2d2fb8f418cd4156f65df623eac50b6&width=400&height=225)
Pictures taken on May 28, 2018 show the damage in the immediate aftermath of the blaze. More than 100 residents fled the fire and the building has been empty since. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYBV7ZQDLCBLH2A3JBM2JV7HEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf070a08f4b878fab6f2f4c67bc82648bfeae987ee44518e8d1106d059cd2148&width=400&height=225)
It took firefighters about 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze on May 13, 2018. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYUUKB4JIK6GCHR6L6VHFIRDR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3755bbb107e54c7fb344ed4e3da9618eaf511b677b80cf1e353f726f90b423a8&width=400&height=225)
The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit that set furniture stored on a balcony alight. The fire spread from the balcony on the first floor and up the sides of the building's cladding. Courtesy: Lubna Nassor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YRG5KHOPQZ3HYNHFJUUFSVYUAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff2b13f35f6fa7147bd23f12c5b76b53ea11d30a96381ef10af723324e4a7efc&width=400&height=225)
Crews respond to the incident on May 13, 2018. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D56KCCL3WIXSDA2QRHAWXQHKBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c266b077005b2c29eadade387d704db501f2faf0fc1fdb28af6ca104debec5b&width=400&height=225)
Crews respond to the incident on May 13, 2018. Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JQ3I3X7BQ6CRTLZQLELFN7QSJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d5c2858e37e1395548223b7b12e3f044dafb0d9d3f8fe0e987c45c3ada92f56&width=400&height=225)
Residents flee with their pets from the burning Zen Tower. Leslie Pableo for The National
Burnt out Dubai Marina tower to be rebuilt in Dh25 million project
Zen Tower’s owners say it will be fitted with flame-retardant cladding and fire safety systems
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
20 August, 2019
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