ABU DHABI // One person has died after a fire broke out on Monday at a block of flats in the heart of the capital.
Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the building on Airport Road, near the junction with 15th Street, about 3.30pm.
Police reported that an Asian died of smoke inhalation after being trapped on the eighth floor of the building.
No other injuries were reported.
A large crowd of onlookers formed, including those who had left the nine-storey building.
People in the crowd said residents had been lifted to safety with a crane.
“There was one crane with three or four people and they did it three or four times,” said Aurejandro Agbuya, 43, a Filipino who lives on the first floor of the building.
Resident Jocelyn Napoles said she was in her flat with her three children, aged 2, 5 and 8, when the blaze broke out.
“I saw the smoke,” said Ms Napoles, 33. “I was shouting and I brought my three kids outside without anything, only the kids. All my money is inside. I don’t have even Dh1.
“I don’t know where I’m going to go. I’m calling all my friends and relatives to help me. I’m shaking. I don’t know what is the cause. I was just running down.”
Among those gathered at the back of the building was Marilyn Ramos, 37, who had worry etched across her face. The Filipina cleaner, lives on the seventh floor.
“I was working,” Ms Ramos said. “Somebody called me to say there’s a fire in the seventh floor. I don’t know what has happened. I want to go up but I’m not allowed to go.”
No cause for the fire was given, and police are still investigating. The flats are above shops including a pharmacy, restaurant and cafeteria.
ecleland@thenational.ae
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Key findings of Jenkins report
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
