Pictures show the first moments after the explosion at the Dubai Hotel Fairmont. Image: x
An explosion occurred at the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai on Saturday. A Swiss couple who stayed at the affected hotel tells watson how they experienced the moment.
Feb 28, 2026, 4:23 p.mFebruary 28, 2026, 7:42 p.m
Miriam and Martin (names known to the editors) were just in their hotel room getting ready for dinner. Miriam was blow-drying her hair, Martin was sitting on the bed. Then they heard an explosion.
“Shortly afterwards the windows broke and the glass table shattered into all pieces.” Individual splinters fly through the room, the shock is deep. The two pack little more than the bare essentials and leave the room as quickly as they can to get to the lobby.
Shards and rubble: The couple’s hotel room after the explosion.Image: zvg
In the lobby, Miriam and Martin say, the hotel staff immediately took care of the guests, organized food and drinks, and calmed the situation. At the same time, the crucial question remained unanswered: What was that anyway? “The hotel provided as much information as they could,” says Martin. “But at the moment we can only speculate as to what it was.”
Drone suspected
While the two stood in the lobby, videos purporting to show the moment of the explosion circulated on social media. Some media reports mention a drone, while other reports speak of debris after interception operations.
Videos only show that an object hits the hotel facade and then an explosion occurred. There is currently no official confirmation that clearly classifies the event.
The authorities in Dubai are talking about an “incident” in the area; four people were injured and taken to hospital – the emergency services quickly brought the situation under control and secured the place.
Couple wants to return to Switzerland
Martin tells Watson that the situation in front of the hotel quickly calmed down and the fire was put out immediately. The couple also received a new room.
This is what it looked like immediately after the explosion – the fire had now been put out.Image: zvg
According to hotel staff, only “three to four” rooms were affected by the blast, and theirs was one of them.
The two had only arrived the day before and originally wanted to stay until Wednesday. That has now changed: “As soon as you can leave the country, we will make use of it,” says Martin. “It’s no longer possible to have a relaxing holiday like this.”
Several missiles intercepted
The entire region has been under tension since Israel and the US attacked Iran on Saturday. The Emirati Defense Ministry said air defenses had intercepted a wave of Iranian missiles and drones since Saturday morning.
The airline Emirates suspended flights to and from Dubai in the early afternoon. Emirates cited the closure of various airspaces in the region as the reason.
Dubai’s media office also announced that operations at the metropolis’s two major airports had been suspended for the time being. The aviation authority said the airspace was closed as a “precautionary measure” due to the security situation. There were massive delays at Dubai International Airport – numerous travelers were stranded.
Stranded tourists at the airport
Video: twitter/kumarmanisch9 | georgekoshy
EDA: No knowledge of injured Swiss
Upon request, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) informed Watson on Saturday that it currently had no knowledge of any injured or killed Swiss nationals. Since hostilities broke out in the Middle East, the FDFA helpline has answered over 300 inquiries and capacity has been increased.
The FDFA is also aware of Swiss nationals who are currently unable to leave the region due to restrictions on air traffic. The FDFA and the local representations are in contact with the people who have come forward and are supporting them as much as possible.
According to the Travel Admin app, there are currently 900 Swiss travelers in the Arab Emirates, 170 in Qatar, 180 in Oman and around 100 in Israel.
The FDFA also does not carry out organized departures for Swiss citizens. Those wishing to leave the country should find out about options from airlines and tour operators and follow the instructions of local authorities. In urgent cases, the EDA helpline can be reached around the clock.