Man recalls 'terrifying' Dubai missile ordeal

A businessman says he was lucky to escape injury after a "terrifying" experience when a missile was shot down, exploding in a fireball outside his hotel in Dubai.

Simon Rourke, from Swallowfield, near Reading, had been staying at the Fairmont Palm Hotel while in the city celebrating a friend's wedding.

The 56-year-old explained: "We were on a desert trip driving dune buggies when we saw a drone fly overhead. Shortly after that, it was shot down by either a plane or the air defence system."

He described the scene on returning to the hotel, saying "one of our rooms was slightly damaged but one was almost destroyed and anyone in it would have been seriously injured".

The attacks came after the US and Israel struck Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated with missile strikes across the Middle East.

After witnessing the drone incident, the group tried to return to their hotel but the area was sealed off as emergency services were dealing with the incident.

"We waited for a couple of hours sheltering in another hotel but the police still wouldn't let us through so we sneaked around the cordon, on to the beach and eventually arrived at the hotel.

"We returned to one of our hotel rooms to look at the sky which was full of missiles and aircraft. It was a surreal experience," Rourke explained.

At some point in the evening while they were observing from the hotel, a missile flew past and exploded further along the road.

Rourke said: "There was a deafening explosion and the whole place shook when the missile exploded. We were terrified. We immediately left the room and made our way to a basement area where people were taking refuge."

With all flights from the United Arab Emirates cancelled, Rourke and his group are effectively stranded in Dubai. They are booked on to return flights on Wednesday but it remains unclear as to whether they will take off.

Since the incident, he said the situation appears to be returning to normal.

"...it feels like business as usual now and people are cautiously leaving the basement and heading to the hotel pool. We're still nervous because the hotel is close to the palace and US military bases," he added.

With the situation in the Middle East still unstable, anyone in the area or planning to travel should consult the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for the latest advice and information.