‘I was metres away’: British influencer recounts aftermath of missile strike near Dubai hotel in viral video

Amid the ongoing US, Israel and Iran conflict, a reported Iranian missile strike hit the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai, leading to the injury of four people. Now, a TikTok influencer has gone viral, claiming he was merely feet away from the luxury resort when it was struck during the attack.

British content creator Will Bailey, visiting Dubai took to Instagram to share a video showing a massive column of dark smoke above the luxury hotel as he relaxed at a nearby beach club. "That was meters away from us, look at this," he said in the video documenting the aftermath of the strike.




Dubai's Media Office confirmed that four individuals sustained injuries after fragments of a strike allegedly landed on the hotel in one of the city's most exclusive and affluent neighbourhoods.


Bailey, who has shared multiple videos from the city later shared an update, adding that he and his friends had relocated from central Dubai to a more distant location. "We can hear and see missiles overhead," he added.

One of his videos shows an Iranian missile or drone being shot down above the Palm development, just hours earlier. "Over the beach club is mental. Look at that literally directly above us. That is insane," he exclaimed in the video. Sounds of music, children and adults could be heard in the background as he added, "They were so loud."

The DMO confirmed the fire at the hotel was now "under control" after emergency crews descended on the popular resort.

"The UAE's air defences responded with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of missiles. The relevant authorities also dealt with debris falling on a residential area in Abu Dhabi, resulting in some material damage and the death of an Asian national," said the Emirati defence ministry in an official statement.