--- title: "Huge Explosion Rocks Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Sparking Large Fire (Updated)" description: "Authorities in Dubai say that the blaze, which was caused by an explosion on a ship anchored in Jebel Ali, has been brought under control." date: "2021-07-07" modified: "2021-07-08" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/41445/huge-explosion-rocks-dubais-jebel-ali-port-sparking-large-fire" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" - "UAE" tags: - "container vessel" - "Dubai" - "explosion" - "fireball" - "Iran" - "israel" - "Jebel Ali" - "Port" --- # Huge Explosion Rocks Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Sparking Large Fire (Updated) ![]() *www.twz.com* Details are still emerging, but authorities in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates say that a large explosion in a container on a ship anchored in the Port of Jebel Ali, which shook surrounding buildings, subsequently caused a major fire to break out. Officials now say that the blaze has been brought under control and that there are no reported casualties, as of yet, but the full extent of the damage, which appears to be significant, remains unclear. "We are taking all necessary measures to ensure the normal movement of ships in the port continues without any disruption,” an official statement from the Port of Jebel Ali read. The port is a major commercial hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East. ![message-editor%2F1625691062733-dubai-port-explosion.jpg]() *A fireball above the port of Jebel Ali, captured by an eyewitness. , *via Twitter/@ModernEraNews** Initial reports had indicated that an oil tanker had exploded or caught fire, which has now been shown not to be the case. Authorities in Dubai have not identified the ship in question, but [at least one unconfirmed report]() suggested that it could be the Comoros-registered container vessel *Ocean Trader*. https://twitter.com/_/status/1412887453896253444 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412876457869783040 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412875336543571974 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412891520492089349 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412869835604824072 Whatever the cause of the incident, various unverified videos show a huge ball of orange flame rising over the port, while eyewitness accounts report that the explosion could be heard, and felt, from several miles around. https://twitter.com/_/status/1412865638083739653 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412866109741711378 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412866895859130372 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412866163646795776 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412868227881861122 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412871941036384264 https://twitter.com/_/status/1412879665409236994 It is also worth noting that another vessel now thought to be in the same port, the Liberia-flagged *CSAV Tyndall*, had a fire break out [last Saturday]() while it was headed to Jebel Ali. While the cause of that fire has not been established, Israeli officials reportedly blamed Iran for the incident. That would not be the first time that Tehran has been linked with an [attack on a commercial vessel]() in the region, where there have been apparent [tit-for-tat operations]() by both Iran and Israel targeting shipping. Regardless, so far there is no evidence either way at present that this was anything but an accident, and the identity of the vessel on which the fire broke out is yet to be confirmed. We will continue to update this developing story as more details become available. ***UPDATE: 7/8/2021 —*** Authorities in Dubai have confirmed that the Comoros-flagged container vessel *Ocean Trader* was the ship at the center of this incident. The fire, as well as the explosion that caused it, was a "normal accident, General Mona Al Marri, head of the Dubai Media Office [had told]() Saudi Arabia-based *Al Arabiya* television. "Our priority now is to ensure that the accident will not impact the marine environment," Suhail al-Mazrouei, the UAE's Minister for Energy and Infrastructure, [said in a statement](). He added that normal operations had otherwise resumed at Jebel Ali. The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, but General Al Marri said that the container that blew up had held unspecified flammable materials. *Al Arabiya* [had reported]() that police in Dubai had suggested that "friction or high temperatures" might have contributed to the accident. "Casualties were avoided also due to the quick action of Jebel Ali Port’s officials who ordered an evacuation of the vessel and the immediate area when a leakage and smoke was seen," a Tweet from the Dubai Media Office read. "Jebel Ali Port authorities are continuing an extensive investigation on the cause of the fire and its circumstances." https://twitter.com/_/status/1413086517967339520 https://twitter.com/_/status/1413086785643679748 https://twitter.com/_/status/1413087175563005955 *Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()