Olympics great Stephanie Rice has issued an urgent plea after her new home of Dubai was hit by Iranian attacks in retaliation for US air strikes.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist took to Instagram after the city’s famous Burj Al-Arab hotel was reportedly hit by an Iranian suicide drone in an attack that left the building ablaze.
Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah hotel was also hit by a suicide drone attack, leaving four people hurt, with the Dubai International Airport being evacuated after reports that it was targeted by an Iranian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
‘Please help me in praying for all my friends, loved ones and people in the UAE that they would be protected and feel a tangible sense of God peace in this scary situation,’ Rice wrote on her Instagram post, which also featured a statement from the Australian embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
That statement read: ‘A message to all Australians in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Government has confirmed that the UAE has been the subject of missile attacks from Iran.
‘In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said it was responding to the threat, and has successfully intercepted a number of incoming missiles.
Stephanie Rice is pictured in Dubai after moving to the city in November 2023
Rice’s husband Mark Lassey (pictured together) proposed to her at Dubai’s Atlantis Royal Hotel
Pictured: The heartfelt plea Rice posted to Instagram shortly after Iranian suicide drone attacks hit Dubai in retaliation for US and Israeli bombardment
‘However, the situation remains serious, and one civilian casualty has been confirmed.’
Rice, 37, moved to Dubai in November 2023.
She met her husband, pastor Mark Lassey, soon after relocating to the city of four million.
He popped the question at Dubai’s Atlantis Royal Hotel in September 2024 after a whirlwind seven-month romance.
Rice, who is a devout Christian, joined the city’s Kingdom City church and opened up about her newfound dedication to religion after moving across the world.
‘I honestly never thought I would be this person turning up on prayer nights, on my own, in a new country, connecting with a community through a church,’ she wrote.
‘But here I am and gosh it is so special and has helped me feel so supported in this new home in Dubai.’
On Sunday morning, Australian time, footage showed the five-star Burj Al-Arab hotel ablaze, with Dubai authorities saying debris from an intercepted drone caused the fire.
Rice’s transition to life in Dubai was spurred on when she joined the city’s Kingdom City church
Footage shows the Burj Al-Arab hotel ablaze after being hit by a suspected Shahed suicide drone launched from Iran hours after US and Israeli air strikes hit Tehran
Footage shows the Burj Al-Arab hotel ablaze after being hit by a suspected Shahed suicide drone launched from Iran hours after US and Israeli air strikes hit Tehran
Nearby, four people were hurt at Palm Jumeirah after being hit by a suicide drone launched from Iran hours after US and Israeli air strikes hit Tehran.
Suicide drones also attacked residential skyscrapers in Bahrain, with missiles launched from Iran hitting US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.
Dramatic footage and images captured the moment the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel in Dubai was hit by a Shahed drone, with an Iranian suicide drone also striking a tower block in Bahrain.
The Dubai media office confirmed four people were injured in the strikes on the hotel, which is popular among Western tourists, with witnesses saying ambulances had rushed to the scene.
‘Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities,’ it added.
Videos show passengers at Dubai’s primary international airport fleeing one of its terminals, with airport officials confirming four members of staff have been injured.
Clips posted on social media also show smoke filling the terminal at the airport, which is one of the busiest in the world.
Other images show parts of the airport deserted after passengers were forced to evacuate the terminal, which has been left damaged by the incident.
‘Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,’ a statement read.
‘Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
‘Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.
‘Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers. Further updates will be provided as they become available.’
Dubai Airports earlier suspended all flights at Dubai International and at Al Maktoum International until further notice, urging passengers not to travel following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
It comes after US and Israel launched strikes on targets in several Iranian cities on Saturday, including the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sending explosions and plumes of smoke over the capital, Tehran.
The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles targeting Israel and countries across the Middle East.