Abu Dhabi-owned the National, quoting a Dubai Civil Defence spokesperson, added the blast had caused a blaze that damaged the ground floor of the building, Reuters reported.

The fire was controlled within 33 minutes, it said.

The KFC and Hardee’s restaurants and other retail outlets on Airport Road appeared to have been gutted in an image shared by the force.

Residents said they heard an explosion, which sent debris across the road in front of the building, shortly after 10 am.