A resident told The Associated Press that the high-rise has cladding that officials planned to replace after a similar blaze tore through an iconic tower on New Year's Eve in 2015.
However, that cladding was not replaced across the entire building, said the resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
The huge state-backed developer Emaar refused to comment on the cladding but said no one was injured in today's fire.
Around 30 per cent of Emaar is owned by a sovereign-wealth fund and its CEO says he does not do anything without talking first with Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Terrified residents of Dubai inferno tower say officials were supposed to replace cladding | Daily Mail Online
Dubai fire: crews tackle major blaze at Downtown high-rise (thenationalnews.com)
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