A Maltese couple’s year nearly ended in disaster when the pair found themselves at the centre of a dramatic fire that engulfed a 63-storey skyscraper hotel in Dubai on New Year’s Eve.

Christian and Analiz Borg planned to ring in the New Year with a party at a lounge on the top floor of the Address Hotel in downtown Dubai, close to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

At about 9.30pm, however, a blaze that appears to have started on the 20th floor, on the outside of the 300-metre high tower, quickly spread up the side of the luxury hotel and the residential block. The building was evacuated, and about 14 people suffered slight injuries, according to the police.

This is the stuff you see in films

The fire was still smouldering yesterday afternoon.

“We were just having some champagne when we noticed a lot of smoke billowing outside the hotel,” Mr Borg told the Times of Malta from Dubai. “At first I thought it was from some fireworks but then the smoke started to increase and we realised there was something wrong.”

A few minutes later, the music was turned off and staff directed guests to the emergency exit. Following instructions, Mr Borg and his wife climbed down 63 flights of steps to reach the exit.

“There was some panic at first and some pushing on the stairs as people tried to get out but the staff was all very professional,” Mr Borg said. “There were some elderly people and even a few in a wheelchair but it was all very well managed.”

The couple made it safely outside the building and decided to head back to their own hotel, setting off on foot after being unable to hail a taxi in the confusion. “As we were walking back and seeing the fire still burning, all I could think was: we were just in there. This is the stuff you see in films,” he said.

Nevertheless, a fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa at midnight went ahead as planned, with crowds cheering despite the fire still raging a short distance away.

“We were surprised to see the fireworks continue but we thought maybe it’s just a different way of doing things,” Mr Borg said. “Everything carried on as if nothing had happened.”