DUBAI, June 9: The Emirati boom town of Dubai was paralysed for several hours by a power blackout on Thursday amid the sweltering temperatures of the southern Gulf.

The electricity went out at 9.50am (0550 GMT) and about four hours later an official said power was restored at 80 per cent.

The official said the power cut was caused by an ‘unexpected technical fault’, adding that teams of electricians were working to restore power.

“Vital city operations, such as the airport, police stations, hospitals and civil defence forces have not been affected” because they are equipped with emergency generators, he said.

However, escalators were down and corridors appeared dimly-lit at the showpiece Dubai International Airport.—AFP