Dubai: A cargo plane crashed near a busy highway in Dubai on Friday, causing a fire, Al Arabiya television reported.

Ambulances were rushing to the location of the crash, near Dubai airport, the station added.

Airport officials said they could not immediately comment.

Al Jazeera television quoted witnesses as saying the plane was ablaze before crashing.

No details on the model or size of the aircraft were provided.

"According to initial reports, the crew has been killed," Arabiya said. It reported that the plane belonged to an unidentified US company.

The United Arab Emirates' state news agency WAM said the plane had crashed in an uninhabited area.