Editorial Mission

Our editorial framework is designed to answer three practical questions: what changed, what it means for readers and what readers may need to understand or do next.

Dubai Times prioritises material with a meaningful connection to Dubai and clear reader, practical or public-interest value.

We do not aim to publish every available announcement or trend. Editorial judgement considers relevance, evidence, importance, source quality and whether the subject can be explained responsibly.

Our Editorial Standards

Relevance

Coverage should have a meaningful connection to Dubai and provide practical, contextual or public-interest value.

Source Quality

Primary and authoritative evidence is preferred where available and appropriate.

Accuracy

Material names, dates, figures, quotations, prices, status information and consequential claims should receive appropriate verification.

Context

Readers should be able to distinguish established facts from forecasts, allegations, analysis, promotional language and interested-party claims.

Independence

Advertisers and commercial relationships do not determine editorial conclusions.

Transparency

Material limitations, commercial interests, source status and relevant uncertainty should be disclosed when they affect reader understanding.

Accountability

Material factual errors should be corrected, clarified or updated as appropriate.

How These Standards Apply

Source Standards

Primary and authoritative sources may include:

• Dubai and UAE government authorities;
• regulators and public bodies;
• laws, official guidance and published rules;
• public records and official datasets;
• company filings;
• official company information;
• direct attributable statements;
• responsible operators directly involved in a development.

Recognised research institutions, industry data, specialist publications and reputable secondary reporting may be used for context, comparison or corroboration.

Press releases and promotional material can establish what an organisation says, announces, claims or plans. They do not automatically prove that a promotional description, forecast, market-position claim or future outcome is correct.

Named and Unnamed Sources

Dubai Times prefers named, on-the-record sources because attribution helps readers evaluate credibility and accountability.

Unnamed sources are used rarely and only where there is a legitimate editorial reason. The relevant editor should know the source's identity, assess how the source knows the information, understand why anonymity is needed and seek corroboration where possible.

Anonymous sourcing should not be used as a shortcut for publishing unsupported allegations, rumours, promotional claims or claims whose main purpose is reputational harm.

More detail is available in the Unnamed Sources Policy.

Accuracy and Context

Material factual claims should be checked against evidence appropriate to the subject.

Particular attention may be given to:

• names and identities;
• dates and effective dates;
• prices and fees;
• statistics and percentages;
• eligibility requirements;
• project status;
• regulatory or licensing status;
• quotations and attribution;
• financial or property figures;
• claims that may materially affect reader decisions.

When information is preliminary, disputed, projected, estimated or incomplete, that status should be made clear.

Headlines and Presentation

Headlines should reflect the substance of the article and should not remove qualifications that materially change the meaning of the underlying information.

Images, captions, charts and other presentation elements should not create a materially misleading impression about the underlying reporting.

News, Analysis, Guides and Opinion

Dubai Times may publish News, Explainers, Analysis, Guides, Reviews, Rankings, Interviews, Methodology pages and other editorial formats.

Established facts should be distinguishable from analysis, predictions, attributed opinions and company claims.

If opinion content is published, its nature should be clear to readers.

Reviews, Rankings and Recommendations

Dubai Times may publish reviews, comparisons, recommendations and rankings where the available evidence supports a useful comparison.

Relevant criteria or methodology should be disclosed where appropriate, and objective data should be distinguished from editorial judgement.

Paid visibility does not determine editorial ranking position.

Advertising and Commercial Separation

Dubai Times currently displays advertising through Google AdSense.

Advertising is separate from editorial work. Advertisers do not approve articles, determine source selection, dictate editorial conclusions or control correction decisions.

Dubai Times does not currently publish sponsored editorial content or use affiliate links.

Press Releases and Company Material

Companies and organisations may send press releases, statements, reports or other material to the editorial team.

Receipt of such material does not guarantee publication, republication, positive coverage or a link.

Where promotional material is used as a source, readers should not be led to believe that promotional claims have been independently verified when they have not.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors and editors should disclose relevant financial, commercial or personal conflicts that could reasonably affect editorial judgement.

Access, hospitality, gifts or other benefits should not determine editorial conclusions.

AI Use

Dubai Times uses AI only to create, prepare or edit images and other visual materials. AI is not used for editorial text, research or fact-checking, and human editorial responsibility remains with Dubai Times.

See the AI Use Policy for the complete rules and disclosure standards.

Corrections and Updates

Material factual errors should be corrected. Articles may also be clarified or updated when relevant information changes.

Minor spelling, grammar or formatting changes that do not alter meaning may be made without a separate correction note.

Correction requests can be sent to corrections@dubaitimes.org.

Detailed procedures are available in the Corrections Policy.