Fact-Checking Policy
How Dubai Times verifies material facts, evaluates sources, handles data and quotations, and applies additional checks to consequential claims.
Fact-Checking Policy
Dubai Times aims to verify material factual claims using sources appropriate to the subject and the potential impact of the information.
The level of verification may vary by story, but consequential claims require stronger evidence and additional caution.
What We Check
Depending on the article, fact-checking may include verification of:
- names and identities;
- dates and deadlines;
- prices, fees and financial figures;
- statistics and percentages;
- addresses and locations;
- laws, rules and official procedures;
- licensing and regulatory status;
- project status and opening dates;
- company claims;
- quotations and attribution;
- ranking data and methodology;
- eligibility requirements;
- links to material sources.
Source Hierarchy
Where appropriate, Dubai Times prefers the source closest to the underlying fact.
- Official government, regulatory and public records.
- Original documents, regulations and datasets.
- Direct responsible organisations and attributable statements.
- Recognised research and specialist data sources.
- Reputable secondary reporting for context or corroboration.
A press release can establish what an organisation announced, but it does not automatically verify promotional claims about quality, market leadership, returns or future results.
Our Verification Workflow
Identify What Needs Verification
The editorial process identifies claims that materially affect the article, including names, identities, dates, deadlines, figures, prices, quotations, locations, regulatory status, project status and eligibility requirements.
Select the Appropriate Sources
The source should be appropriate to the fact being established. Official documents and records generally take priority where they directly answer the question.
Check the Primary Source
Where an underlying official or primary document is reasonably available, material claims should be checked against it rather than relying only on a summary or promotional announcement.
Verify Names, Dates, Numbers and Quotes
Names and identities should be checked for accuracy. Dates should reflect the actual announcement, publication, effective date or deadline. Numbers should be checked for unit, period and context. Direct quotations should reflect what the source actually said.
Review Status and Attribution
The article should distinguish between a proposal, announcement, future effective date, launch, opening, project under construction, completed development, forecast or target.
Review Sensitive Claims
Claims involving legality, licensing, payments, financial outcomes, fraud, health, public safety, property, immigration, residency or serious reputational consequences require additional caution and stronger corroboration where available.
Make the Publication Decision
Publication requires an editorial judgement that the material has an adequate factual basis and enough context for the intended article.
Verify Again When the Story Changes
New evidence may justify a correction, clarification or update after publication.
Dates and Status
Dubai Times aims to distinguish clearly between:
- an announcement;
- a proposal;
- a planned project;
- a future effective date;
- a launch;
- a project under construction;
- a completed project;
- a confirmed opening;
- a forecast or target.
Planned activity should not be described as completed unless reliable evidence confirms the status change.
Numbers and Data
Where figures materially affect an article, the editorial process may review the source, period, unit, calculation and context of the number.
Statistics from different periods, definitions or datasets should not be presented as directly comparable without appropriate explanation.
Quotes and Statements
Direct quotations should accurately reflect what a source said. Paraphrases should not be placed in quotation marks.
Company, expert or interested-party statements should be attributed where their source matters to credibility or context.
Company and Promotional Claims
Company statements may be relevant evidence of what the company says, plans or announces.
Promotional claims such as "leading", "best", "largest", guaranteed returns, projected performance or other favourable descriptions should not be adopted as Dubai Times conclusions without an appropriate evidentiary basis.
Unnamed Sources
Dubai Times uses unnamed sources rarely.
Where an unnamed source is considered, the relevant editor should know the source's identity and assess:
- how the source knows the information;
- why anonymity is needed;
- whether the source has a relevant motive or conflict;
- whether corroboration is available.
Single-source anonymous allegations are avoided for sensitive claims where meaningful independent confirmation is unavailable.
Reviews and Rankings
Where Dubai Times publishes reviews, rankings or comparisons, material data and criteria should be checked against appropriate sources.
AI and Fact-Checking
AI is not used to research or fact-check Dubai Times articles and is not treated as an authoritative factual source.
AI use is limited to creating, preparing or editing images and other visual materials. Factual verification remains a human editorial responsibility.
After Publication
New evidence may require an article to be corrected, clarified or updated.
Readers can report a possible factual error to corrections@dubaitimes.org.
Please include the article URL, disputed statement and reliable supporting evidence where possible.
See the Corrections Policy for the post-publication review process.
Publisher Address
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates