Fact-checking at Telegraph Middle East focuses on the claims that most affect a reader’s understanding: names, dates, quotations, figures, legal status, policy status, project status and the difference between confirmed decisions and future plans.
Evidence hierarchy
Editors prefer primary sources such as legislation, government notices, regulator documents, company filings, court records, official datasets and attributable on-record statements. Credible secondary reporting may add context or identify a development that requires further verification.
Financial and market claims
Investment values, economic growth rates, market sizes, project costs and forecasts should identify the source, relevant period, currency and whether the figure is confirmed, estimated or projected.
Policy and regulation
An announced intention, consultation, draft rule, cabinet approval, issued regulation and effective legal requirement are different stages. Articles should identify the correct stage and link to the official document where available.
Quotations
Direct quotations should be traceable to an interview, transcript, official statement, recording or reliable public record. Anonymous quotations require editorial scrutiny of the source’s identity, access, motive and reason for confidentiality.
AI-assisted work
Automated tools may help organise material, but they are not accepted as evidence. AI-generated summaries, translations and extracted figures must be checked against the underlying source before publication.
Pre-publication status
Articles with unresolved factual questions may be held from publication or homepage promotion. Editors may mark an article for additional review when the headline contains a superlative, future implementation claim, unusually large figure or quotation without a visible source.