A customised helicopter. Source: Uber.
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Claim: A Facebook user claimed that a person in Dubai can order a helicopter ride via Uber.
VERDICT: MISLEADING. A person in Dubai can only order a helicopter ride through UberChopper for a tour around the city.
Full Text
In 2015, Uber, a foremost ride-hailing global technology company, launched in Dubai. Since then, the company has expanded its transportation services to meet local demands across the city.
Known for its luxurious lifestyle and modern infrastructure, the metropolis serves as a significant hub for Uber’s operations in the Middle East. The city’s growing economy and a high user penetration rate in ride-hailing services make it an ideal market for Uber’s expansion efforts.
A Facebook user, World Facts, claimed that a person living in Dubai can order a helicopter ride via Uber, a popular ride-hailing service, instead of a taxi.
The post, made on Sept. 9, 2024, gained over 24,000 reactions, 460 comments and more than 3,000 reshares, as of Sept. 26, 2024.
In the comment section, many people criticised their countries’ standard of living and praised Dubai for being prudent, while others expressed disbelief in the claim. The different opinions it generated prompted DUBAWA to fact-check the claim.
Verification
Using a keyword search, DUBAWA found some services that Uber offers in Dubai. While UberX is the cost-effective option for everyday rides, UberFamily provides vehicles with child-car seats for transporting families with young children.
Users interested in a 5-star experience can request UberBlack, the ride-hailing service exclusively offered by top-rated drivers of luxury cars, or UberOne, an eco-friendly electric car.
UberChopper offers sightseeing tours of Dubai using helicopters. After booking, the 20-minute tour begins from the Atlantis helipad at the Palm Jumeirah. It conveys interested tourists to iconic landmarks in the city, such as Old Dubai, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina, all at specific prices. These conditions contradict the claim, which states that interested persons can Uber a helicopter instead of a taxi.
Conclusion
While people can book helicopters through the app, it cannot offer taxi services as the claim stated. There are specific locations helicopters access exclusively for sightseeing. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
