Six Dubai myths busted: serial rapist, killer perfumes, traffic fine discounts and other rumours

  DUBAI - It's no rumour that Dubai authorities have been particularly busy this year, debunking hearsays and false claims circulating on social media. Even the Dubai Municipality launched its own dedicated WhatsApp number +971501077799 to receive images, videos or messages from concerned residents about rumours they have heard. Let's take a look at 6 outrageous rumours that hit Dubai this year: MYTH: There's a serial rapist on the lose in Dubai Mall. According to rumours, the culprit is an Indian man who has allegedly raped 90 girls at the popular mall. FACT: The Dubai Police has strongly refuted this rumour. We believe them. The UAE's biggest and busiest mall has tight security 24/7, with roving security personnel as well as CCTV cameras everywhere. It's unlikely for 90 rape cases, let alone one, to happen here without raising alarm. MYTH: Colour codes at the bottom of toothpaste tubes are actually signs of what kind of ingredients they're made of. According to rumours, black means pure chemical, red for natural and chemical, blue for natural and medicinal and green for natural components. FACT: The Dubai Municipality said that the colour-coded marks are not an indication of the components of the toothpaste, but they're part of the production process and helps the machine know where to cut the tubes. The municipality also said that all consumer products in the UAE undergo stringest health and safety checks. MYTH: Starbucks is selling coffee made from elephant dung. The rumour spread after a Turkish newspaper reported about allegedly finding elephant dung in coffee products used by the coffee giant. FACT: The Dubai Municipality said there are no coffee products containing elephant dung that is being sold in the local market. The municipality also said that it has contacted Starbucks in the UAE, which confirmed that it has never used this kind of coffee in any of its branches in Middle East and Africa. MYTH: Lice is a healthy treatment for hair loss. Apparently, hair salons in Dubai have started culturing lice to treat hair loss, with people paying up to Dh14 for a louse. FACT: Lice are parasites that make your head itch and can irritate your skin, which can lead to scalp infections. They will not help you grow hair, the Dubai Municipality said while issueing a warning to beauty and hair salons selling lice as hair loss treatment. MYTH: Seven women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample sent to them in the mail. FACT: The Dubai Municipality has quickly dispelled the rumour, which reached peaked popularity in the UAE on July 9 and has been widely circulated on the internet. Also, there are no credible news or police reports of any kind that confirm the claim. MYTH: This one happened just recently. According to rumours, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai has announced a 50 percent discount on traffic fines until UAE National Day on December 2. On social media, the rumour was accompanied by a screenshot of a Gulf News article titled “Motorists in Dubai to get discounts on fines” and it shows that the screenshot was taken on November 21. FACT: Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, director of Dubai Traffic Police, said this is not true and warned people to stop spreading rumours. The screenshot of the alleged news report also failed to show that the article was actually a report published on July 29, 2011. The Dubai Police have since stopped offering discounts on traffic fines.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