The image showed the Burj Khalifa illuminated with Hindu deity Ram dressed as a sage and 'Jai Shri Ram' written on top.
As thousands of Hindu fans celebrated the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir, built on the site of the razed Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, a viral image circulated on social media depicting the deity Ram on Dubai's Burj Khalifa, sparking an important online debate.
The image, which shows an illuminated Burj Khalifa with the Hindi god Ram dressed as a sage and 'Jai Shri Ram' written across the top, garnered more than two million views.
Numerous people shared the photo, affirming its authenticity, while others questioned its legitimacy. Users expressed shock and debated whether the image was edited or real.
However, a reverse image search on Google revealed that the Burj Khalifa was captured in similar lighting but without any Ram projection.
Despite claims that it was not Photoshopped but digitally altered, fact-checking revealed that the image was a fabrication. The Burj Khalifa's official social media accounts, where celebratory occasions are typically shared, showed no posts of such screenings.
This incident mirrored a similar event in April 2023, where a viral image turned out to be fake. Meanwhile, the doors of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir were opened to the public a day after the consecration, attracting a large number of devotees.
