Process for Handling Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Expressions of Concern

Naif Arab University Publishing House is committed to upholding the integrity of the scholarly record across all publications. Our journals and publications adhere to internationally recognized standards for ethical scholarly publishing, including the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

We aim to ensure that published and submitted works are accurate, transparent, and trustworthy. Whenever a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement, or distorted reporting is identified in a published work, the issue must be addressed promptly and with appropriate visibility. When evidence indicates that a publication is unreliable due to serious error or misconduct, Naif Arab University Publishing House will take corrective action, which may include retraction. All notices (corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern) should be clearly identifiable to readers and indexing systems.

1. Corrections

Errors in published articles may be corrected through a Corrigendum (author-initiated correction) or an Erratum (publisher/journal-initiated correction), when the Editor-in-Chief (or delegated editorial leadership) determines it is necessary to inform readers and correct the record.

How corrections are issued:

  • The correction notice is published as a standalone item in the journal or publication platform.
  • The notice cites the original article and clearly describes what has been corrected.
  • The correction is linked to the original article online, and the original article links back to the correction notice.

2. Retractions

A retraction may be issued when an article contains major errors that invalidate the findings or conclusions, or when there is credible evidence of publication malpractice or unethical conduct (including, but not limited to, plagiarism, duplicate publication, authorship manipulation, or unethical research practices).

Naif Arab University Publishing House follows COPE-aligned best practices. If a retraction is confirmed, the procedure is:

  • Publication of a retraction notice:

A retraction notes titled “Retraction: [Article Title]” is published and is signed by the authors and/or the Editor-in-Chief (as appropriate), and is included in the journal’s table of contents.

  • Linking and discoverability:

In the electronic version, the retraction notice is linked to the original article, and the original article is linked back to the retraction notice.

  • Clear reader-facing labeling:

The online article is preceded by a retraction screen or statement, which is the default landing page from the retraction link, allowing the reader to proceed to the article if needed.

  • Retention of the scholarly record with marking:

The original article remains available to preserve the academic record but is clearly marked as “Retracted” (e.g., watermarking on HTML/PDF pages and/or prominent labeling).

3. Editorial Expressions of Concern

When substantial doubt arises regarding the honesty, integrity, or reliability of a submitted or published article, the editorial team may consider issuing an Editorial Expression of Concern.

An expression of concern should be issued only when:

  • An investigation has been conducted but remains inconclusive, and there are strong indications that concerns are valid; or
  • An investigation is ongoing, but an outcome will not be available for a considerable time, and readers should be alerted in the interim.

How expressions of concern are issued:

  • The notice is published as a standalone editorial item.
  • It is linked to the relevant article, and the article links back to the notice.
  • The notice clearly explains the nature of the concern, to the extent legally and ethically permissible.

Commitment to Transparency

Naif Arab University Publishing House will act fairly, consistently, and transparently in all post-publication actions, ensuring due process, appropriate documentation, and clear communication to readers, authors, and indexing services where applicable.