Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Wathim ("we," "us," or "our") publishes plain-English guides to GCC government services. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit wathim.com, subscribe to updates, or send us a message, and how we handle that information.

By using this site, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or send us personal information.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only what is needed to run the site and respond to readers:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Your name and email address when you contact us or subscribe to updates
• Your country of residence and target GCC country if you fill in a contact form
• The content of the message or question you send
• Any feedback you choose to share about a guide

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• IP address, browser type, and operating system
• Pages visited, time on page, and basic navigation paths
• Referring website and search terms used to reach us
• Device type and screen resolution
• Cookies and similar lightweight analytics technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Reply to questions you send through the contact form
• Send the updates you have specifically subscribed to
• Understand which guides are most useful so we can prioritise updates
• Detect and prevent abuse, spam, or scraping of the site
• Improve the layout, search, and structure of the guides
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Wathim is an information website. We do not file applications on your behalf and we do not share your details with any government authority. We may share limited information with:

• Email and hosting providers: To deliver the website and send you a reply when you contact us.
• Analytics providers: To understand aggregate usage of the site. We avoid identifying individual readers.
• Legal and regulatory bodies: When required by law, court order, or formal legal process.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Data Retention

We keep contact messages only as long as needed to handle your question, plus a short period for our own records. Newsletter subscribers can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email.

You may ask us to delete your data by emailing support@wathim.com. We will action your request unless we are legally required to retain it.

6. Data Security

We use industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect the limited personal data we hold, including encrypted transmission and access controls on our hosting and email systems.

No system is perfectly secure. While we work to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security of any information transmitted to or from the site.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your data for specific purposes.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on your consent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@wathim.com.

8. Cookies

Our website uses a small number of cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences and measure aggregate site usage. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect features such as search history.

9. International Data Transfers

Because the site is global, your data may be processed in countries outside your country of residence, including the UAE and other locations where our hosting and email providers operate. We rely on standard contractual safeguards with those providers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: