Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of wathim.com ("the site") operated by Wathim ("we," "us," or "our"). By using the site, you ("the reader") agree to be bound by these Terms. Please read them carefully.

2. Scope of the Site

Wathim publishes plain-English guides to GCC government services. The site includes:

• Country pages for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait
• Service pages covering visas, residency, ID, driving licences, attestation, fines, and family sponsorship
• Government portal explainers and step-by-step walkthroughs
• Fee references based on published amounts at the time of writing
• FAQs and blog guides written for expats living in or moving to the Gulf
• An email contact form for reader questions

The site is informational. Wathim does not file applications, collect government fees, or act as your agent before any authority.

3. Reader Responsibilities

By using the site, you agree to:

• Treat the content as general guidance, not legal advice
• Verify current rules, fees, and documents on the official portal before paying or applying
• Use the contact form in good faith and not for spam, abuse, or scraping
• Avoid sending us confidential identity documents unless we have specifically asked for them
• Comply with the terms of any government portal you visit through our links
• Take responsibility for your own application decisions and outcomes

4. No Fees, No Engagement

4.1 The Site Is Free to Read

Wathim does not charge readers for access to the guides on this site. No reading of a page creates a contract for paid services.

4.2 Future Optional Features

If we introduce optional paid features in the future, separate terms and pricing will be displayed on the relevant feature page before any payment is taken.

4.3 Government and Third-Party Fees

All visa, residency, ID, licence, attestation, courier, typing centre, and exam fees are paid directly to the relevant authority or provider. Wathim does not handle these payments and is not responsible for their accuracy at the moment of payment.

4.4 Donations and Tips

Any tip, donation, or supporter contribution is voluntary and is not consideration for any specific service or outcome.

5. Accuracy and Updates

We aim to keep guides current, but timelines, fees, and rules change at the discretion of each authority. We cannot guarantee that any page reflects the rule in force on the day you read it, and timelines you see may not match your real experience because of factors outside our control, including:

• Government portal processing times
• Typing centre and courier queues
• Exam availability and biometric appointments
• Reader responsiveness in collecting documents
• Sudden rule or fee changes by any authority

Always confirm the latest position on the official portal before relying on a guide for a real decision.

6. Limitations of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• We do not guarantee any government decision, processing time, or fee.
• We are not liable for delays, refusals, or fines that result from inaccurate or out of date information on this site.
• We are not liable for changes to portals, fees, or document lists made by any authority.
• Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the site is limited to AED 100 or its equivalent.
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of income or travel costs.

7. Confidentiality and Communications

We treat reader messages and email enquiries as confidential and do not share them with third parties except as needed to operate the site and respond to you, or as required by law. Please do not send us copies of passports, IDs, or other sensitive documents unless we have specifically asked for them.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on the site, including guides, fee tables, illustrations, and the Wathim name and logo, is the property of Wathim or its licensors and is protected by intellectual property law. You may quote short extracts with attribution and a link back, but you may not republish, mirror, or repackage the guides in bulk without prior written permission.

9. Termination of Access

We may suspend or terminate your access to the site, the contact form, or any future paid feature if:

• You misuse the site, attempt to scrape it, or send abusive messages
• You violate these Terms or any applicable law
• We are required to do so by court order or regulator

Sections covering disclaimers, liability, and intellectual property survive termination of access.

10. Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the site:

• The parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute through direct communication in good faith.
• If that fails, the dispute shall be referred to mediation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
• These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

11. Amendments

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised date. Continued use of the site after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: