United Arab Emirates
PRIVACY POLICY

Privacy Policy

Authoritative coverage of the UAE and Gulf

FALQ Press Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 11, 2026

Introduction
FALQ Press ("we", "us" or "our") operates the regional news website falqpress.com. We are committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of visitors and subscribers. This notice explains what personal information we collect, why we process it, the lawful bases for processing under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where it applies, how long we retain information, your rights, and how to contact us about privacy matters.

Data controller
FALQ Press is the data controller for personal data processed through falqpress.com. Our operational location is Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For privacy queries or to exercise your rights, please use our contact form at /contact/ or email [email protected].

What we collect and why we collect it
We collect the minimum personal data necessary for the purposes set out below:

  • Account and subscription data: name, email address, username, and subscription preferences when you create an account or subscribe to newsletters. Lawful basis: performance of a contract (subscription services) and consent (newsletters).
  • Contact form and correspondence: the information you provide when you contact us via /contact/ or by email. Lawful basis: legitimate interests (to respond to enquiries) and legal obligation where applicable.
  • Comments and user-generated content: name and content of comments you post; public display of comments is based on your choice to publish. Lawful basis: consent and legitimate interests.
  • Analytics and usage data: pages visited, device and browser information, IP address (short-term), referral URLs and interaction data. Lawful basis: legitimate interests (to improve site performance, content and security) and consent where required by law.
  • Cookies and similar technologies: session cookies for site functionality and persistent cookies for remembering preferences and measuring traffic. Lawful basis: consent for non-essential cookies; essential cookies are necessary for site operation.
  • Payment and billing data: when you pay for services, payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors; we may receive confirmation of transaction details. Lawful basis: performance of a contract and compliance with legal obligations (financial record-keeping).

We do not sell personal information.

Lawful bases in detail
- Consent: for cookies, marketing communications and any optional profiling or personalization where you have expressly opted in. You may withdraw consent at any time.
- Contract: to provide paid services, manage subscriptions, and fulfil orders.
- Legitimate interests: for site administration, security, analytics, improving content and reader experience. We balance these interests against your rights and do not use them where they override your privacy.
- Legal obligations: to comply with statutes, court orders or law enforcement requests.

Cookies and tracking technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site and collect analytics. Types of cookies we use include:

  • Essential cookies: required for core site functions (session management, login). These do not require consent.
  • Performance and analytics cookies: used to measure site usage and improve content. These are set by us and by third-party analytics providers. We rely on consent for non-essential analytics where required.
  • Functional cookies: to remember settings you chose (language, display preferences).
  • Social media cookies: set by social platforms if you interact with embedded content.

You can manage cookie preferences via our cookie banner and by adjusting your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect site functionality. To withdraw consent or ask about specific cookies, contact us at /contact/ or [email protected].

International transfers and third parties
We may share personal data with service providers (hosting, analytics, email delivery, payment processing) located in jurisdictions outside the UAE or the EU/EEA, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Where transfers of personal data from the EU/EEA to jurisdictions without an adequacy decision occur, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), or otherwise rely on an applicable legal mechanism. Processing by third parties is limited to the purposes described in this policy and is governed by contracts requiring them to protect personal data.

Data retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes listed above or to satisfy legal, accounting or reporting obligations:

  • Account and subscription data: retained while the account is active and for up to 24 months after account closure unless longer retention is required by law.
  • Contact form messages and correspondence: retained for up to 36 months unless further retention is justified.
  • Comments: retained while displayed; after removal we may retain anonymized copies for up to 24 months.
  • Analytics and logs: aggregated data is retained indefinitely in anonymized form; raw analytics and IP logs are retained for up to 24 months.
  • Payment records: retained as required for tax and accounting compliance.

Security
We implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data, including access controls, encryption where appropriate, regular security testing and staff training. While we strive to protect your data, no internet transmission can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

Your rights (EU/EEA residents and where GDPR applies)
Under the GDPR you have certain rights in relation to your personal data:

  • Right of access: obtain confirmation whether we process your personal data and request a copy.
  • Right to rectification: correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): in certain circumstances request deletion.
  • Right to restriction of processing: request limitation of processing where applicable.
  • Right to data portability: receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used format where processing is based on consent or contract.
  • Right to object: object to processing based on legitimate interests, including profiling; we will stop unless we have compelling legitimate grounds.
  • Right to withdraw consent: withdraw any consent at any time without affecting processing prior to withdrawal.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority: you may complain to the data protection authority in your EU/EEA member state if you consider our processing unlawful.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us via the contact form at /contact/ or email [email protected]. We may request information to verify your identity and will respond within one month of receipt, extendable by two months where necessary.

Automated decision-making and profiling
We do not use fully automated decision-making that produces legal effects about you. We may use limited automated profiling to personalise content and recommend articles; you can opt out where profiling is based on consent.

Children’s data
Our site is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect or retain personal data from children under 16. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us at /contact/ or [email protected] so we can promptly delete it.

Changes to this policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any material changes will be posted on falqpress.com with an updated "Last updated" date.

Contact us
For privacy questions, to exercise your rights or to raise a complaint, please use our contact form at /contact/ or email [email protected].