wasaal.ae

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: [ December 6, 2025]

1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Wasaal (“we,” “our,” or “us”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you use the Wasaal mobile application (the “App”).

By using Wasaal, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you create an account and use Wasaal, we collect:

Account Information:

  • Email address
  • Display name
  • Profile photo (optional)
  • Location information (Emirate, City, Neighborhood) – selected by you, not GPS coordinates

Content You Create:

  • Posts (text and images)
  • Comments
  • Likes and interactions with other users’ content

Authentication Information:

  • Authentication provider (Google or Apple)
  • Unique user identifier from authentication provider

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Technical Information:

  • Device information (device type, operating system version)
  • Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token for push notifications
  • App usage data (features accessed, time spent)
  • Log data (app crashes, errors, performance data)

Important: We do NOT collect:

  • ❌ Precise GPS location or real-time location tracking
  • ❌ Contacts from your device
  • ❌ SMS or call logs
  • ❌ Microphone or camera access (except when you choose to upload photos)
  • ❌ Browsing history outside the app

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect to:

3.1 Provide and Improve Our Services

  • Create and manage your account
  • Display your posts to other users in your neighborhood
  • Enable you to interact with other community members (likes, comments)
  • Send you notifications about activity on your posts
  • Provide customer support
  • Improve app functionality and user experience

3.2 Personalize Your Experience

  • Show you content from your specific neighborhood (Emirate → City → Neighborhood)
  • Display posts in your preferred language (English or Arabic)
  • Remember your app preferences

3.3 Safety and Security

  • Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
  • Enforce our Terms of Service
  • Respond to user reports of inappropriate content
  • Maintain the security and integrity of our services

3.4 Analytics

  • Understand how users interact with the app
  • Analyze usage patterns to improve features
  • Identify and fix technical issues

We do NOT:

  • ❌ Sell your personal information to third parties
  • ❌ Use your information for advertising purposes
  • ❌ Share your data with advertisers
  • ❌ Track your activity across other apps or websites

4. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

4.1 Public Information

The following information is visible to other Wasaal users in your neighborhood:

  • Your display name
  • Profile photo
  • Posts you create (text and images)
  • Comments you write
  • Likes you give
  • Your location (Emirate, City, Neighborhood)

4.2 Service Providers

We use third-party service providers to help us operate our app:

Firebase (Google LLC):

  • Authentication services
  • Cloud database (Firestore)
  • File storage (images)
  • Push notifications (Cloud Messaging)
  • Analytics

These providers have access to your information only to perform services on our behalf and are obligated to protect your data.

Firebase Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

  • Valid legal processes (court orders, subpoenas)
  • Protection of our rights, property, or safety
  • Protection of our users or the public
  • Investigation of fraud or security issues

4.4 Business Transfers

If Wasaal is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

We will NEVER:

  • ❌ Sell your personal data to third parties
  • ❌ Share your email address with other users
  • ❌ Share your data for marketing purposes

5. DATA STORAGE AND SECURITY

5.1 Where We Store Your Data

Your data is stored on secure Firebase servers operated by Google. Firebase uses industry-standard security measures and stores data in multiple geographic locations for redundancy.

Server Locations: United States (primary), with global data centers

5.2 How We Protect Your Data

We implement security measures including:

  • Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
  • Secure authentication via Google and Apple
  • Firestore security rules to prevent unauthorized access
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Restricted access to personal data by our team

Image Storage:

  • Photos are stored on Firebase Cloud Storage
  • Each user’s images are isolated in separate folders
  • Access is restricted to authenticated users only

5.3 Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services.

When you delete your account:

  • Your user profile is permanently deleted
  • Your posts and comments are deleted
  • Your email and authentication data are removed
  • Orphaned images remain in storage but are not accessible
  • Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone

6. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

6.1 Access and Update Your Information

You can access and update your information at any time:

  • Profile Settings: Update your display name and profile photo
  • Posts: Delete your own posts and comments
  • Notifications: View and manage your notifications

6.2 Delete Your Account

You can permanently delete your account from the app:

  1. Go to Profile tab
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Select “Delete Account”
  4. Confirm deletion

What happens when you delete:

  • All your data is permanently removed
  • Your posts and comments are deleted
  • Your account cannot be recovered
  • You can create a new account anytime

6.3 Control Notifications

You can control notifications:

  • Push Notifications: Disable in device settings (iOS Settings → Notifications → Wasaal)
  • In-App Notifications: Always visible in the app

6.4 Language Preference

You can switch between English and Arabic at any time from the home feed.

6.5 Data Portability

You have the right to request a copy of your data. Contact us at [your-email@example.com] to request:

  • A copy of your profile information
  • Your posts and comments
  • Data will be provided in JSON format within 30 days

6.6 Opt-Out Rights

You have the right to:

  • Stop using the app at any time
  • Delete your account and all associated data
  • Refuse to provide optional information (profile photo)

7. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Wasaal is not intended for children under 13 years of age (or 16 in Europe).

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. We will delete such information from our systems.

Age Restriction: 12+ (due to user-generated content)

8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that information we collect may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

By using Wasaal, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws.

For EU/EEA Users:

  • We rely on appropriate safeguards including Standard Contractual Clauses
  • Your data is protected in accordance with GDPR requirements

9. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Wasaal may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., Privacy Policy generators, Terms of Service). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

  • Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
  • Updating the “Last Updated” date
  • Sending an in-app notification (for material changes)

Your continued use of Wasaal after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. COOKIE POLICY

Wasaal does NOT use cookies as it is a native mobile application. However, Firebase Analytics may collect certain information automatically as described in Section 2.2.

12. YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

Right to Know:

  • What personal information we collect
  • How we use it
  • Whether we sell or share it (we don’t)

Right to Delete:

  • Request deletion of your personal information

Right to Opt-Out:

  • We do not sell personal information, so no opt-out is needed

Right to Non-Discrimination:

  • We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at [your-email@example.com].

13. EUROPEAN UNION (GDPR) RIGHTS

If you are in the EU/EEA, you have the following rights:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
  • Right to Object: Object to certain processing activities
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

Legal Basis for Processing:

  • Performance of contract (providing app services)
  • Legitimate interests (improving the app, security)
  • Consent (where required)

To exercise these rights, contact us at [your-email@example.com].

Supervisory Authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

14. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

For questions about data protection, you may contact:

[Your Name or Company Name]
Email: [your-email@example.com]
Address: [Your Business Address]

15. CONTACT US

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Email: [your-email@example.com]
Support: [support@wasaalapp.com]
Website: [www.wasaalapp.com]
Address: [Your Business Address]

Response Time: We will respond to your inquiry within 7-14 business days.

16. CONSENT

By using Wasaal, you consent to:

  • The collection, use, and storage of your information as described in this Privacy Policy
  • The transfer of your data to service providers (Firebase/Google)
  • The public display of content you choose to post

17. SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES

17.1 Apple App Store Privacy Nutrition Labels

As disclosed in the App Store:

Data Linked to You:

  • Contact Info (Email, Name)
  • User Content (Photos, User-Generated Content)
  • Identifiers (User ID)

Data Not Collected:

  • Financial information
  • Health data
  • Precise location
  • Browsing history
  • Purchase history
  • Sensitive information

Tracking: We do NOT track you across apps and websites.

17.2 Google Play Store Data Safety

Data Collected:

  • Personal info (Name, Email)
  • Photos and videos
  • App activity
  • Device or other IDs

Data Sharing: No data is shared with third parties

Security Practices:

You can request data deletion

Data is encrypted in transit