Privacy Policy

Saqr Academy ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you apply to, enroll in, or interact with our programs and services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you apply for or enroll in a Saqr Academy program, we collect:

• Identity Information: Full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, Emirates ID (UAE residents) or passport number, photograph
• Contact Information: Email address, phone number, mailing address, emergency contact details
• Educational and Professional Background: Highest education level, current employment, professional experience, career goals, LinkedIn profile (optional)
• Payment Information: Credit/debit card details (processed securely), billing address, bank account information for refunds

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device type, time zone, pages visited
• Cookies and Tracking: Session cookies, analytics cookies, marketing cookies (with consent)

2. How We Use Your Information

• Program Administration: Process applications, provide course access, track progress, issue certificates
• Payment Processing: Process tuition payments, issue invoices, manage refunds, prevent fraud
• Regulatory Compliance: Report to KHDA (UAE education authority), verify eligibility, comply with UAE data protection laws, screen against OFAC sanctions lists
• Communication: Send program updates, course materials, career resources, marketing (with consent)
• Platform Improvement: Analyze usage, optimize performance, develop new programs

3. How We Protect Payment Information

• All payment card information is processed through PCI DSS-compliant third-party payment processors
• We do NOT store complete credit card numbers on our servers
• Payment gateways use 256-bit SSL encryption
• Transactions are processed through UAE Central Bank-approved payment providers

We retain only the last four digits of your payment card (for reference), transaction IDs, and billing address (for invoicing).

Important: All credit/debit cards' details and personally identifiable information will NOT be stored, sold, shared, rented or leased to any third parties. https://saqracademy.com will not pass any debit/credit card details to third parties.

4. How We Share Your Information

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

4.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers:

• Payment Processing: Secure payment gateways, banking institutions
• Educational Services: Learning management systems, video conferencing platforms, cloud storage
• Communication: Email service providers, SMS notifications, CRM platforms
• Analytics: Website analytics, marketing automation tools

4.2 Government and Regulatory Bodies

We share information with UAE government entities as required by law:

• KHDA: Student enrollment, attendance, completion data, compliance reporting
• UAE Central Bank: Payment transaction records for compliance monitoring
• Law Enforcement: In response to valid legal requests or to investigate suspected illegal activities

5. Data Retention

• Active Students: Duration of enrollment plus 1 year
• Alumni: Academic records (indefinitely), contact information (5 years), payment records (7 years per UAE requirements)
• Applicants (Not Enrolled): Application data (1 year), payment information (immediately deleted if declined)
• Legal Retention: KHDA reporting records (7 years), financial records (7 years)

6. International Data Transfers

Your data may be stored and processed in:

• United Arab Emirates (primary location)
• European Union (cloud service providers)
• United States (third-party platforms)

When we transfer data outside the UAE, we ensure protection through standard contractual clauses, certified service providers, encryption, and regular security audits.

7. Your Data Rights

Under UAE data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal information (within 30 days)
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information (within 10 business days)
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements, within 30 days)
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format (within 30 days)
• Right to Opt Out: Marketing emails, non-essential cookies, data sharing with partners (effective immediately)

8. Data Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security practices:

• Technical Safeguards: 256-bit SSL encryption, encrypted databases, firewalls, multi-factor authentication
• Organizational Safeguards: Restricted access, employee training, confidentiality agreements, regular audits
• Physical Safeguards: Secure data centers, access controls, locked filing cabinets
• Incident Response: In the event of a data breach, affected individuals will be notified within 72 hours

Security Disclaimer: https://saqracademy.com takes appropriate steps to ensure data privacy and security including through various hardware and software methodologies. However, https://saqracademy.com cannot guarantee the security of any information that is disclosed online.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies (Always Active): Session management, security features, basic site functionality
• Analytics Cookies (Opt-In): Google Analytics, user behavior analysis to improve performance
• Marketing Cookies (Opt-In): Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag for relevant ads

You can control cookies through browser settings or our cookie consent tool on the website.

10. Children's Privacy

Saqr Academy programs are designed for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 years of age without parental consent.

If you are under 18 and wish to enroll, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent. If we discover we have collected data from a minor without proper consent, we will delete the information immediately.

11. Third-Party Websites

https://saqracademy.com is not responsible for the privacy policies of websites to which it links. If you provide any information to such third parties, different rules regarding the collection and use of your personal information may apply. You should contact these entities directly if you have any questions about their use of the information that they collect.

12. Marketing Communications

With your consent, we may send information about new programs, enrollment offers, industry insights, and events.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by clicking "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email or emailing hello@saqracademy.com. Note: You cannot opt out of transactional emails (enrollment confirmations, payment receipts, schedule changes).

13. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or technological developments.

We will notify you of material changes by email, website notice for 30 days, and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

By using Saqr Academy services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to our data practices as described.