Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Liberty Gulf ("we", "us", "our") operates Maskani (maskani.libertygulf.com), a property rental marketplace in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal data in compliance with:

• Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) - Law No. 30 of 2018
• Electronic Transactions Law - Law No. 28 of 2002
• Applicable regulations issued by the Personal Data Protection Authority

2. Data Controller

3. Personal Data We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide

3.2 Automatically Collected Data

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, search queries
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (not precise GPS)
• Cookies: Session identifiers, preferences (see Cookie Policy below)

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the PDPL, we process your personal data based on:

• Consent: When you create an account or submit information
• Contractual Necessity: To provide our platform services
• Legal Obligation: To comply with Bahraini laws and regulations
• Legitimate Interests: Platform security, fraud prevention, service improvement

5. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data to:

5.1 Provide Services

• Create and manage your account
• Display property listings
• Facilitate communication between landlords and tenants
• Process viewing requests
• Send service notifications and updates

5.2 Improve Platform

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Enhance user experience
• Develop new features
• Conduct research and analytics

5.3 Security and Compliance

• Detect and prevent fraud
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect user safety

5.4 Marketing (With Consent)

• Send promotional emails about new features
• Property recommendations based on search history
• Platform news and updates

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

6.1 With Other Users

When you use our platform, certain information becomes visible:

• Landlords: Property listings, contact information, company name
• Tenants: Name and contact details (only when submitting viewing requests)

6.2 Service Providers

We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with:

• Cloud hosting and storage
• Email delivery
• Analytics services
• Payment processing (if applicable)

All service providers are contractually bound to protect your data.

6.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your data when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes or government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Maskani, users, or the public
• Prevent fraud or illegal activities

7. International Data Transfers

Your data is primarily stored and processed within the Kingdom of Bahrain. If we transfer data outside Bahrain, we ensure:

• The destination country provides adequate data protection (as assessed by Bahrain authorities)
• Appropriate safeguards are in place (contractual clauses, certifications)
• You have provided explicit consent where required

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

• Encryption: Data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest
• Access Controls: Role-based access limitations
• Password Protection: Hashed and salted passwords
• Regular Security Audits: Vulnerability assessments
• Employee Training: Data protection awareness

Note: No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

Specific Retention Periods:

• Account Data: Until account deletion + 30 days
• Property Listings: Until removed by landlord + 90 days
• Communication Records: 2 years
• Transaction Logs: 5 years (legal requirement)
• Anonymous Analytics: Indefinitely

10. Your Rights Under PDPL

Under Bahrain's Personal Data Protection Law, you have the following rights:

10.1 Right to Access

Request a copy of your personal data we hold.

10.2 Right to Rectification

Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

10.3 Right to Erasure

Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations).

10.4 Right to Object

Object to processing for marketing or legitimate interests.

10.5 Right to Data Portability

Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

10.6 Right to Withdraw Consent

Withdraw consent for processing at any time.

11. Cookies and Tracking

11.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services.

11.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for platform functionality (authentication, security)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform
• Marketing Cookies: (Optional) Track your interests for personalized content

11.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality.

12. Children's Privacy

Maskani is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we discover we have collected data from a child, we will delete it immediately.

Parents or guardians who believe we may have inadvertently collected data from a child should contact us at support@libertygulf.com.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• Our data practices
• Legal requirements
• Platform features

We will notify you of material changes via:

• Email notification
• Prominent notice on the platform
• In-app notification

The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised.

14. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data:

15. Complaints

If you believe we have not handled your personal data properly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with:

We encourage you to contact us first so we can address your concerns directly.