At DubaiHiking.org, accessible at https://dubaihiking.org/, protecting the privacy of visitors is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains the types of information that may be collected and recorded through the website and how that information may be used.
This policy applies to online activity on DubaiHiking.org. It does not automatically apply to information collected offline or through a separate service that provides its own privacy notice.
Questions about this policy?
Contact us through the website's contact form if you require additional information, wish to exercise a privacy right or believe information about you has been handled incorrectly.
1. Who we are
DubaiHiking.org is a non-profit community website that aims to encourage hikers to discover and appreciate the UAE's outdoors responsibly.
Our website address is: https://dubaihiking.org/.
References in this policy to “DubaiHiking.org,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean the website and its current webmaster or authorised administrators.
2. What personal data we may collect
Depending on the features you use, the website may collect or process:
- Technical information such as IP address, browser and device details
- Pages viewed, referring pages, dates, times and interaction data
- Cookie identifiers and advertising or analytics information
- Name, email address and message submitted through a contact form
- Comment details if comments are enabled
- Account or profile information if registration is enabled
- Images or other content voluntarily submitted by contributors
We use information only for purposes reasonably connected with operating, securing, analysing and improving the website, communicating with visitors, moderating contributions, preventing abuse and meeting legal obligations.
3. Log files
Like most websites, DubaiHiking.org and its hosting provider may use server log files. These files may record information when visitors access the site, including:
- Internet Protocol address
- Browser type and version
- Internet service provider
- Date and time
- Referring and exit pages
- Requested pages and technical error information
- Approximate interaction or click information
Log information is generally used for security, troubleshooting, analysing website trends, administering the site and understanding aggregate visitor activity. It is not intended to identify visitors directly, although an IP address may constitute personal data under applicable law.
4. Cookies and similar technologies
DubaiHiking.org and service providers used by the website may store cookies or similar technologies in a visitor's browser.
Cookies may be used to:
- Remember preferences
- Support essential website functions
- Measure traffic and performance
- Protect the site from spam or misuse
- Remember login or display settings where applicable
- Deliver and measure advertising
Visitors can manage or delete cookies using browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect website functionality.
Comment cookies
If comments are enabled and you leave a comment, you may be offered the option to save your name, email address and website in cookies for convenience. These cookies may last for up to one year.
Login and editor cookies
If user accounts or editorial access are enabled, temporary and functional cookies may be used to check browser compatibility, remember login status and save screen-display choices. Login duration can vary depending on whether “Remember Me” is selected. An additional cookie may be created when an authorised user edits or publishes an article; it normally contains a post identifier rather than personal data.
5. Google advertising and advertising cookies
DubaiHiking.org uses or may use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google and other authorised third-party vendors may use cookies or similar technologies to serve, personalise and measure advertisements.
Google's use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve ads based on a visitor's previous visits to DubaiHiking.org or other websites. Depending on location, consent choices and account settings, ads may be personalised or non-personalised.
When an advertisement is loaded, third-party advertising providers may receive technical information such as an IP address, browser details and identifiers needed to deliver and measure the advertisement.
DubaiHiking.org does not control the cookies set directly by third-party ad providers. Visitors can learn about and manage Google's advertising choices through:
- Google's advertising technologies information
- How Google uses information from partner websites
- Google My Ad Centre
Consent controls
Where required, the website may display a consent or privacy-choice message before using non-essential cookies or personalised advertising.
6. Analytics
DubaiHiking.org uses or may use Google Analytics or a similar analytics service to understand website traffic and improve content.
Analytics information may include pages viewed, session duration, general device information, approximate location derived from network information, referral source and interactions with website features.
Analytics providers may process this information under their own privacy terms. Where legally required, analytics cookies will be used only after the visitor has made an appropriate consent choice.
7. Comments, spam detection and Gravatar
If comments are enabled, we may collect the information entered in the comment form, together with the visitor's IP address and browser user-agent string, to assist with moderation and spam detection.
An anonymised string created from an email address, sometimes called a hash, may be provided to the Gravatar service to check whether the commenter uses that service. If a comment is approved, the associated public profile image may appear beside the comment.
Gravatar and related Automattic services process information under their own privacy notices: Automattic Privacy Policy .
Visitor comments may also be checked through an automated spam-detection service.
8. Uploaded images and media
If visitors or contributors are permitted to upload images, they should remove embedded location information such as EXIF GPS coordinates before uploading.
Images published on the website may be downloaded by other visitors, who could potentially extract embedded metadata.
Contributors should upload only material they are authorised to share and should avoid revealing sensitive personal locations or the precise coordinates of vulnerable natural or heritage sites.
9. Contact forms
Information submitted through the contact form may include a name, email address, subject, message and any attachments voluntarily provided.
We may use contact-form information to:
- Respond to the enquiry
- Review corrections or content suggestions
- Discuss contributions, partnerships or collaborations
- Investigate abuse, rights complaints or security concerns
- Maintain reasonable records of important correspondence
Contact-form information will not be sold. It may be shared with a relevant service provider or external person only when reasonably necessary to answer the enquiry, operate the website, obtain professional advice, prevent harm or comply with law.
10. Embedded content from other websites
Articles may contain embedded videos, images, maps, social posts or other content from third-party websites.
Embedded content can behave as though the visitor had visited the external website directly. The third party may collect data, set cookies, use tracking technologies and record interaction with the embedded item, particularly when the visitor is logged in to that external service.
Third-party websites operate under their own terms and privacy policies.
11. How long we retain information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including security, moderation, administration and legal requirements.
If comments are enabled, approved comments and their metadata may be retained indefinitely so that follow-up comments can be recognised and moderated.
If registration is enabled, profile information may be stored while the account remains active. Users may be able to review, edit or delete profile information, subject to technical, security and legal limitations.
Contact correspondence may be retained for a reasonable period depending on its nature. Routine enquiries may be deleted sooner than legal, security, rights or collaboration records.
12. When information may be shared
Information may be processed or shared with:
- Website hosting and technical service providers
- Analytics and advertising providers
- Spam-prevention and security services
- Email or contact-form service providers
- Professional advisers where necessary
- Authorities where disclosure is legally required
Some providers may process information outside the UAE. Where applicable, we aim to use services and safeguards consistent with legal requirements governing international transfers of personal data.
13. Your privacy rights
Depending on the law that applies to you and the circumstances of the processing, you may have rights to:
- Ask whether we hold personal data about you
- Request access to or a copy of that data
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion where legally available
- Object to or restrict certain processing
- Withdraw consent where processing depends on consent
- Request transfer of data in an available format
- Complain to an appropriate data-protection authority
These rights are not absolute. We may retain information where required for legal, security, administrative or legitimate record-keeping purposes.
To make a request, use the contact form and provide enough information for us to identify the relevant record. We may need to verify identity before disclosing, changing or deleting personal information.
14. Information security
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to protect information against unauthorised access, alteration, loss or misuse.
No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security.
15. Children's information
DubaiHiking.org is intended for a general audience and does not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children under 13.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to supervise children's online activity. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to the website without appropriate permission, contact us so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, remove it.
16. Third-party privacy policies
This Privacy Policy does not govern websites, applications, advertisers or services operated by third parties.
Visitors should consult the privacy policy of each third-party provider for information about its practices and opt-out choices.
17. Online policy and consent
This policy applies to personal data collected through DubaiHiking.org and connected online website functions.
By continuing to use the website, you acknowledge this Privacy Policy. Where consent is legally required for a specific activity, such as certain cookies or personalised advertising, that consent will be requested separately rather than assumed merely from visiting the site.
18. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when website features, service providers, data practices or legal requirements change.
The “Last updated” date at the top of the page identifies the most recent published version.
19. Contact us
To ask a privacy question, request access or deletion, report a concern or seek more information, use the DubaiHiking.org contact form.
Legal review recommended
This policy is a practical website draft and should be reviewed against the site's actual hosting, comment, analytics, advertising, newsletter, account and contact-form configuration. A qualified UAE privacy lawyer should review the final version where formal legal assurance is required.