Al-Aalam Exchange Privacy Policy

We have recently updated our Privacy Policy (“Policy”). The updated Policy will automatically come into effect on 01.03.2025. Your continued use of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) from that date onwards will be subject to this updated Policy. Please, read this Policy carefully.

1. About this Policy

1.1 What this Policy is about

Al-Aalam Exchange is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of the information provided by you when you engage with Al-Aalam Exchange, including when you access and use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). Al-Aalam Exchange is bound by and complies with the privacy protection legislations and other relevant privacy laws.

This Policy applies to Al-Aalam Exchange. This Policy describes how we collect, use, store and disclose your personal information in connection with your interaction and engagement with Al-Aalam Exchange and your access to and use of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq).

If you see a term in this Policy that is capitalised and undefined, it has the same definition as in our Terms of Use.

1.2 Your agreement to this Policy

By accessing the app (Al-Aalam) you confirm that you have read and agreed to the terms of this Policy and consent to your personal information (including, your sensitive information) being collected, stored, used and disclosed in accordance with this Policy. Please, read this Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal information.

1.3 Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Policy at any time in accordance with this provision. If we make changes to this Policy, we will upload the revised Policy to the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). Changes to this Policy will come into effect immediately upon such changes being uploaded on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). Your continued use of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) following such upload will constitute your acceptance of any changes.

If we make a material change to this Policy, we will notify you either by push notification notice of the changes when you launch the app (Al-Aalam), a graphics banner on the website (www.alaalam.iq), and/or via the email address nominated by you in your Account. If you disagree with the revised Policy, you may terminate your agreement with Al-Aalam Exchange (in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreement), deactivate your Account, and cease using the app (Al-Aalam), and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq).

2. Kinds of information we collect

2.1 Your engagement with Al-Aalam Exchange

There are many ways that you can engage with Al-Aalam Exchange, its representatives or the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), including (but not limited to) via telephone, email, post or in person.

Depending on how you engage with Al-Aalam Exchange and its representatives and use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), we may ask you to share or may collect your ‘personal information’.

2.2 Personal information

Under the privacy protection legislations, ‘personal information’ includes any information or opinion that identifies or can be used to identify, contact or locate you. Common examples include: your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, and/or mother’s name. Whether you choose to share your personal information (including your sensitive information) is completely up to you, but you may not be able to access some areas of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) or effectively use the services offered through the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) without providing Al-Aalam Exchange with certain personal information.

2.3 Types of personal information

The types of information that we collect from you depends on your dealings with Al-Aalam Exchange. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the four general categories of information we collect.

2.3.1 Information you give us

We generally collect the following personal information from you through the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) (including if you upload information or material via the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq)), or via telephone, email, post or in person.

2.3.1.a Account Information: We may ask for and collect your:

  1. full name in Arabic;
  2. full name in English;
  3. mother’s name;
  4. gender;
  5. date of birth;
  6. job title;
  7. employer name;
  8. residential and postal address;
  9. email address;
  10. mobile / telephone number;
  11. profile picture;
  12. language preferences;
  13. and background information about you.

2.3.1.b Identity verification information: We may ask for and collect identity verification information (such as, your tax file number, business registration number, business name, copies of your government issued ID, passport, driver licence, etc) or other authentication information to verify your identity.

2.3.1.c Financial Information: We may require you to provide certain financial information, such as your source of fund, bank account details, or bank card information.

2.3.1.d Communications with Al-Aalam Exchange and other Users: When you communicate with Al-Aalam Exchange or use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) to communicate with others, we monitor, record and store those communications and any information you choose to provide to Al-Aalam Exchange and other Users.

2.3.1.e Job applications: If you apply for a job at Al-Aalam Exchange, we will collect information that you provide about your employment history, qualifications and ability.

2.3.2 Information we automatically collect from you

When you use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), we automatically collect certain information from you, including personal information.

2.3.2.a Usage information: We collect information about your interactions with the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) such as the pages or content you view, your searches, your bookings, your communications with other Users and other actions you take on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq).

2.3.2.b Engagement records: If you contact Al-Aalam Exchange, for example, via the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), by telephone, email, post or in person, we automatically record any personal information that you provide to us, including recording and holding any documents you upload via the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq).

2.3.2.c Log Data and Device Information: We automatically collect log data and device information when you access and use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). That information includes, among other things, a recording showing how you used the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), your clicks, scrolls and activities on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), your IP address, access dates and times, hardware and software information, device information, device event information, unique identifiers, crash data, cookie data, and the pages you have viewed or engaged with before or after using the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). We use this type of information to administer the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and to analyse trends.

2.3.2.d Cookies: We collect some anonymous information about how you use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) by setting and accessing cookies on your computer. A cookie is a small text file that allows our system to identify and interact more effectively with your computer or device. These cookies track information such as how often you use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or visit the website (www.alaalam.iq), what pages you view, and where you go after you leave the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). The cookies track your device, not you. You can configure your web browser to restrict or disable cookies, however, this may cause some parts of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) not to have full functionality.

2.3.2.e Payment Transaction Information: We collect information related to your payment transactions through the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), including the payment instrument used, payment dates and times, payment amounts, your billing postcode, address and other related transaction details.

2.3.3. Information we collect from third-parties

Al-Aalam Exchange may collect personal information about you, including sensitive information, from third parties. We do not control, supervise and are not responsible for how those third parties process your personal information. Any information request regarding the disclosure to us of your personal information by a third party, should be directed to those third parties.

2.3.3a Information received from an Account Manager: An Account Manager may manage an Account on behalf of a Client in certain circumstances. If an Account Manager intends to provide Al-Aalam Exchange with personal information (including sensitive information) about any other person, the Account Manager warrants that they have the relevant person’s consent before providing us with that information and acknowledges that Al-Aalam Exchange will be relying on the Account Manager’s warranty when receiving the other person’s personal and sensitive information.

2.3.3.b Third-Party Services: If you link, connect, or login to the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) or your Account through a third-party service (e.g. Google, Facebook, Taif Unified ID (TUID)), the third-party service may send us information such as your profile information from that service. This information varies and is controlled by that service or as authorised by you via your privacy settings with that service. The use of these technologies allows those third-party services to evaluate your use of the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and other websites, deliver customised advertising content, measure the effectiveness of their advertising, and provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

2.3.3.c Advertising Services: If you click on an online Al-Aalam Exchange advertisement (e.g. ads on Google), the third-party service hosting that advertisement will collect certain information and will provide that information to us to allow us to measure the effectiveness of our advertising.

2.3.3.d Information from other Users: We may receive personal information about you from other Users.

2.3.3.e Your References: If someone has provided Al-Aalam Exchange with a reference about you, it will be held and stored by Al-Aalam Exchange. References may be published on your Profile.

2.3.3.f Background Information: As required and permitted by applicable laws, Al-Aalam Exchange may obtain police, background, and other checks on you. We may use your personal information, including your full name and date of birth, to obtain such reports.

2.3.4 Sensitive information

‘Sensitive information’ is a type of personal information.

Al-Aalam Exchange will only collect your sensitive information if:

  1. it is required or authorised by law; or
  2. you consent to the collection of the information (such consent includes you uploading a document or certificate via the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq)); and
  3. it is necessary to allow you to use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and for you to provide or receive services.

Depending on how you engage with Al-Aalam Exchange or use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), we may ask you to share some or all of the above sensitive information with us, or we may collect it from others.

3. How we hold and store your personal information

We store your personal information primarily in electronic format, in secure buildings and systems that we own and operate, or that are owned and operated by infrastructure and storage service providers. Some of our service providers are located abroad.

Al-Aalam Exchange and our third-party infrastructure and storage providers have implemented a range of measures to protect the security of your personal information including:

  1. ensuring encrypted secure transmission of your personal information (as necessary);
  2. controls regulating which staff and contractors can access particular information;
  3. using enterprise firewalls to protect servers that host your personal information; and
  4. only allowing certain components of your personal information to be accessed by certain types of Users (refer to paragraph 5.2 of this Policy).

We are continuously implementing and updating administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your information against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or alteration.

We only retain your personal information for as long as is necessary for the performance of your agreement with Al-Aalam Exchange and to comply with our legal obligations.

4. How we use your personal information

Information about how we use your personal information is below. This list is not intended to be exhaustive and there may be other third parties to which we give your personal information (for example, professional advisors or insurers) where required or permitted by law.

4.1 Use of your personal information for the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq)

We may use your personal information to build, operate and improve the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and as necessary for the adequate performance of our agreement with you. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the purposes for which we may use your personal information.

  1. Verify or authenticate information or documents provided by you and your identity;
  2. Conduct necessary background, reference and other checks and verify the information you have provided to Al-Aalam Exchange;
  3. Enable you to access and use the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and provide and receive services;
  4. Enable you to create and update your Profile, and post other content to the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq);
  5. Maintain and update our records;
  6. Enable you to communicate and connect with certain other Users;
  7. Operate, protect, improve, and optimise the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and our Users’ experiences on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq);
  8. Operate, improve, and optimise related services, such as by performing analytics and conducting research;
  9. Assist us to provide effective customer service to our Users;
  10. Process, manage and administer account payments, billing issues, invoice payments and payroll transactions; and
  11. Send you support messages, updates and account notifications.

4.2 Use of your personal information for the Al-Aalam Exchange community

We may use your information to protect our community and the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq), to create and maintain a safe environment for all of our Users and to comply with applicable laws. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the purposes for which we may use your personal information.

  1. Verify or authenticate information or documents provided by Users and the identity of other Users;
  2. Detect and prevent fraud, spam, abuse, exploitation, neglect, security incidents, and other harmful activity;
  3. Conduct security investigations and risk assessments;
  4. Contact your referees and send requests for and collect references about you;
  5. Conduct checks on Users (as required) against databases and other information sources, including background, or police checks;
  6. Resolve any disputes or issues with any of our Users and enforce our agreements with third-parties;
  7. Enforce our agreement with you, our Terms of Use and the Al-Aalam Exchange Policies and Procedures;
  8. Comply with our legal obligations and protect our lawful interests.

4.3 Use of your personal information for marketing, advertising and research purposes

We may use your personal information to undertake and direct advertising and marketing activities to you and other third-parties. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the purposes for which we may use your personal information.

  1. Send promotional messages, marketing, advertising, and other information to you via telephone, email, online, via push notifications from the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and by other means;
  2. Manage our relationships with you and other Users;
  3. From time to time, we may contact you by telephone or text message solely in connection with the services we provide and only if you have provided us with your phone number;
  4. Conduct product and market research;
  5. Personalise, measure, and improve our advertising and marketing;
  6. Conduct or support academic research, for example to invite you to participate in a study; and
  7. Contact you to ascertain your interest in participating in campaigns or inquiries in respect to the disability sector or that otherwise affect our community.

You can opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us by following the unsubscribe instructions included in our marketing communications. For more information about how to opt out of receiving marketing communications, please see paragraph 8 below entitled “Your choices”.

5. Disclosing your personal information

5.1 Disclosure with your consent

Where you have provided your express consent for specific parts of your personal information to be disclosed, we will disclose and share those specific parts of your personal information that are held by us as at the time of receiving your consent. If a Client has nominated an Account Manager, that Account Manager will have access to all of the Client’s personal information (including sensitive information) unless and until we are advised otherwise.

5.2 Sharing between Approved Users

Approved Users on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) are able to search for, access and view Profiles of other Approved Users by using search parameters that coincide with the personal information provided to us. All Approved Users on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) will be able to view your Profile, including personal and sensitive information such as your:

  1. profile photo;
  2. full name;
  3. place/date of birth;
  4. location;
  5. job title; and
  6. employer.

By becoming an Approved User, you agree to allow other Approved Users to view your personal information (including your sensitive information) and make contact with you. You also agree that Al-Aalam Exchange may seek your consent to share your email and telephone details with other Approved Users to allow them to contact you.

5.3 Sharing with General Members of the Public

Users may opt-in to allow general members of the public to access and view their Profiles. General members of the public will be able to access and search the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq) and view search results which will display certain personal and sensitive information of Users who have opted-in to this clause. The personal and sensitive information which will be displayed includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Profile photo;
  2. full name;
  3. address; and
  4. location.

You can opt-out to sharing your Profile with the general members of the public by contacting us directly.

5.4 Compliance with legal requirements and requests

We may disclose your personal information to courts, law enforcement, government authorities, or authorised third parties, if and to the extent we are required or permitted to do so by law or if such disclosure is reasonably necessary to:

  1. comply with our legal obligations;
  2. respond to claims asserted against Al-Aalam Exchange;
  3. respond to requests relating to criminal investigations or alleged or suspected illegal activity or any other activity that may expose us, you, or any other of our Users to legal liability;
  4. comply with our mandatory obligations under relevant state legislation;
  5. enforce and administer our Terms of Use or our relevant agreement with you; or
  6. protect the rights, property or personal safety of Al-Aalam Exchange, its representatives, other Users, or members of the public.

If you fail to meet your payment obligations to Al-Aalam Exchange, we may disclose your personal information to credit reporting bodies in accordance with the privacy legislations. We may disclose your personal information to the credit reporting bodies.

5.5 Sharing with Al-Aalam Exchange’s related bodies corporate, affiliates and partners

We may disclose your personal information to Al-Aalam Exchange’s related bodies corporate and to third-party service providers, consultants and business partners that assist us with, or work with us, or may potentially work with us in relation to archiving, auditing, accounting, customer contact and relationship management, legal matters, business or growth consulting, risk management, banking, billing and payment processing, delivery, data storage, data processing, data analysis, information management and verification, marketing, investigations, cyber-security, research, training and website or technology services. We only share your personal information like this when it is necessary to enable the services to be provided to us, and when we do, we take steps to ensure that our service providers are required to protect your information.

If another organisation or entity were to seek to acquire the Al-Aalam Exchange (or part thereof), we may share your personal information in the course of that transaction.

5.6 Sharing with organisations and service providers that you engage with

We share your personal information, including sensitive information. We will obtain your consent before sharing any information.

5.7 Unidentified data sharing

We also share information about our Users that has been aggregated or combined so that it no longer identifies an individual User and other anonymised information for regulatory compliance, industry and market analysis, demographic profiling, marketing and advertising, and other business purposes.

6. Accessing your personal information

You may access your personal information held by Al-Aalam Exchange by logging into your Account and making changes at any time. Alternatively, you have a right to ask for access to the personal information we hold about you.

In some circumstances we may decline to grant you access to your personal information (for example, if the release of your personal information would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others)

7. Updating and correcting your Personal Information

You may update or correct your personal information held by Al-Aalam Exchange at any time by logging into your Account and accessing the “Profile” section. It is your responsibility to ensure that your contact and personal information in your Profile and held by Al-Aalam Exchange is kept up-to-date.

8. Your Choices

You may opt-out of receiving marketing communications or targeted advertising from us at any time, by using the link in promotional and marketing emails or by contacting us directly. You can also opt out of push notifications in the Al-Aalam Exchange app and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq). Please, note you cannot opt-out of receiving administrative and transaction-related emails from us unless you deactivate your Account. These are emails that relate to your Account and/or your activity on the app (Al-Aalam) and/or the website (www.alaalam.iq).

9. Contact Us

9.1 Feedback

If you have any feedback or questions about this Privacy Policy or any of our privacy-related practices, please contact us.

9.2 Complaints

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please let us know so we can address the problem. Please contact our Privacy Officer.

To lodge a formal complaint, please send details to the Privacy Officer in writing. We will attempt to respond within a reasonable time, usually 30 business days. Al-Aalam Exchange treats all privacy complaints seriously and any complaint will be assessed by our Privacy Officer with the aim of resolving any issue in a timely and efficient manner. We request that you cooperate with us during this process and provide us with any relevant information that we may need to investigate the complaint appropriately.