⚡ Beta Version

Zoud Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Zoud ("Zoud", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects personal data when you use www.zoud.ae and the Zoud mobile application (together, the "Platform" or "Services").

1) Who We Are

Zoud is operated by Emirati Initiative sustainability and financial wellbeing -L.L.C - S.P.C (Zoud), a private company registered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with trade license number CN-5404005 and registered office at Airport Road, Al Rawdah - W58, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Maknooz Campaign: "Maknooz" is a savings campaign conducted in partnership with the Department of Community Development (DCD), Abu Dhabi, and it is delivered under the Zoud Platform. This Privacy Policy applies to Maknooz-related activities within Zoud.

2) Scope and Acceptance

By creating an account, logging in, or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and the Zoud Terms & Conditions.

If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

3) Who Can Use Zoud

Zoud is currently intended for UAE residents (UAE nationals and non-nationals).

Children: Children can use Zoud from age 6. For users under 18, we require parent/guardian consent and may apply additional safeguards appropriate for minors.

4) Personal Data We Collect

A) Data you provide directly

We may collect information you submit through the Platform such as:

  • Profile information (e.g., name, contact details)
  • Budgeting, Goals etc
  • Preferences and settings
  • Communications with us (support requests, feedback, surveys)

B) Data received through UAE PASS

When you log in using UAE PASS, we receive the following basic information (as provided via UAE PASS):

  • Full Name (English)
  • Full Name (Arabic)
  • Nationality
  • Email
  • Mobile
  • Gender
  • Emirates ID Number (Unified Number)

C) Data received from ICP (Identity & Citizenship)

Where available/required to support account verification and Services, we may receive the following information from ICP:

  • Marital Status
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth
  • Emirate
  • Emirates ID Expiry Date
  • Passport Number
  • Passport Expiry Date

D) Credit score and credit report (ECB)

As part of login, onboarding, personalization, or relevant platform functionality, Zoud may request and retrieve:

  • Credit score
  • Credit report (may be received as PDF and/or structured/raw format that our systems can process)

To request this information, we may use identifiers such as your Emirates ID and name as required for the request.

E) Bank account / credit card linking and transaction data (via Lean)

If you choose to link your bank account and/or credit card using our partner Lean, we may receive:

  • Transaction data in raw format
  • Enriched transaction details (e.g., merchant/brand signals and categorization) provided through Lean's enrichment capabilities

Important: Linking financial accounts is optional and only occurs when you choose to connect them within the Platform.

F) Technical, device, and usage data (automatic)

We may collect technical information such as:

  • Device identifiers, IP address, browser/app version, operating system
  • Log data and usage data (pages/screens visited, timestamps, performance and error logs)
  • Approximate location derived from IP address (and precise location only if you enable device permissions, where such features exist)

G) Special categories of data

We do not intentionally collect or process "special categories" of personal data (e.g., health data) for our Services. We also do not create "special categories" by inference from transaction data.

5) How We Use Personal Data

We use personal data to:

  • Create and manage your account and provide the Services
  • Authenticate and verify users (including via UAE PASS and, where applicable, verification information received from ICP)
  • Retrieve and display credit score/report information (where you use such features)
  • Enable account/credit-card linking and present transaction insights (where you choose to connect)
  • Provide financial education content, wellbeing insights, and recommendations within Zoud
  • Improve Platform performance, user experience, and features
  • Provide customer support and respond to your requests
  • Maintain security, prevent fraud, detect misuse, and protect the Platform and users
  • Meet legal, regulatory, audit, and compliance obligations
  • Send marketing communications only where you have opted in (see Section 9)

6) Legal Basis for Processing

Depending on the context, we process personal data based on one or more of the following:

  • Performance of a contract (to provide the Services you request)
  • Your consent (e.g., optional features, marketing opt-in, minor consent via guardian, where required)
  • Legal obligations (where applicable)
  • Legitimate interests (e.g., Platform security, fraud prevention, service improvement), balanced against your rights

7) Where Data Is Hosted and Stored (Data Residency)

Your personal data is stored only in the UAE, in Emirates Foundation's data center, which hosts Zoud systems. We do not store your data outside Zoud infrastructure hosted at Emirates Foundation.

8) Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data.

We may share personal data only as necessary and under appropriate safeguards:

A) Service providers (processors)

We work with certain third-party integrations to enable specific Platform features. We do not provide these parties with your personal data to use for their own purposes.

Lean (Account & Card Linking): If you choose to link your bank account and/or credit card, we use Lean to enable this connection. Through this integration, Lean provides us with your banking/credit-card transaction data so we can offer features such as transaction visibility and insights within Zoud.

Lune (Transaction Enrichment): We may use Lune to enrich transaction data (for example, categorization and related insights). For this purpose, we share only anonymized data with Lune (data that does not identify you).

All such parties are required to apply appropriate security and confidentiality measures when processing data for the Platform.

B) Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB)

When you log in using UAE PASS, and as part of the login and onboarding process, we may request Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB) to provide your credit score and credit report using required identifiers (such as your Emirates ID and name). We use this information to enable Platform features and to provide personalized financial education, insights, and recommendations within Zoud.

C) Banks

We do not share your personal data with banks for Zoud marketing purposes. If you choose to connect accounts via Lean, data flows through that integration to enable the requested features.

D) Government entities

We do not share your personal data with government entities beyond what is required for UAE PASS authentication and regulatory/legal requirements. However, Zoud may share anonymized and aggregated insights (that do not identify you) with relevant government entities for policy, research, or public-interest initiatives.

E) Legal and safety reasons

We may disclose information if required by law or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

  • comply with legal processes and lawful requests,
  • protect the rights, safety, and security of Zoud, users, or others,
  • investigate and prevent fraud, abuse, or security incidents.

F) Business changes

If Zoud undergoes a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or similar transaction, user data may be transferred as part of that process, subject to continued protection consistent with this Privacy Policy.

9) Marketing Communications (Opt-In)

We may send marketing messages (email/SMS/push/WhatsApp or similar channels) only if you opt in, and you can opt out at any time using the unsubscribe method provided or by contacting us.

Service/transactional messages (e.g., security alerts, account notices) may still be sent when necessary.

10) Cookies and Similar Technologies (Website)

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • keep the site functioning,
  • remember preferences,
  • understand usage and improve performance.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

11) Data Retention

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

  • provide the Services,
  • maintain account history and user experience,
  • meet legal, audit, security, and compliance requirements.

Retention periods depend on the type of data and the reason it was collected. Where possible, we may anonymize data so it can no longer be linked to you.

12) Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. No system is perfectly secure; however, we work continuously to strengthen our controls and reduce risks.

13) Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have rights to:

  • access your personal data,
  • correct or update inaccuracies,
  • request deletion (where applicable),
  • withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent),
  • object to or restrict certain processing (in certain cases),
  • request a copy of your data in a commonly used format (where applicable).

For minors, parents/guardians may exercise certain rights on their behalf, as allowed by law and Platform safeguards.

14) How to Exercise Your Rights

To request access, correction, deletion, or other rights, contact us at privacy@zoud.ae. We may request identity verification to protect your data and prevent unauthorized requests.

15) Third-Party Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party sites or services. Their privacy practices are not controlled by us. Please review their privacy policies before using them.

16) Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on the Platform and the "Last Updated" date will be changed. If changes are material, we will take additional steps where required by applicable law.

17) Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests, or complaints:
Email: privacy@zoud.ae
Address: Airport Road, Al Rawdah - W58, Abu Dhabi, UAE