Hala Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-01-03

This Privacy Policy explains how Hala ("Hala", "we", "us") collects, uses, and shares information when you use the Hala mobile application and related services (the "Service").

1. Information we collect

  • Account information: display name, username, phone number, password (stored securely, not in plain text), and optional profile photo and "About" text.
  • Messages: the content you send/receive in 1‑to‑1 chats, and related metadata (such as timestamps and delivery status) to operate the chat feature.
  • Approximate location (optional): if you tap "Use my location", we process a rounded/approximate location to show city-level context, nearby people (privacy-safe), and nearby places. We do not show or share your exact coordinates with other users.
  • Usage & device data: basic log data (such as IP address, user agent, and event timestamps) for security, fraud prevention, reliability, and debugging.
  • Support communications: information you provide if you contact support.

2. How we use information

  • Provide and operate the Service (login, chat, nearby discovery, "My Place", places discovery).
  • Protect the Service (rate limiting, abuse prevention, fraud detection).
  • Improve reliability and performance (caching, diagnostics, error handling).
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms.

3. What other users can see

  • Other users can see your display name and username.
  • If you choose to upload one, other users may see your profile photo and "About" section (based on your privacy settings).
  • Your phone number is not shown to other users.
  • Nearby features show only approximate distance (example: "~2 km") and city-level context.

4. Sharing of information

We share information only as needed to provide the Service:

  • Infrastructure providers: We use cloud infrastructure (including Cloudflare services) to host and deliver the Service.
  • Feature data providers (via backend): To show weather, public holidays, notable events, and places, our backend may query third-party public APIs such as Open‑Meteo, Nager.Date, Wikipedia "On this day", and OpenStreetMap/Overpass. Where location is needed, we send only the rounded/approximate location required to fetch results.
  • AI features: If you use "Ask Hala", your message and the assistant's response are processed by our AI provider (e.g., Cloudflare Workers AI) to generate a reply.
  • Legal and safety: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect users, prevent fraud, or enforce our Terms.

We do not sell your personal information.

5. AI feature notes (Ask Hala)

  • Do not send highly sensitive personal information to the AI assistant.
  • AI responses may be inaccurate; use your judgment and verify important information.
  • We may store AI requests/responses for a limited time to operate the feature, prevent abuse, and improve reliability.

6. Cookies, local storage, and offline caching

Hala may store session information on your device (for example, in local storage) to keep you signed in. The app may use a service worker to cache the app shell for faster loading.

7. Data retention

We retain information for as long as needed to provide the Service and for legitimate business purposes (such as security and preventing abuse), unless a longer retention period is required by law.

8. Your choices and rights

  • You can update your profile information in the app.
  • You can block users to prevent interactions.
  • You can request account deletion (and associated data deletion where applicable) from within the app's settings, or by contacting us at Askhalaai@gmail.com.

9. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information. No system is 100% secure; please use a strong password and keep it confidential.

10. Children's privacy

Hala is not intended for children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country). If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us at Askhalaai@gmail.com.

11. International data transfers

Your information may be processed in countries other than where you live, depending on our service providers' infrastructure.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date above.

13. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact: Askhalaai@gmail.com
Developer/Owner: Hala
Jurisdiction: UAE