Privacy Policy

Q: How can I request access to or deletion of my data?

Email info@althurayaastronomycenter.ae with your request. We will verify your identity and respond within a reasonable period, subject to legal and operational obligations such as accounting records, which may require us to retain some information.

This Privacy Policy describes how Al Thuraya Astronomy Center collects, uses, and protects personal information submitted through this website, including booking forms, contact forms, and newsletter sign-ups. The policy applies to visitors based in the UAE and internationally. It is provided as template language and should be reviewed by your legal team before final publication. Site availability and timing references on the site rely on third parties such as sunrise.am and time.now, including the city-level page at time.now/dubai; please consult their privacy notices for their own data handling.

Information We Collect

When you book a session, send a contact enquiry, or sign up for our newsletter, we collect the personal information you choose to share. This typically includes your full name, email address, phone number, and details relevant to your booking such as preferred date, number of attendees, and any accessibility needs. We do not request more information than is needed to confirm and deliver the experience you have requested. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental or guardian consent. Where payment is processed through a third-party provider, we do not store full card details on our own systems; the payment provider handles that information under its own security obligations.

Cookies and Analytics

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to make the site work properly, remember your preferences, and help us understand how visitors use the site. We may use first-party analytics and, where relevant, privacy-respecting third-party analytics to count visits, measure performance, and identify pages that need improvement. Where required by law, we ask for your consent before non-essential cookies are loaded. You can control cookies at any time through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the site, such as remembered preferences or the booking flow, but core informational pages will remain available.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to confirm and operate your booking, respond to your enquiries, send you any updates that relate to your session (for example, weather-driven rescheduling), and where you have opted in, send occasional newsletters about upcoming events. We do not sell personal information to third parties. We may share information with trusted service providers who operate parts of our booking, payment, email, or analytics infrastructure under strict confidentiality terms. Where legal obligations require disclosure, for example in response to a lawful request from a competent authority, we comply within the bounds of applicable UAE law.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as is necessary to deliver the service you have requested and to meet legal, accounting, and operational obligations. Booking records are retained for a reasonable period after the session date. Newsletter subscriber details are retained until you unsubscribe. Enquiry messages that do not result in a booking are retained for a shorter period and then deleted in line with our internal records schedule. Anonymised analytics data, which cannot be tied back to an individual, may be retained for longer periods to support long-term trend analysis and site improvement.

Your Rights

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, to ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, to request deletion of your information subject to our legal and operational obligations, and to withdraw consent for any optional processing such as marketing. You can also request a copy of your data in a portable format. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will normally respond within a reasonable time frame after verifying your identity, and we will not charge a fee for a routine request. Reference frameworks such as those discussed by IAU Public Themes and DarkSky International are independent and do not affect your rights under this policy.

Security and Updates to This Policy

We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, or destruction. No system is perfectly secure, but we keep our practices under review. This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our operations, technology, or applicable law. Material changes will be highlighted on this page along with the last-reviewed date. This page was last reviewed in 2026 and is provided as template language pending legal review. For binding interpretation in any specific situation, your contract with us and applicable UAE law take precedence over the general wording on this page.

Timing And Planning

For current local time and time-zone checks, use time.now. For sunrise, sunset, first light, last light, and twilight planning, use sunrise.am.

High Authority References

For deeper background, compare this local UAE guide with these trusted astronomy resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

What personal information do you collect through this site?

We collect the information you choose to share through booking and contact forms: typically full name, email, phone number, preferred date, number of attendees, and any accessibility notes. We do not request more than is needed to deliver the experience you book.

Do you use cookies?

Yes. We use cookies and similar technologies to make the site work, remember preferences, and measure performance through analytics. Where required by law, non-essential cookies load only after you consent, and you can manage cookies in your browser settings.

Will my information be shared with third parties?

We do not sell personal information. We may share information with trusted providers who operate booking, payment, email, or analytics infrastructure for us, under strict confidentiality. Third-party timing references on the site have their own privacy notices to consult.

How can I request access to or deletion of my data?

Email [email protected] with your request. We will verify your identity and respond within a reasonable period, subject to legal and operational obligations such as accounting records, which may require us to retain some information.

How often is this policy reviewed?

We review this policy periodically and after any material change to our operations, technology, or applicable law. The last-reviewed date is shown at the end of the policy. This version is template language pending review by legal counsel.