Cookie Policy

At AZ&Co. Legal, including its subsidiaries and/or affiliates (hereinafter referred to as "we," "our," "us," or "AZ&Co. Legal"), we are committed to safeguarding the privacy and security of our clients' and website visitors' personal data. This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website https://www.azcolegal.com ("Website"), the types of cookies we employ, their purposes, duration, and how you can manage your preferences.

​

This Cookie Policy forms part of, and must be read in conjunction with, our Privacy Policy (available at https://www.azcolegal.com/privacy-policy). Defined terms used in this Cookie Policy carry the same meaning as in our Privacy Policy. By accessing or using our Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Cookie Policy. If you do not consent to the use of non-essential cookies, you should adjust your preferences using the mechanisms described in Section 4 below.

​

1. WHAT ARE COOKIES 

​

Cookies are small text files or similar technologies, including web beacons, pixels, and scripts, that are placed on your device when you visit our Website. Cookies help us recognize your browser or device, enhance website functionality, analyze usage patterns, personalize content, and improve user experience. 

​

Cookies may be 

a. Session cookies: Temporary files that expire automatically when you close your browser.

b. Persistent cookies: Files that remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them.

c. First-party cookies: Set directly by AZ&Co. Legal when you visit our Website.

d. Third-party cookies: Set by external service providers whose features are integrated into our Website.

 

2. TYPES OF COOKIES WE USE 

We employ the following categories of cookies on our Website. Each category is described below, together with its legal basis for processing under the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data ("PDPL") and our Privacy Policy:

​

2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

​

• Purpose: Essential for the operation of our Website and to enable access to its core functions, including secure forms, login features, session management, and security protections. Without these cookies, the Website cannot function correctly.

• Legal Basis: Processing is necessary for the performance of our services and compliance with legal obligations. These cookies do not require consent under applicable law.

• Duration: Predominantly session-based; some may persist as required for security and integrity purposes.

• Management: Cannot be disabled without materially impairing core Website functionality. These are set automatically when you access the Website.

 

2.2 Functional Cookies

​

• Purpose: Enhance your experience by remembering preferences such as language selection, display settings, or previously completed form data. These cookies allow the Website to provide a more personalised user experience.

• Legal Basis:  Your consent, obtained via our cookie consent mechanism prior to these cookies being set.

• Duration: Persistent; typically between 30 days and 12 months, depending on the specific cookie.

• Management: Can be disabled via our cookie settings panel or your browser settings. Some Website features may be limited if these cookies are declined.

​

2.3 Analytical / Performance Cookies

​

• Purpose: Collect technical and usage data, including IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, referring URLs, and visitor interaction patterns. We use this information to monitor Website performance, improve functionality, and understand how visitors use the Website. This includes third-party services such as Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.

• Legal Basis: Your consent, obtained via our cookie consent mechanism prior to these cookies being set. Where applicable, we rely on our legitimate interests in improving and maintaining the Website, subject to appropriate safeguards.

• Duration: Persistent; typically between 6 and 24 months, depending on the service provider.

• Management: Can be disabled via our cookie settings panel, your browser settings, or by opting out of third-party analytics services directly (e.g., Google Analytics opt-out). We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party providers.

​

2.4 Marketing / Advertising Cookies

​

• Purpose: Facilitate targeted communications, track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and serve content relevant to your interests. These cookies may be set by us or by third-party providers, including social media platforms, to build a profile of your interests and show relevant content on other websites.

• Legal Basis: Your explicit consent, obtained via our cookie consent mechanism prior to these cookies being set. You may withdraw consent at any time.

• Duration: Persistent; generally, up to 12 months, subject to the third-party provider's terms.

• Management: Can be managed or deleted via our cookie settings panel or your browser settings. Opt-out options may also be available directly on third-party platforms (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Ads). Please note that opting out does not remove advertising -it makes advertising less targeted.

 

2.5 Third-Party Cookies

 

• Purpose: Some content on our website - including social media widgets, embedded videos, and external service integrations -may use cookies set by third-party providers. These cookies enable the delivery of third-party services and may allow those providers to track your activity across other websites.

• Legal Basis: Your consent, where required, obtained via our cookie consent mechanism. Third-party providers operate under their own privacy and cookie policies.

• Duration: Controlled by the respective third-party provider and governed by their terms.

• Management: Managed via third-party privacy or account settings, or via browser controls. We strongly recommend reviewing the privacy policies of each third-party provider. AZ&Co. Legal has no control over and accepts no responsibility for the content or practices of third-party providers.

 

 

3. COOKIE CONSENT

 

Strictly necessary cookies are set automatically upon your access to the Website and do not require your consent, as they are essential to Website operation.

​

All other categories of cookies (Functional, Analytical/Performance, Marketing/Advertising, and Third-Party) will only be set with your prior, freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent, obtained through our cookie consent banner displayed upon your first visit to the Website.

​

Your consent is recorded and stored. We do not treat continued browsing or scrolling as consent to non-essential cookies. You may modify or withdraw your consent at any time using the mechanisms described in Section 4 below. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out prior to withdrawal.

​

Where AZ&Co. Legal acts as a data processor in placing third-party cookies at the direction of third-party service providers, those providers remain responsible as data controllers for their own processing activities.

​

4. MANAGING AND WITHDRAWING COOKIE CONSENT

 

You have full control over non-essential cookies. You may withdraw or modify your consent at any time by:

 

a. Cookie Settings Panel: Access our cookie preference centre at any time via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of our Website. You can enable or disable specific cookie categories.

​

b. Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse, accept, or delete cookies and to receive notifications when cookies are being set. Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers are available at: Chrome — chrome://settings/cookies; Firefox — about:preferences#privacy; Safari — Preferences > Privacy; Edge — Settings > Cookies and site permissions.

​

c. Third-Party Opt-Out Tools: For analytical and advertising cookies placed by third-party providers, you may use the opt-out mechanisms provided directly by those providers (e.g., Google Analytics, LinkedIn, Facebook). Note that opting out via a third-party tool affects only that provider.

​

d. Contact Us: You may also contact our Data Protection Officer directly at the details in Section 8 below for assistance with cookie preferences.

 

Please note that disabling certain non-essential cookies may limit your ability to access or fully use some features of our Website. Disabling strictly necessary cookies will impair core Website functionality and is not recommended.

 

5. DATA PROTECTION AND PROCESSING

​

Any personal data collected through cookies -including IP addresses, device identifiers, and browsing behaviour -constitutes personal data for the purposes of Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL) and is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

 

The lawful bases for processing personal data via cookies are:

​

i. Consent: For all non-essential cookies, as described in Section 3.

ii. Legitimate Interests: For analytical processing where we have assessed that our interests in improving and maintaining the Website are not overridden by your rights, subject to appropriate safeguards.

iii. Legal Obligation: Where retention or processing of cookie-related data is required by applicable law or regulatory guidance.

 

International Transfers: Where cookies result in personal data being transferred to third-party service providers located outside the UAE (including providers such as Google, based in the United States), we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with PDPL and Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2024. Please refer to Section 7 of our Privacy Policy for full details of our cross-border data transfer framework.

 

No GDPR Applicability: AZ&Co. Legal is a UAE-based entity and does not hold itself out as subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) unless and to the extent that it directly processes the personal data of individuals located in the European Economic Area in a context that triggers GDPR application. References to GDPR in any prior version of this Policy are withdrawn and should not be relied upon. 

 

6. DATA RETENTION

​

Personal data collected through cookies is retained only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, consistent with the retention periods set out in our Privacy Policy. In general:

​

i. Session cookie data is not stored beyond the duration of your browser session.

ii. Persistent cookie data is retained for the period indicated in Section 2 above for each cookie category, unless you delete cookies earlier.

iii. Analytics and usage data collected via third-party tools such as Google Analytics is subject to those providers' own retention settings, which you can review in their respective privacy policies.

iv. Consent records (evidence of your cookie preferences) are retained for a period sufficient to demonstrate compliance with our legal obligations under the PDPL.

 

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

​

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AZ&Co. Legal accepts no liability for the content, privacy practices, security measures, or cookie usage of any third-party website linked from our Website, or any third-party service provider whose cookies operate on our Website. Third-party providers operate independently and are governed by their own terms and privacy policies.

 

AZ&Co. Legal shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to manage your cookie preferences appropriately, or from the use of third-party opt-out tools outside our control.

 

8. CHANGES TO THIS COOKIE POLICY

​

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in the cookies we use, legal or regulatory obligations, or best practices. Material changes that affect how we process your personal data through cookies will be communicated via a prominent notice on our Website or by email (where we hold your contact details) at least fourteen (14) days before the change takes effect, consistent with our Privacy Policy. Non-material changes (such as typographical corrections or clarifications) may be made without advance notice.

​

Continued use of our Website following notification of a material change constitutes your acceptance of the revised Cookie Policy. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy regularly alongside our Privacy Policy.

 

9. CONTACT US 

 

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding cookies or your preferences, you may contact our Data Protection Officer: 

​

Organisation: AZ&Co. Legal

DPO Name: Aleena Zahid

Email: Aleena.zahid@azcolegal.com

Address: 217-54, Business Village Block B, Port Saeed, Deira,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

​

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UAE Data Office or any other relevant supervisory authority. AZ&Co. Legal encourages you to contact us in the first instance so that we may address your concerns directly.

​

Note: This Cookie Policy should be read alongside the AZ&Co. Legal Privacy Policy.