Privacy Policy

Salient Formation ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This policy explains what data we collect through our website (salientformation.com), how we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have over it.

1. Information we collect

We collect information in three ways:

Information you give us directly

When you submit a contact form, request a strategy call, download our playbook, or email us, we collect the information you choose to share — typically your name, email address, phone number, country of residence, the nature of your inquiry, and any free-text details you include in messages.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect technical data including your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, the pages you visit, time spent on each page, referring website, and approximate geographic location. This data is collected via cookies and similar tracking technologies, and is anonymous unless combined with information you provide.

Information from third parties

For prospective and engaged clients, we may collect additional information from publicly available sources, business registries, sanctions screening databases, and credit reporting agencies as part of our standard know-your-client (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) procedures.

2. How we use your information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Responding to your inquiry — answering questions, scheduling consultations, and providing the information you requested
• Delivering our services — onboarding, KYC, structuring advisory, formation, compliance, and ongoing client support
• Legal and regulatory compliance — meeting our obligations under UAE law, including AML/CFT, sanctions screening, and economic substance reporting
• Marketing communications — sending you our newsletter, market updates, or relevant insights (only if you have opted in; you can unsubscribe at any time)
• Service improvement — analytics on how our website is used, so we can improve content and user experience
• Security and fraud prevention — protecting our website and clients from unauthorized access or fraudulent activity

3. Lawful basis for processing

We process personal information based on one or more of the following legal bases: your consent (which you can withdraw at any time), the performance of a contract with you, our legitimate interests in operating our advisory practice, and our compliance with legal obligations under UAE and international law.

4. Who we share your information with

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only as necessary:

• Service providers — Formspree (form submissions), Google Analytics (anonymous usage data), Calendly (meeting scheduling), our email and CRM platforms, our accounting and tax advisors, and cloud storage providers — all bound by confidentiality and data-protection obligations
• Regulators and authorities — where we are required by law to disclose information to the UAE Federal Tax Authority, central bank, or other competent authority
• Professional advisers — when you engage us for advisory work, we may share relevant information with counsel, banks, registered agents, and free zone authorities to deliver the engagement
• Successors — if our business is sold, merged, or restructured, your information may transfer to the successor entity, subject to this policy

5. International data transfers

Some of our service providers and partners are located outside the UAE. Where personal information is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place — including standard contractual clauses, adequacy decisions, or your explicit consent — consistent with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL).

6. Data retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law. Inquiry data is retained for 24 months unless you become a client. Client records are retained for a minimum of seven years after the end of the engagement, in line with UAE record-keeping obligations.

7. Your rights

Subject to UAE law and applicable foreign regulations, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your information (subject to our legal retention obligations)
• Object to or restrict certain processing activities
• Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
• Lodge a complaint with the UAE Data Office or other competent supervisory authority

To exercise any of these rights, email us at business@salientformation.com. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies and tracking

We use cookies to operate our website, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors interact with our content. Essential cookies are required for the site to function. Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) help us measure traffic and performance — these can be disabled in your browser settings without affecting site functionality.

9. Security

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach affecting your information, we will notify you and the relevant authority as required by law.

10. Children's privacy

Our services are not directed to anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

11. Updates to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The "last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent version. Material changes will be communicated by email to clients or a notice on the website.

12. Contact us

For questions about this policy or our privacy practices, contact: