Privacy Policy

Koottar ("we", "us", "our") is a hyperlocal book-sharing platform operated in UAE. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect your personal information when you use our website, app and services. By registering or using Koottar, you agree to this policy.

We take your privacy seriously. We will never sell your data to third parties for their independent use. Where we share data, it is to operate the platform, personalise your experience, or as described in this policy.

1. Information we collect

Information you give us

Your name, email address and phone number when you register
Your location (neighbourhood or GPS coordinates) to show you books nearby
Books you list — title, ISBN, condition, price or lending terms
Messages you send to other users through our in-app chat
Your wishlist, reading history and discussion posts
Whether you have books to share (collected at registration)

Information we collect automatically

Device type, browser, operating system and IP address
Pages you visit, features you use, and time spent on each
Search terms and books you browse or enquire about
Location data when you use location-based features

2. How we use your information

We use your information to:

Create and manage your account and provide the Koottar service
Show you books available within your chosen radius
Suggest nearby Spaces and bookstores relevant to your interests
Send you notifications about books on your wishlist or discussions you follow
Facilitate book exchanges between users, including sharing contact details where necessary (see Section 4)
Send reminders to lenders and borrowers about return dates
Improve and personalise your experience on the platform

Marketing and personalisation

We may use your data — including your reading interests, wishlist, location and activity on the platform — to send you personalised recommendations, promotional communications and marketing messages from Koottar or its sister concerns. These may include new features, partner offers from Spaces, bookstore promotions, and reading events near you.

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" in any email we send, or by contacting us at hello@koottar.com. Opting out of marketing does not affect service-related communications.

3. Sharing your information

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

With other Koottar users — your display name, general neighbourhood and book listings are visible to users within your radius. Your phone number and full contact details are only shared as described in Section 4.
With Koottar sister concerns — we may share your data with entities under common ownership or control with Koottar, for the purpose of improving and personalising your experience across our products and services.
With Space partners and bookstores — anonymised and aggregated data about reader interests and visit patterns may be shared with partner venues. We do not share individual personal data with Spaces or bookstores without your consent.
For legal reasons — we may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental authority in the UAE or applicable jurisdiction.
Service providers — we work with trusted third-party service providers (hosting, analytics, email) who process data on our behalf and are bound by confidentiality agreements.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

4. Book exchanges and contact sharing

Koottar is a facilitator of book exchanges. When two users agree to exchange a book, we may share the contact details provided at registration (name and phone number) with the book owner if they request it — for example, to confirm a meetup or arrange return of a lent book.

To help ensure books are returned on time, Koottar will send automated reminder messages to both the lender and the borrower as the agreed return date approaches.

By registering and listing a book, you consent to your contact details being shared with the other party in a confirmed exchange if and when requested for the purpose of completing that exchange.

5. Data retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active, or as needed to provide our services. If you close your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 90 days, except where we are required to retain it by law or for legitimate business purposes such as resolving disputes.

6. Your rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
Opt out of marketing communications at any time
Withdraw consent for location-based features at any time through your device settings

To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@koottar.com.

7. Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your personal data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure storage and access controls. No system is completely secure — if you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Continued use of Koottar after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact us

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:

Koottar
Email: hello@koottar.com
UAE