Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 19 August 2026
The GCC Influencers Awards ("GIA") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal data handled through www.gccinfluencersawards.com, GIA registration systems and official GIA communication channels.
GIA is organized by Floria Information Technology and Business, Commercial Registration No. 1518983, Sultanate of Oman ("GIA", "Organizer", "we", "us" or "our").
This Privacy Policy explains what information we may collect, why we collect it, how it may be used and shared, how long it may be retained and what choices and rights are available to you.
Our handling of personal data is intended to comply with applicable laws and regulations of the Sultanate of Oman, including the Personal Data Protection Law issued under Royal Decree No. 6/2022 and its Executive Regulation issued under Ministerial Decision No. 34/2024.
1. Information We May Collect
Depending on how you interact with GIA, we may collect information including:
Identity and Contact Information
• Full name;
• Nationality;
• Country or place of residence;
• Email address;
• Telephone or WhatsApp number;
• Identification information where required for verification or accreditation;
• Professional title or occupation.
Influencer and Participant Information
Where you apply or register for GIA, we may collect:
• Social media usernames and profile URLs;
• Social media platforms used;
• Follower or audience information;
• Content category;
• Professional biography;
• Submitted photographs and videos;
• Publicly available social media information;
• Previous work or achievements submitted as part of an application;
• Information required to assess eligibility under GIA Rules & Regulations.
Media and Press Information
For media accreditation we may collect:
• Name;
• Media organization;
• Position;
• Contact information;
• Press or media credentials;
• Identification information where required;
• Social media or publication details.
Partner and Sponsor Information
We may process business contact information provided by:
• Sponsors;
• Potential sponsors;
• Universities;
• Partners;
• Suppliers;
• Judges;
• Agencies;
• Media organizations; and
• Other professional contacts.
Technical Information
When you use the Website, certain information may be collected automatically, including:
• IP address;
• Browser type;
• Device information;
• Operating system;
• Website activity;
• Referring pages;
• Session information;
• Security logs; and
• Cookie or similar technology information.
The exact technical information collected depends on the technologies enabled on the Website.
2. How We Collect Information
We may collect information:
• Directly from you;
• Through Website registration or contact forms;
• Through official GIA email, WhatsApp or other communication channels;
• Through media accreditation forms;
• Through nominations and applications;
• Through public voting systems;
• During GIA events, meetings or activities;
• From publicly available professional or social media information where appropriate;
• From authorized representatives, agencies or organizations acting on your behalf; and
• Through Website technologies such as cookies.
3. Why We Process Personal Data
Personal data may be processed for purposes including:
• Processing and verifying registrations;
• Determining participant eligibility;
• Managing nominations and award categories;
• Conducting judging and evaluation;
• Managing public voting;
• Communicating registration status and official announcements;
• Issuing invitations and managing event access;
• Managing judges, media, partners and sponsors;
• Processing press and media accreditation;
• Responding to enquiries;
• Preventing fraud and manipulation;
• Maintaining Website and information security;
• Producing and promoting GIA;
• Publishing approved participant, finalist, judge or winner information;
• Maintaining reasonable event records and archives;
• Fulfilling contractual obligations;
• Complying with legal, regulatory or governmental requirements; and
• Sending promotional or marketing communications where the required consent has been obtained.
We seek to limit personal data processing to information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
4. Consent
Where required by applicable law, GIA will obtain the appropriate consent before processing personal data.
Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent subject to applicable law and without affecting processing lawfully carried out before withdrawal.
Separate consent may be requested for certain activities where required, including marketing communications or particular uses of personal information.
5. Marketing Communications
GIA may send event news, announcements, invitations, opportunities, sponsor information or other promotional communications where permitted and where the necessary consent has been obtained.
Marketing communications may be sent through channels disclosed to you, which may include email, SMS, WhatsApp or similar communication methods.
You may request to stop receiving marketing communications at any time using the available unsubscribe or opt-out mechanism or by contacting GIA through its official contact channels.
Stopping marketing communications will not necessarily prevent operational messages required in connection with an active application, accreditation, event participation, agreement or transaction.
6. Public Information and Award Participants
Certain information relating to confirmed participants, nominees, finalists, judges, speakers or winners may be publicly displayed when appropriate for the Awards.
This may include information such as:
• Name;
• Professional title;
• Social media username;
• Profile photograph;
• Award category;
• Nomination or finalist status;
• Winner status;
• Interviews;
• Approved biography;
• Event photographs or video.
Any such publication will remain subject to applicable law, the applicable GIA participation terms and any relevant consent or contractual arrangements.
7. Photography and Video
GIA events and related activities may be professionally photographed, filmed, recorded or broadcast.
Images and recordings may be processed for legitimate event-related purposes such as event production, news coverage, documentation, promotion, social media, press materials and historical archives, subject to applicable law and any consent or agreement required in the relevant circumstances.
Specific participants may also enter into separate participation, judging, media or promotional arrangements governing the use of their likeness and submitted content.
8. Sharing of Personal Information
GIA does not treat participant databases as public information.
Personal data may nevertheless be disclosed where reasonably necessary to authorized recipients such as:
• GIA team members and authorized personnel;
• Website and technology service providers;
• Hosting and infrastructure providers;
• Registration or voting system providers;
• Professional advisers;
• Production and event service providers;
• Security providers;
• Governmental or regulatory authorities where required;
• Courts or law-enforcement authorities where lawfully required; and
• Other processors or service providers necessary for GIA operations.
Service providers should receive only the information reasonably required for the service they provide and are expected to handle information in accordance with applicable legal and contractual requirements.
GIA does not authorize sponsors or unrelated third parties to freely access the participant database merely because they sponsor or cooperate with the Event.
9. International Data Transfers
Some Website, hosting, communication, analytics or technology providers may process information using infrastructure located outside the Sultanate of Oman.
Where personal data is transferred outside Oman, GIA will seek to apply the requirements of applicable Omani law relating to international personal data transfers and the level of protection provided by the recipient.
10. Data Retention
Personal data is retained only for periods reasonably appropriate to the purpose for which it was collected and taking into account:
• Operational needs;
• Award and event administration;
• Contractual requirements;
• Legal obligations;
• Financial or accounting requirements;
• Security and fraud prevention;
• Potential disputes; and
• Legitimate event archives.
Where information is no longer required and no legal or operational reason justifies continued retention, it may be securely deleted, anonymized or otherwise disposed of in accordance with applicable procedures.
11. Data Security
GIA takes reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information from:
• Unauthorized access;
• Unauthorized disclosure;
• Loss;
• Alteration;
• Misuse;
• Destruction; and
• Other unauthorized processing.
No online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and users should also take appropriate steps to protect their own devices, accounts and credentials.
12. Your Personal Data Rights
Subject to applicable Omani law and any applicable exceptions, you may have rights including the right to:
• Withdraw consent;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request updating of your information;
• Request blocking or suspension of certain processing;
• Request deletion of personal data in applicable circumstances;
• Request a copy of personal data processed about you;
• Request transfer of personal data where applicable; and
• Raise a complaint regarding the processing of your personal data.
Requests should be submitted in writing through an official GIA contact channel.
Where applicable under the Executive Regulation, GIA will respond to qualifying personal-data rights requests within the legally prescribed period.
Identity verification may be required before a request is fulfilled in order to protect personal information against unauthorized disclosure.
13. Children's Personal Data
GIA does not intend to knowingly process a child's personal data contrary to applicable law.
Where personal data relating to a child must be processed, the necessary consent of the child's guardian will be obtained where required, and additional protections applicable under Omani law will be considered.
14. Personal Data Breaches
Where a personal data breach occurs, GIA will assess the incident and take appropriate technical and organizational steps.
Where applicable legal thresholds are met, notifications to the relevant competent authority and affected individuals will be made within the periods required by Omani law.
15. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Website may use cookies and similar technologies to support:
• Essential Website functions;
• Website security;
• User preferences;
• Performance;
• Analytics; and
• Marketing or advertising features where enabled.
Please read the separate Cookie Policy for additional information.
16. Third-Party Websites
The Website may link to external platforms such as social networks, sponsors, partners or other third-party websites.
GIA does not control the privacy practices of independent third parties. Users should review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information to them.
17. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in:
• GIA operations;
• Website technology;
• Services;
• Data-processing activities;
• Applicable laws; or
• Regulatory requirements.
The latest version will be published on the Website with its updated effective date.
18. Contact and Privacy Requests
To request access, correction, deletion, withdrawal of consent or other privacy-related assistance, contact GIA through the official contact information published on:
www.gccinfluencersawards.com
Please include sufficient information for us to identify your request and verify your identity where necessary.
Data Controller / Organizer:
Floria Information Technology and Business
Commercial Registration No. 1518983
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
© GCC Influencers Awards. All rights reserved.