AFKNIFE

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective date: [01/08/2026]

Last updated: [01/08/2026]

This Privacy Policy explains how AFKnife (“AFKnife,” “AFK,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal data when you visit www.afknife.com (the “Website”), create an account, place an order, or otherwise interact with us, including in our physical store/workshop and via phone, WhatsApp, or email.

AFKnife handcrafts and sells knives, swords, and axes, and retails camping and expedition gear, outdoor equipment, first aid supplies, and multi-tools, from the United Arab Emirates. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (“PDPL”), its executive regulations, and other applicable UAE laws and regulations.

By using the Website or otherwise providing us with personal data, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Website or our services.

1. Who We Are — Data Controller

AFKnife is the data controller responsible for the personal data described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We collect personal data that you provide directly to us, personal data collected automatically when you use the Website, and personal data we receive from third parties.

2.1 Information you provide to us

•     Account details: name, email address, phone number, username and password.

•     Order and billing information: billing and shipping address, order history, and products purchased.

•     Payment information: payment card details or other payment method details, processed via our third-party payment gateway (AFKnife does not store full card numbers).

•     Communications: information you provide when you contact us via the Website, email, phone, or WhatsApp, including customer support and warranty/repair enquiries about knives, swords, axes, and other products.

•     Marketing preferences: your choices about receiving newsletters, offers, and promotions.

•     Age/identity verification, where required for the purchase of certain restricted items such as knives, swords and axes, in line with applicable UAE laws (e.g., confirmation that you are of legal age and purchasing for lawful purposes such as hunting, camping, culinary, or collection use).

2.2 Information collected automatically

•     Device and usage data: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, pages visited, time and date of visit, referring website, and clickstream data.

•     Location data: general location inferred from your IP address or delivery address, used for shipping, currency, and language settings (e.g., AED pricing for UAE visitors).

•     Cookies and similar technologies: as described in our Cookie Policy and Section 9 below.

2.3 Information from third parties

•     Payment processors and banks, to confirm and process transactions.

•     Shipping and logistics partners, to fulfil and track deliveries.

•     Publicly available sources or business partners, where applicable.

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

•     To create and manage your account and process your orders, payments, and deliveries.

•     To provide customer support, respond to enquiries, and handle warranty, repair, or return requests.

•     To verify eligibility for the purchase of age-restricted or regulated items (knives, swords, axes) where required by law.

•     To send transactional communications, such as order confirmations, shipping updates, and service notices.

•     To send marketing communications about products, offers, and promotions, where you have opted in (you may opt out at any time).

•     To personalise your experience on the Website, including currency, language, and product recommendations.

•     To maintain the security of the Website, prevent fraud, and detect and investigate suspicious or unlawful activity.

•     To comply with our legal, regulatory, customs, and tax obligations in the UAE.

•     To analyse and improve the Website, our products, and our services.

4. Legal Bases for Processing

Under the PDPL, we process your personal data on one or more of the following bases:

•     Your consent, which you may withdraw at any time (e.g., for marketing communications and non-essential cookies).

•     Performance of a contract with you, such as processing and delivering your orders.

•     Compliance with a legal obligation, such as tax, customs, or product-safety/regulatory requirements applicable to bladed products.

•     Our legitimate interests, such as preventing fraud, securing the Website, and improving our services, provided these do not override your rights and interests.

5. Sale of Age-Restricted and Regulated Products

Knives, swords, and axes are regulated items under UAE law. Where required, we may collect additional information to verify your age, identity, and the lawful purpose of your purchase, and we may restrict or decline orders, request additional documentation, or report information to competent authorities where required by applicable law. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for further detail on eligibility to purchase such products.

6. How We Share Your Personal Data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your personal data with:

•     Payment service providers and banks, to process transactions securely.

•     Courier and logistics companies, to deliver your orders within the UAE and internationally.

•     IT, hosting, and website service providers (including our e-commerce platform provider), who process data on our behalf.

•     Professional advisers, such as auditors, lawyers, and insurers, where necessary.

•     Government, regulatory, customs, or law enforcement authorities, where required by UAE law, court order, or to protect our legal rights, or in connection with the sale of regulated items such as knives, swords, and axes.

•     A buyer or successor, in the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of all or part of our business.

All third parties who process personal data on our behalf are required to implement appropriate safeguards and to process such data only for the purposes we specify, consistent with the PDPL.

7. International Data Transfers

Your personal data is primarily stored and processed within the United Arab Emirates. Where we use service providers (such as payment gateways, hosting, or IT service providers) located outside the UAE, we will ensure that such transfers comply with the PDPL, including by verifying that the destination country provides an adequate level of protection, or by putting in place appropriate contractual or other safeguards, or by relying on another lawful transfer mechanism (such as your explicit consent) recognised under the PDPL.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy any legal, accounting, tax, customs, or regulatory requirements applicable to the sale of general merchandise and regulated products such as knives, swords, and axes. Order and transaction records are typically retained for the period required under UAE commercial and tax law. When personal data is no longer required, we securely delete, anonymise, or destroy it.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Website uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember your preferences (such as language and currency), keep your cart and wishlist, and, where you consent, measure Website performance and deliver relevant marketing. On your first visit, you can choose “Only essentials” or “I agree” to accept additional cookies. You can also manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect certain Website features. For full details on the types of cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction, including encryption of payment data in transit, restricted access to personal data, and secure hosting arrangements. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Your Rights Under the PDPL

Subject to the conditions and exceptions set out in the PDPL, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

•     Right to be informed about how your personal data is collected and processed.

•     Right to access your personal data and obtain a copy of it.

•     Right to request correction or rectification of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

•     Right to request erasure of your personal data, in certain circumstances.

•     Right to restrict or object to processing of your personal data, including for direct marketing purposes.

•     Right to data portability, where technically feasible.

•     Right to withdraw consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

•     Right to lodge a complaint with the UAE Data Office if you believe your personal data has been processed in violation of the PDPL.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 14 below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request, and we will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.

12. Children's Privacy

The Website and our products, including knives, swords, and axes, are not directed at or intended for use by children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a minor without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete such data.

13. Third-Party Links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites or services (for example, shipping partners or social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of such third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal data to them.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at:

AFKnife

Phone: +971 56 914 2214

Email: ALFKnives@gmail.com

Website: www.afknife.com

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when this Privacy Policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Material changes will, where required by law, be notified to you through the Website or other appropriate means.

This document is a general-purpose template prepared for guidance and has not been reviewed by a UAE-licensed lawyer. AFKnife should have this Privacy Policy reviewed by qualified UAE legal counsel before publication to ensure full compliance with the PDPL, its executive regulations, and any sector-specific rules (including those applicable to the sale of knives, swords, and axes) prior to use.