Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Gulf Trade Portal is a B2B cross-border trade matchmaking platform operated by Excorp Distribution B.V. We connect importers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with verified suppliers, exporters, and logistics providers from Europe, the United States, Asia, and beyond. As the data controller, we are responsible for deciding how and why your personal data is processed.

2. Information we collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, as well as limited information collected automatically when you use the platform.

Information you provide

• Account & registration data: company name, contact name, email address, country, business sector, and company type.
• Trade requests & offers: details of products you wish to import or export, including quantities, specifications, and any images you upload.
• Freight quote requests: shipping origin and destination, cargo type, volume, and contact details.
• Verification (KYB) data: business registration details and documents you submit for company verification.
• Communications: any messages, enquiries, or correspondence you send to us.
• Payment data: when you purchase a paid plan or advertising, payment is processed by our third-party payment provider; we do not store full card details.

Information collected automatically

• Usage data: pages visited, features used, and general interaction with the platform.
• Device & technical data: IP address, browser type, and device information.
• Local storage: we use browser local storage to remember preferences such as your language selection and session state.

3. How we use your information

We use your personal data to:

• Create and manage your account and company listing;
• Match your trade requests and offers with relevant counterparties;
• Route freight quote requests to verified logistics partners;
• Verify the legitimacy of companies on the platform (KYB);
• Process payments for subscriptions and advertising;
• Communicate with you about your account, requests, and platform updates;
• Improve and secure the platform;
• Comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.

4. Legal basis for processing

Under the GDPR, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

• Contract: to provide the services you register for and request;
• Legitimate interests: to operate, secure, and improve the platform, and to facilitate trade connections, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights;
• Consent: where you have given consent, such as for marketing communications or non-essential cookies;
• Legal obligation: where processing is necessary to comply with the law.

5. How we share information

Gulf Trade Portal is a matchmaking platform, so by design some of your information is shared to facilitate trade connections:

• With other platform members: when you post a trade request or offer, or respond to one, relevant company and contact details may be shared with the matched counterparty so they can contact you.
• With logistics partners: when you submit a freight quote request, your request details are shared with up to three verified logistics providers so they can quote.
• With service providers: we use trusted third parties for hosting, payment processing, email delivery, and analytics. These providers process data only on our instructions.
• For legal reasons: where required by law, regulation, or valid legal process.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties, and we do not display third-party advertising networks that track you across the web. Advertising on the platform is limited to sponsored placements by verified members, which are clearly labelled.

6. International data transfers

Because we connect parties across the GCC, Europe, the United States, and Asia, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Where we transfer data internationally, we take steps to ensure an adequate level of protection, such as relying on adequacy decisions or appropriate safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses.

7. Data retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterwards to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time (see Your Rights below).

8. Your rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
• Rectification: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data;
• Erasure: ask us to delete your data ("right to be forgotten");
• Restriction: ask us to limit how we use your data;
• Portability: request your data in a portable format;
• Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing;
• Withdraw consent: withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@gulftradeportal.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In the Netherlands, this is the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Dutch Data Protection Authority).

9. Cookies and tracking

We use a minimal set of cookies and similar technologies (including browser local storage) to make the platform function and to remember your preferences, such as your language selection. We may use privacy-friendly analytics to understand how the platform is used. Where required, we will ask for your consent to non-essential cookies. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

10. Data security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and secure third-party processors. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last updated" date at the top indicates when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact:

Excorp Distribution B.V. (trading as Gulf Trade Portal)
Email: info@gulftradeportal.com
KVK No. 96822945 · Dordrecht, Netherlands