Privacy Policy for Grand Aquarium Hurghada

Last Updated: September 02, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how Grand Aquarium Hurghada (referred to as "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you interact with our services. Grand Aquarium Hurghada is a public aquarium located in Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt, at Km 12 Safaga road, near the Magawish Village resort. Our mission is to offer visitors unrivalled savings at a selection of hand-picked luxurious attractions, creating unforgettable experiences. We house more than 1,200 animals representing 100 species in 24 different galleries, including an Ocean tank with 475,000 gallons of water, a mini zoo featuring rescued animals from regions across Egypt, and notable specimens such as sandbar sharks, tiger sharks, nurse sharks, stingrays, green sea turtles, shovel nose guitar sharks, eagle rays, and blacktip sharks.

Our services include our website (hurghadaaquarium.com), ticket bookings, educational programs, dive with sharks experiences, and customer support via our WhatsApp chatbot integrated with the WhatsApp Business API. By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This policy is designed to comply with applicable laws, including the Egyptian Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 151 of 2020), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU users, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and Meta's requirements for app integrations.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

• Email: info@hurghadaaquarium.com
• Phone: (+2) 01116181117
• Address: Grand Aquarium Hurghada, Km 12 Safaga road, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt

1. Interpretation and Definitions

Interpretation

Words with initial capitalization have specific meanings defined below. These definitions apply regardless of whether they appear in singular or plural form.

Definitions

Account: A unique account created for you to access our services or parts of our services, such as booking tickets or accessing educational content.

Company (referred to as "the Company", "We", "Us", or "Our"): Grand Aquarium Hurghada, a nonprofit organization inspired by conservation and education, founded by Magdy Faik Abdul-Latif, Ali Abdel-Razek Abdel-Moneim, and Mohamed Ahmed Taha, with a total investment of EGP 360 million.

Cookies: Small files placed on your device by our website to track browsing history and enhance user experience.

Data Controller (under GDPR): The Company, as we determine the purposes and means of processing Personal Data.

Device: Any device used to access our services, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Personal Data: Any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, such as name, phone number, email, or location data. Under GDPR, this includes any information relating to your identity; under CCPA, it includes information that could be linked to you.

Service Provider: Third parties we use to facilitate our services, such as Meta for WhatsApp integration or hosting providers like Hostinium for our chatbot infrastructure.

Usage Data: Data collected automatically, such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited.

Website: Our official site at hurghadaaquarium.com.

You: The individual accessing or using our services, or the company or legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing the services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide, maintain, and improve our services, which focus on marine education, conservation, and visitor experiences at our aquarium.

2.1 Personal Data

While using our services, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. This includes:

• Contact Information: Phone number (required for WhatsApp interactions), email address (for bookings or newsletters), name, and mailing address.
• Booking and Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address, and transaction history for ticket purchases or dive experiences (processed securely via third-party providers).
• Inquiry Data: Content of messages sent via WhatsApp, such as questions about ticket prices, exhibit details, or F.A.Q.s (e.g., "What are the ticket prices for groups?").
• Demographic Information: Age, nationality, or preferences (optional, for personalized experiences like family tours).

2.2 Usage Data

Usage Data is collected automatically when using our services:

• Website Usage: IP address, browser type, version, pages visited, time and date of visit, time spent on pages, unique device identifiers, and diagnostic data.
• WhatsApp Usage: Timestamps, message IDs, and interaction metadata from the WhatsApp Business API.
• Device Information: Type of mobile device, unique ID, IP address, operating system, and browser type.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from Meta when you interact with our WhatsApp chatbot, including your phone number and message content, to facilitate responses.

2.4 Information Collected from Children

Our services are not directed to children under 13 (or equivalent age under applicable laws). If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without parental consent, we take steps to remove that information.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use Personal Data for the following purposes:

• To Provide and Maintain Our Services: Including processing ticket bookings, responding to inquiries via WhatsApp, and managing aquarium visits.
• To Manage Your Account: To allow you to participate in interactive features, such as group bookings or dive with sharks programs.
• For Contract Performance: To fulfill bookings, provide educational content, and support conservation efforts.
• To Contact You: Via email, phone, SMS, or WhatsApp for updates on exhibits, events, or promotions (with your consent).
• To Provide News and Offers: Special deals on luxurious attractions, based on your preferences.
• To Manage Requests: Such as attending to your inquiries or complaints.
• For Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred.
• For Other Purposes: Data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining marketing effectiveness, and evaluating our services.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your Personal Data in the following situations:

• With Service Providers: To monitor usage, analyze data, process payments, or host our chatbot (e.g., Hostinium for n8n infrastructure).
• With Meta: For WhatsApp Business API operations, including message delivery and compliance. We link to Meta's WhatsApp Business Privacy Policy for details on their handling.
• For Business Transfers: To a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger or acquisition.
• With Affiliates: Subject to this Privacy Policy.
• With Business Partners: To offer promotions or joint events.
• With Your Consent: For any other purpose with your explicit consent.
• With Law Enforcement: If required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5. Retention of Your Personal Data

We will retain your Personal Data only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax laws), resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period, except when used to strengthen security or improve functionality.

6. Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information may be processed in Egypt or other locations outside your jurisdiction, where data protection laws may differ. We ensure adequate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, for international transfers to maintain data security.

7. Security of Your Personal Data

The security of your Personal Data is important to us, but no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We use commercially acceptable means, including encryption for WhatsApp messages and secure servers for website data, to protect your Personal Data.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request details of your Personal Data.
• Rectification: Update or correct inaccuracies.
• Erasure: Request deletion under certain conditions.
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing.
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured format.
• Withdraw Consent: At any time, without affecting prior processing.

For CCPA-specific rights (California residents):

• Opt-out of the sale of Personal Data (we do not sell data).
• Request disclosure of data collected and shared.

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@hurghadaaquarium.com. We respond within 30 days (extendable under law).

9. Children's Privacy

Our services do not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with Personal Data, contact us for removal.

10. Links to Other Websites

Our services may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., Meta's policies). We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• By email: info@hurghadaaquarium.com
• By phone: (+2) 01116181117
• By mail: Grand Aquarium Hurghada, Km 12 Safaga road, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt

This Privacy Policy was created to ensure transparency and compliance in our operations, supporting our commitment to marine conservation and visitor education.