Cookie Policy
Cookie Policy
Effective Date: March 25, 2026 Last Updated: March 25, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Saudi Arabia Housing (“we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on saudiarabiahousing.com (the “Site”), what types of cookies we use, and how you can manage your cookie preferences. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and applies to all visitors regardless of geographic location. Saudi Arabia Housing is operated by The Vanderbilt Portfolio AG.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide information to site owners, and enhance user experience. Cookies serve a variety of functions, from remembering your preferences to enabling core site features and tracking how visitors interact with content.
Cookies can be “session” cookies, which are temporary files deleted when you close your browser, or “persistent” cookies, which remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them manually. Session cookies are used for tasks such as maintaining your browsing state while you navigate between pages, while persistent cookies are used for functions that require data retention across visits, such as remembering your cookie consent preferences.
Cookies can be set by the website you are visiting (“first-party cookies”) or by third parties whose services are integrated into the website (“third-party cookies”). First-party cookies are created directly by saudiarabiahousing.com, while third-party cookies are set by external services such as Google Analytics and Google AdSense that operate on our pages.
2. Legal Framework for Cookie Use
2.1 EU ePrivacy Directive and GDPR
Under the European Union’s ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC, as amended by Directive 2009/136/EC) and the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679), we are required to obtain your informed consent before placing any non-essential cookies on your device. Essential cookies that are strictly necessary for the functioning of the Site do not require consent. The GDPR further requires that consent be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. We satisfy these requirements through our cookie consent banner, which presents clear choices and does not use pre-ticked boxes or dark patterns. You may withdraw consent at any time, and withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
2.2 California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA)
Under the CCPA, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), cookies that collect personal information are subject to disclosure requirements. California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected through cookies, the right to request deletion of that data, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information collected through cookies. For purposes of the CCPA, the information collected by analytics and advertising cookies may constitute “sharing” of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. California residents can opt out of this sharing by rejecting non-essential cookies through our consent banner or by contacting us at info@saudiarabiahousing.com.
2.3 Saudi Arabia Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19, enacted September 2021, enforcement commenced March 2023) governs the processing of personal data within the Kingdom. Under the PDPL, cookies that collect personal data require a clear legal basis for processing. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) oversees compliance. We process cookie data under the legal basis of consent, which you provide through our consent banner. Saudi residents have the right to be informed about cookie-based data collection, to access data collected about them, to request correction or deletion of that data, and to withdraw consent. Data collected through cookies about Saudi residents is handled in accordance with PDPL requirements, including data minimization, purpose limitation, and appropriate security measures.
3. How We Use Cookies
3.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the Site to function and cannot be switched off. They are typically set in response to actions you take, such as setting your cookie consent preferences. Without these cookies, the Site cannot function properly. Essential cookies do not require consent under any applicable privacy law because they are necessary for the provision of the service you have requested.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cc_consent | saudiarabiahousing.com | Stores your cookie consent preferences (analytics and advertising choices) | 12 months | First-party |
3.2 Analytics Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of the Site. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the Site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Analytics cookies provide us with metrics including page views, session duration, bounce rates, geographic distribution of visitors, traffic acquisition channels, and user flow patterns. This data is essential for editorial decision-making, helping us understand which topics resonate with readers and where we should invest further research resources.
These cookies are set only after you provide consent through our cookie consent banner.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. Included in each page request and used to calculate visitor, session, and campaign data. | 2 years | Third-party |
| ga[ID] | Google Analytics 4 | Used to persist session state. Contains a unique identifier for the GA4 property. | 2 years | Third-party |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited. Used to distinguish users within a 24-hour window. | 24 hours | Third-party |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Used to throttle the request rate to Google Analytics, limiting data collection on high-traffic sites to prevent overloading analytics servers. | 1 minute | Third-party |
3.3 Advertising Cookies
These cookies are used by Google AdSense and Google’s advertising network to serve advertisements that are relevant to your interests. They may track your browsing behavior across websites to build an interest profile and show relevant ads on other sites. Advertising revenue generated through these cookies supports the free availability of our editorial content, market intelligence, and data analysis.
These cookies are set only after you provide consent through our cookie consent banner.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| __gads | Google AdSense | Measures interactions with ads displayed on the Site, preventing the same ads from being shown repeatedly. | 13 months | Third-party |
| __gpi | Google Publisher Ads | Used to serve ads on publisher websites within Google’s ad network. | 13 months | Third-party |
| _gcl_au | Google AdSense | Used to store and track conversions. Helps attribute ad interactions to subsequent actions on the site. | 90 days | Third-party |
| IDE | Google DoubleClick | Used to serve targeted advertisements across Google’s ad network based on browsing behavior and inferred interests. | 13 months | Third-party |
| NID | Stores visitor preferences and information to customize ads on Google properties. Helps remember preferences and other information such as preferred language. | 6 months | Third-party | |
| DSID | Used to identify a signed-in user on non-Google sites to respect ad personalization preferences set by the user. | 2 weeks | Third-party | |
| 1P_JAR | Gathers website statistics and tracks conversion rates for Google ads campaigns. | 1 month | Third-party | |
| CONSENT | Tracks the user’s consent status to Google services across multiple Google properties. | 20 years | Third-party | |
| DV | Used for advertising purposes and to provide ad relevance through tracking of user interactions. | Session | Third-party |
4. Google Consent Mode v2
The Site implements Google Consent Mode v2 to manage cookies in compliance with privacy regulations, including the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, CCPA, and PDPL. This system ensures that Google tags respect your privacy preferences and comply with applicable law.
4.1 Default State
When you first visit the Site, all non-essential cookies are blocked by default. The following consent signals are set to “denied”:
- ad_storage: Controls whether advertising cookies can be set on your device.
- ad_user_data: Controls whether user data can be sent to Google for advertising purposes.
- ad_personalization: Controls whether data can be used for ad personalization and remarketing.
- analytics_storage: Controls whether analytics cookies can be set on your device.
This default-denied configuration ensures that no non-essential data collection occurs before you have made an informed choice, satisfying the prior consent requirements under GDPR Article 7, the ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3), and PDPL consent provisions.
4.2 Consent Banner
A cookie consent banner appears at the bottom of the page on your first visit, offering three options:
- Accept All: Grants consent for all cookie categories. All Google tags function fully, enabling complete analytics data collection and personalized advertising.
- Reject Non-Essential: Denies consent for analytics and advertising cookies. Only essential cookies are used. Google tags operate in a privacy-preserving restricted mode.
- Manage Preferences: Opens a detailed panel where you can individually toggle analytics and advertising cookies, allowing granular control over your privacy preferences.
The consent banner has been designed to present all options with equal visual prominence, without using nudging techniques, dark patterns, or deceptive design to influence your choice.
4.3 Consent Persistence
Your consent preferences are stored in your browser’s localStorage under the key “cc_consent.” On subsequent visits, your preferences are automatically restored without showing the consent banner again. This storage mechanism ensures that you are not repeatedly asked to make the same choice, while keeping your preference data entirely on your own device.
4.4 Changing Your Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:
- Clearing your browser’s localStorage for saudiarabiahousing.com, which will cause the consent banner to appear again on your next visit.
- Deleting all cookies from saudiarabiahousing.com in your browser settings, which removes stored cookie data and resets preferences.
- Using your browser’s private or incognito mode for a fresh session with default-denied cookie settings.
We are committed to making preference changes as accessible as possible and never penalizing users for choosing to reject non-essential cookies.
5. Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use the following technologies:
5.1 Web Beacons (Pixel Tags)
Small transparent images embedded in web pages or emails that allow us to track whether content has been accessed. Google AdSense and Google Analytics may use web beacons in conjunction with cookies to measure ad impressions, click-through rates, and content engagement. Web beacons do not store information on your device but transmit data to the requesting server, including your IP address, the time the beacon was viewed, the type of browser used, and information from previously set cookies.
5.2 Local Storage
We use localStorage (a browser feature defined in the W3C Web Storage specification) to store your cookie consent preferences. Unlike cookies, localStorage data is not sent to the server with each HTTP request and has no automatic expiration date. Data stored in localStorage persists until explicitly cleared by you or by our scripts. We use localStorage exclusively for consent management and do not use it for tracking or profiling purposes.
5.3 JavaScript Tags
Google Analytics and Google AdSense use JavaScript tags (also known as tracking scripts or measurement code) to collect data. These tags execute in your browser and communicate with Google’s servers. Under Consent Mode v2, these scripts load in a restricted state by default and only activate full data collection after you grant consent through the consent banner.
5.4 Session Storage
Session storage is similar to localStorage but data is cleared when the browser tab is closed. We may use session storage for temporary functional purposes such as maintaining page state during your browsing session. Session storage data is never transmitted to external servers.
6. Managing Cookies in Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings. You can:
- View cookies: See what cookies are stored on your device, including their names, values, domains, and expiration dates.
- Delete cookies: Remove some or all stored cookies from your device.
- Block cookies: Prevent websites from setting cookies, either globally or on a per-site basis.
- Allow exceptions: Allow cookies from specific sites while blocking others.
Browser-Specific Instructions:
- Google Chrome: Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and other site data. Chrome also offers the option to clear cookies on exit.
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Site Data. Firefox offers Enhanced Tracking Protection with Standard, Strict, and Custom modes.
- Apple Safari: Preferences, then Privacy, then Manage Website Data. Safari blocks cross-site tracking cookies by default through Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP).
- Microsoft Edge: Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, then Cookies and site data. Edge offers Basic, Balanced, and Strict tracking prevention modes.
- Opera: Settings, then Advanced, then Privacy and security, then Cookies and other site data.
Note that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of the Site and other websites you visit. Essential cookies are required for basic site navigation and consent management.
7. Impact of Cookie Choices
7.1 If You Accept All Cookies
All site features function normally. Analytics data helps us improve the Site by revealing which pages are most useful, where readers encounter difficulties, and how traffic flows between sections. You may see personalized advertisements relevant to your interests based on your browsing behavior across websites within Google’s advertising network.
7.2 If You Reject Non-Essential Cookies
The Site functions normally for content consumption. All articles, dashboards, entity profiles, comparisons, glossary entries, and other editorial content remain fully accessible. We cannot collect analytics data to improve the Site, which limits our ability to understand reader preferences and optimize content. Advertisements will be generic (not personalized to your interests) but will still appear, as advertising supports the free availability of our content. Google tags operate in limited mode, collecting only aggregated, non-identifying signals through cookieless pings.
7.3 If You Block All Cookies
Essential site functionality may be affected, particularly consent management. Your consent preferences cannot be saved, so you may see the consent banner on every visit. Core content remains accessible, but your browsing experience may be degraded.
8. Data Retention for Cookie Data
Data collected through cookies is retained for the following periods:
- Essential cookie data (cc_consent): Stored on your device for 12 months. No data is transmitted to our servers.
- Analytics data (Google Analytics): Retained by Google for 14 months from your last interaction, in accordance with our GA4 data retention settings.
- Advertising data (Google AdSense): Retained by Google in accordance with their data retention policies, typically 13 months for most advertising cookies.
- Consent records: We maintain a record of when consent was granted or refused for the duration required by applicable law. Under GDPR, consent records are retained for the duration of the processing activity plus the applicable statute of limitations.
After the retention period expires, data is automatically deleted or anonymized by the respective service provider.
9. International Data Transfers via Cookies
Data collected through third-party cookies (Google Analytics and Google AdSense) may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your jurisdiction, including the United States. Google LLC is based in the United States and processes data under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework for transfers from the European Economic Area, Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, and other appropriate safeguards. For transfers of data belonging to Saudi residents, we ensure compliance with PDPL cross-border transfer requirements, including verifying that the receiving jurisdiction provides adequate data protection or that appropriate contractual safeguards are in place.
10. Children and Cookies
The Site is not directed at children under 16 years of age, and we do not knowingly set cookies on the devices of children. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that their child has provided consent for non-essential cookies, they should contact us at info@saudiarabiahousing.com, and we will take steps to remove the relevant data and reset consent preferences.
11. Third-Party Cookie Policies
For more information about how third parties use cookies and process data collected through them:
- Google Analytics: How Google Uses Information from Sites That Use Google Services
- Google AdSense: Google Advertising Cookies
- Google Privacy: Google Privacy Policy
- Google Ad Settings: Manage Your Ad Preferences
- Cloudflare: Cloudflare Cookie Policy
- Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-Out Tool
- Digital Advertising Alliance: DAA Opt-Out Tool
12. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie 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 policy indicates when it was last revised. Material changes to how we use cookies will be communicated through an updated consent banner that requires you to reaffirm your preferences. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about our cookie practices.
13. Your Rights Regarding Cookie Data
13.1 Under GDPR (EU/EEA Residents)
You have the right to access personal data collected through cookies, request rectification of inaccurate data, request erasure of cookie data, restrict the processing of cookie data, receive cookie data in a portable format, object to processing based on legitimate interests, and withdraw consent at any time. To exercise these rights, contact info@saudiarabiahousing.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.
13.2 Under CCPA/CPRA (California Residents)
California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected through cookies, request deletion of cookie data, opt out of the sharing of personal information for behavioral advertising, and not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights. We do not sell personal information. To exercise these rights, contact info@saudiarabiahousing.com.
13.3 Under PDPL (Saudi Arabia Residents)
Saudi residents have the right to be informed about cookie-based data collection and its purposes, access personal data collected through cookies, request correction of inaccurate data, request destruction of data when it is no longer necessary, and withdraw consent for non-essential cookies. To exercise these rights, contact info@saudiarabiahousing.com.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or wish to exercise any of your rights regarding cookie data, please contact us:
Saudi Arabia Housing Operated by The Vanderbilt Portfolio AG Email: info@saudiarabiahousing.com Website: https://saudiarabiahousing.com/
We will respond to all cookie-related inquiries within 30 days, or sooner as required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before processing requests related to personal data collected through cookies.
For information about how we handle personal data generally, please see our Privacy Policy. For our terms governing site use, see our Terms of Service. For information about our editorial standards and data sourcing, see our Methodology.