Effective date: 01/01/2026Last updated: 12/04/2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Saudi ICT Shopper News (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit saudishopper.com.sa (the “Site”) in English or Arabic. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control them.
This policy is published under the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files stored in your browser when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember your actions and preferences (such as language or login state) over time. We also refer in this policy to similar technologies such as local storage, pixels, and JavaScript-based trackers that perform the same function.
2. Categories of cookies we use
We group cookies into three categories. Only “Essential” cookies run by default. Analytics and marketing cookies are blocked until you grant consent through the banner shown on your first visit.
2.1 Essential cookies (always on)
These are strictly necessary for the Site to function. They cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
lang |
Remembers your selected language (EN/AR) so the language switcher works between visits. | 12 months |
ss_consent |
Stores your cookie consent choices so the banner doesn’t reappear on every page. | 12 months |
wordpress_logged_in_* |
Keeps you signed in if you log into the WordPress backend (editors and administrators only). | Session / 14 days if “Remember me” |
wp-settings-* |
Stores WordPress admin UI preferences (editors only). | 12 months |
Cloudflare security cookies (e.g. __cf_bm) |
Bot detection and abuse prevention on the edge. | Up to 30 minutes (rotating) |
2.2 Analytics cookies (optional, blocked by default)
These help us understand which articles are read, which sections perform well, and how visitors arrive at the Site. They never identify you personally; data is aggregated.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga, ga* |
Google Analytics 4 | Distinguishes unique visitors and sessions in aggregated reports. IP addresses are masked. | 13 months |
We use Google Analytics 4 with the following privacy settings: IP anonymization on, Google signals off, ad personalization off, data retention 14 months.
2.3 Marketing & advertising cookies (optional, blocked by default)
We do not currently run advertising networks. If we add advertising or affiliate tracking in the future, this section will be updated and your consent will be requested again before any marketing cookie fires.
2.4 Third-party embeds
Articles may embed content from third parties — for example, X (Twitter) posts and YouTube videos. These embeds can set their own cookies and read browser information.
To respect your privacy, we block these embeds by default. You will see a placeholder card with a “Load content” button. Clicking it loads the embed and consents to that embed setting cookies on a per-instance basis. If you accept analytics cookies via the banner, embeds are unlocked globally.
Third parties that may set cookies through embeds:
- X Corp (formerly Twitter) — via
platform.twitter.com/platform.x.com - Google LLC / YouTube — via
youtube.com,youtu.be,youtube-nocookie.com
Their cookies are governed by their own privacy policies, which we do not control.
3. Your choices
You can change your preferences at any time:
- Cookie banner — appears on your first visit and offers Accept all / Reject non-essential / Customize options. The Reject button is given equal prominence to Accept.
- Cookie settings link — available in the site footer at all times. Click “Cookie Settings” to re-open the banner and change your choices.
- Browser controls — all modern browsers let you block or delete cookies. See the help section of your browser for instructions.
If you reject non-essential cookies, the Site remains fully functional but third-party embeds will require a click-through each time.
4. Consent record (audit log)
When you make a choice through the banner, we record:
- A one-way hash of your IP address (using HMAC-SHA256). The original IP is never stored.
- Your browser user-agent string (truncated to 500 characters).
- The choices you made (analytics yes/no, marketing yes/no).
- The page you were on (truncated to 500 characters).
- The timestamp.
- The cookie banner version.
This record is kept for 24 months as evidence of your consent under PDPL and GDPR. It is stored on our servers in the European Union and is not shared with third parties. You can request deletion at any time (see Section 7).
5. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
The Site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal where supported. If your browser sends a GPC header, we treat it as a “Reject non-essential” choice until you override it through our banner. We currently do not act on the older “Do Not Track” header because it has no consensus interpretation.
6. Children
The Site is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us using the details below and we will delete it.
7. Your rights
Under PDPL (if you are in Saudi Arabia) and GDPR (if you are in the European Economic Area or UK), you have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Request correction or deletion
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Lodge a complaint with the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) or your local data protection authority
To exercise these rights, email [email protected].
8. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will increment the cookie banner version (ss_consent.v), which will re-prompt you for consent on your next visit. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page always reflects the current version.
9. Contact
Saudi ICT Shopper News Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Email: [email protected] Press: [email protected]