Acceptable Use & Reviews Policy
A trustworthy space for businesses, visitors and honest feedback.
1. Lawful participation
Use SAHIBAT to discover, represent or contact genuine businesses for lawful purposes. Follow applicable laws and relevant UAE content and advertising standards. You remain responsible for conduct you authorise.
2. Prohibited conduct
- Impersonation, fake businesses, fabricated qualifications, scams, counterfeit goods or deceptive offers.
- Threats, harassment, discriminatory abuse, exploitation, doxxing or unlawful disclosure of private information.
- Malware, phishing, credential theft, unauthorised access or interference with security controls.
- Contact harvesting, unlawful bulk messaging, misuse of purchased contact lists or evasion of opt-outs.
- Fake reviews, undisclosed material connections, review exchanges or coordinated rating manipulation.
- Review extortion or reporting abuse intended to suppress a competitor.
- Manipulation of ranking, referrals or moderation through bots, duplicate accounts or false evidence.
3. Genuine reviews
Where reviews are enabled, describe your own genuine experience with the business. Make clear whether you purchased, attended, enquired or otherwise interacted. Separate verifiable facts from opinion.
Disclose ownership, employment, family, affiliate or other material relationships. An owner or employee must not pose as an independent customer.
An incentivised review is permitted only where lawful, clearly disclosed and honest, with no requirement for a positive score. We may prohibit particular incentive schemes to protect reliability.
4. Criticism and business responses
A low rating or lawful critical account is not removed simply because a business objects or purchases a higher package. Prohibited personal data, threats, impersonation and other breaches may be removed regardless of sentiment.
Businesses may respond professionally and correct relevant facts, but must not expose customer records or retaliate against reviewers. Where facts are contested, we may seek evidence or add context rather than automatically accepting one party’s version.
5. Review invitations and paid influence
Do not offer rewards conditional on a positive review or the removal of a truthful complaint. Do not present a selectively filtered set of positive feedback as a complete, independent record.
Commercial connections and paid placements must be disclosed where relevant. No affiliate, salesperson or member may promise a guaranteed rating, removal of competitors or immunity from moderation.
6. Moderation and enforcement
Reports, staff review and proportionate technical checks may be used to identify abuse. Responses may include a correction request, content restriction, suspension or termination for serious or repeated breaches.
Urgent legal, security or safety risks may require immediate action. Where appropriate, we will explain the reason and allow a response. We do not promise to pre-screen every item or determine contested facts as a court would.
Enforcement remains subject to our legal obligations and commitments concerning paid services.
7. Reports and appeals
Contact support with the exact URL, issue and relevant evidence. Identify whether the report concerns a listing, review, content or account. Do not unnecessarily circulate disputed private data.
An affected person may request reconsideration through the complaints process. Good-faith reporting or appeal is not grounds for retaliation and does not prevent contacting a competent authority.