Protecting your confidentiality and data with elite-level security standards.
Welcome to Elite & Co ("we," "our," "us"), a premium executive recruitment agency with operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the data controller under UAE's Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL), we determine the purposes and means of processing your personal data. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the highest level of confidentiality for your personal information in compliance with the PDPL and other applicable laws.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our executive staffing services through our website and related platforms. It applies to data subjects in the UAE and reflects our practices as a global agency handling sensitive professional data.
Confidentiality Commitment: At Elite & Co, we operate under strict confidentiality agreements. Your personal and professional information is treated with the highest level of discretion, mirroring the elite standards we apply to all our services, in full alignment with PDPL principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.
When you apply for positions or register as a candidate with Elite & Co, we may collect (with a valid lawful basis under PDPL Article 5):
When engaging our staffing services, we may collect (with a valid lawful basis under PDPL Article 5):
We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website (lawful basis: necessary for our legitimate operations under PDPL):
| Purpose | Lawful Basis (PDPL Art. 5) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Talent Placement | Contract / Consent | To match candidates with appropriate positions and present qualified candidates to clients |
| Service Provision | Contract | To deliver our staffing services and manage our relationship with clients |
| Verification | Legal Obligation / Consent (for sensitive data) | To verify qualifications, experience, and background information |
| Communication | Contract / Consent | To communicate regarding opportunities, interviews, and placements |
| Legal Compliance | Legal Obligation | To comply with legal obligations and industry regulations, including PDPL |
| Security | Legal Obligation | To maintain the security and integrity of our systems |
Special Note on Sensitive Data: We only collect sensitive personal data (e.g., background or health information under PDPL) with your explicit consent and only when necessary for specific placements.
We maintain strict control over your personal information as the data controller. Disclosure only occurs under limited circumstances, in compliance with PDPL Articles 13-15:
We share candidate information with potential employers only after obtaining explicit consent from the candidate for each specific opportunity.
We engage trusted third-party processors bound by PDPL-compliant contracts for:
We may disclose information when required by law, such as:
As required by PDPL Article 7, we implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:
Confidentiality Training: All Elite & Co staff undergo comprehensive confidentiality training and sign binding non-disclosure agreements to ensure your information remains protected. In case of a data breach, we will notify the UAE Data Office immediately upon awareness (per PDPL Article 21) and affected data subjects if the breach poses a high risk to privacy.
Under PDPL Article 13, as a data subject, you have the following rights, which we honor promptly (typically within one month):
| Right | Description |
|---|---|
| Access | Request confirmation of processing and access to your personal information |
| Correction | Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information |
| Deletion | Request deletion of your personal information ("right to be forgotten") |
| Restriction | Request restriction of processing (e.g., during verification) |
| Portability | Request transfer of your data to another organization in a structured format |
| Objection | Object to processing (including profiling) |
| Withdraw Consent | Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is consent-based), without affecting prior lawfulness |
To exercise these rights or lodge a complaint, contact our Data Protection Officer. You may also complain to the UAE Data Office if unsatisfied with our response.
Per PDPL Article 6 (storage limitation), we retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined, or as required/permitted by law:
As a global staffing agency, we may transfer your personal information outside the UAE (PDPL Article 23). Transfers occur only with appropriate safeguards, including:
For privacy-related inquiries, rights exercises, or complaints, please contact our Data Protection Officer (appointed per PDPL Article 10 for high-risk processing):
Data Protection Officer
Elite & Co
Office 1501, The Gate Building, DIFC, Dubai, UAE
Email: dpo@elite-co.com
Phone: +971 4 123 4567
UAE Data Office: For regulatory complaints, visit u.ae or contact via their portal.
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements, including PDPL executive regulations. Material changes will be notified via website posting and email (where we have your consent). We encourage regular review.
