1. 2. WHAT ARE COOKIES?
  2. 2.1.A “cookie” is a small text file that is placed and stored on your browser or device by a website or online platform when you visit it. Cookies retain a record that your device has accessed a website, enabling website operators to distinguish your activities from those of other users and to maintain continuity across browsing sessions. They assist our systems in recognising your browser and collecting information about your preferences and browsing behaviour, allowing us to deliver a more personalised and efficient user experience by making it easier and faster for you to navigate our Digital Platforms.

  3. 2.2.Cookies also help us understand how you arrived at our Digital Platforms (for example, via a search engine, social media platform, or direct link) and which elements are most popular with our users. Cookies are text-based—they do not execute programs, install software, or access any other files or personal information on your device other than what you choose to share with us. It is important to note that, for security reasons, you must still log in each time you access areas of our Digital Platforms that require registration, irrespective of any saved cookies. We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal data unless you have provided explicit consent pursuant to our Privacy Policy.
  1. 3. USAGE OF COOKIES
  2. 3.1.We use cookies and similar technologies on our Digital Platforms for the following purposes. The specific cookies deployed, their providers, and their retention periods are set out in our cookie consent tool, which you may access via the “Cookie settings” link:
    • Authentication: To enable you to log in securely to our Digital Platforms, maintain your session across page visits, and to facilitate secure checkout functionality where applicable.
    • User Experience Enhancement: To retain your preferences and settings (which may include language, region, and display options) for subsequent visits to our Digital Platforms, thereby providing a more seamless and personalised experience.
    • Performance Improvement: To analyse how our Digital Platforms are accessed and utilised, including identifying technical issues and measuring page load times, in order to optimise functionality, performance, and overall user satisfaction.
    • Content Personalisation: To provide customised recommendations, content, and advertisements tailored to your browsing behaviour, interests, and demographic profile, thereby enhancing the relevance of your experience on our Digital Platforms.
    • Security: To protect your account, detect and prevent unauthorised access, identify suspicious or anomalous activity, and safeguard against fraudulent, malicious, or abusive activities on our Digital Platforms.
  1. 4. TYPES OF COOKIES
  2. 4.1.First-party and third-party cookies: Whether a cookie is classified as “first-party” or “third-party” refers to the domain placing the cookie. First-party cookies are those set directly by the Website that is being visited by the user at the time (e.g., Etihad Rail’s own Digital Platforms). Third-party cookies are cookies that are set whilst visiting Etihad Rail’s Digital Platforms by an entity other than Etihad Rail, such as analytics providers, advertising networks, or social media platforms. Our Digital Platforms may include cookies from such third-party providers that operate independently of Etihad Rail. While we carefully select the third parties we work with, the collection and processing of data through their cookies is governed by their own privacy policies and terms of use, over which we have no control. Where such third-party partners process your personal data outside the UAE, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place as described in our Privacy Policy. You may review the list of our third-party cookie partners via the “Cookie Settings” link.
  3. 4.2.Persistent cookies: These cookies remain on a user’s device for the period of time specified in the cookie or until they are manually deleted by the user. They are activated each time the user visits the Digital Platforms that created the particular cookie. The retention periods for each persistent cookie are specified in our cookie consent tool, accessible via the “Cookie settings” link.
  4. 4.3.Session cookies: These cookies allow website operators to link the actions of a user during a single browser session. A browser session commences when a user opens the browser window and terminates when the browser window is closed. Session cookies are created temporarily and do not persist on your device; once you close the browser, all session cookies are automatically deleted. These cookies are essential for ensuring continuity during your use of our Digital Platforms.
  1. 5. PURPOSE OF COOKIES
  2. 5.1.Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are strictly necessary for the proper functioning of our Digital Platforms and cannot be switched off in our systems. They facilitate core functionalities including, but not limited to, secure authentication, session management, form submission processing, inter-page navigation, preservation of session integrity, and remembering items in your shopping basket. Additionally, these cookies enable compliance with mandatory legal obligations under applicable laws and regulations. In the absence of these cookies, certain components of our Digital Platforms may not function as intended. These cookies do not collect personally identifiable information for marketing purposes and are deployed automatically, without requiring prior consent, in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
  3. 5.2.Performance and Analytics Cookies: These cookies facilitate our understanding of user interactions with our Digital Platforms through the collection of statistical data, including but not limited to page views, duration of engagement per page, click patterns, scroll depth, loading times, system errors, and traffic sources. The data collected is aggregated and anonymised where technically feasible, and is utilised exclusively to enhance the functionality, performance, and user experience of our Digital Platforms, as well as the relevance of the content provided. These cookies are not employed to directly identify individuals. We may use third-party analytics providers (such as Google Analytics) to assist with this analysis.
  4. 5.3.Functionality Cookies: Functionality cookies enable our Digital Platforms to retain user preferences and settings in order to provide a more personalised experience. This includes, but is not limited to, the retention of language selections, region and location settings, display preferences, accessibility options, and information previously entered into forms. These cookies may also be utilised to support live chat features, embedded video players, or other interactive tools that enhance user convenience. Information obtained from functionality cookies is used solely for the features and purposes described in this section and is not shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
  5. 5.4.Targeting and Advertising Cookies: These cookies are employed to deliver content and advertisements that are more relevant to user interests. They monitor browsing behaviour across websites to compile a profile of user preferences and may limit the frequency with which the same advertisement is displayed (frequency capping). These cookies also facilitate the measurement of marketing campaign effectiveness and may be placed by third-party advertising partners. Information collected through these cookies may be shared with third parties for the purposes of delivering targeted advertisements.
  6. 5.5.Managing Cookies: You may grant or withdraw consent for each non‑essential cookie category through our cookie banner or the “Cookie Settings” link available at the bottom of every page on our Digital Platforms. Your preferences will be honoured and may be amended at any time. If you withdraw your consent, non-essential cookies will be removed from your browser and we will cease processing the associated data without undue delay. Upon providing your consent, we shall store a cookie on your device to retain a record of your preferences for subsequent visits, and your consent shall remain valid for a period aligned with applicable law and our internal policies. Should you wish to ascertain the date on which you provided your consent, please contact us.
  7. 5.6.In addition to our cookie banner, you can control, block, or delete cookies directly through your web browser. Most browsers allow you to view cookies stored on your device, delete them individually or all at once, and configure settings to refuse cookies from specific or all websites. These settings are typically located within the “Options” or “Preferences” menu of your browser. The following links may assist you:
  8. (a)Cookie settings in Edge

  9. (b)Cookie settings in Firefox
  10. (c)Cookie settings in Chrome
  11. (d)Cookie settings in Safari
  12. 5.7.You have the right to refuse or disable cookies at any time. However, please be aware that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your experience on our Digital Platforms and limit your ability to access certain features, depending on the category of cookies you choose to disable:
  13. (a)Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential for the Digital Platforms to function. If you block these cookies, certain parts of the Digital Platforms may not operate correctly, and we cannot guarantee your use of the Digital Platforms or the performance of security features during your visit.
  14. (b).Performance and Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Digital Platforms. If you block these cookies, we will be unable to measure or improve the performance of our Digital Platforms based on your usage, which may result in a less optimised experience.
  15. (c)Functional Cookies: These cookies allow the Digital Platforms to remember choices you make (such as language or region). If you block these cookies, some personalised features may not work, and you may need to re-enter your preferences each time you visit.
  16. (d)Targeting and Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used to deliver content and advertisements that are relevant to your interests. If you block these cookies, you will still see advertising, but it may be less relevant to you.
  1. 6. AMENDMENTS
  2. 6.1.We may amend this Cookie Policy from time to time, with immediate effect, in order to comply with applicable laws, reflect changes in our data practices, or to meet our evolving business requirements. Where local regulations require, we will obtain your consent for any new uses of cookies. The date on which this Cookie Policy was last updated is indicated below. We encourage you to review this page regularly to remain informed of any changes.
  3. 6.2.Our Cookie Policy is effective as of 30 May 2026 (the “Cookie Policy Effective Date”).

  1. 7. QUESTIONS
  2. Should you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or the manner in which we use cookies, please contact us at: support@etihadrail.ae. For general data protection enquiries you should first consult our Privacy Policy to obtain further information regarding your privacy rights, and you may contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) at: dpo@etihadrail.ae. Further information regarding your privacy rights is available in our Privacy Policy.