Shadi Markaz is a matrimonial and wedding-services platform. We collect only the information needed to help you find a compatible life partner safely, we never sell it, and you stay in control of who sees your profile.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, who we share it with, how long we keep it and the rights you have over it. Please read it together with our Terms of Service. By creating an account or using our website you acknowledge the practices described here. Shadi Markaz (“Shadi Markaz”, “we”, “us” or “our”) operates the website at shadimarkaz.com, including the matrimonial profile directory, member and bureau dashboards, messaging, membership plans and wedding hall reservations (together, the “Service”). For the purposes of data protection law, we are the controller of the personal data described in this policy. This policy applies to everyone who uses the Service: individual members looking for a partner, parents and relatives who help them, marriage bureaus and their clients, wedding venue enquirers, and visitors who simply browse our pages. In shortWe collect what you give us when you build your profile, what is created when you use the Service, and basic technical data from your device. We do not store full debit or credit card numbers on our servers. If you contact us by email, phone or WhatsApp, we keep a record of that conversation so we can help you and improve our support. In shortReligion, sect, caste, ethnicity and health or disability details are optional, used only for matchmaking and removable at any time. Finding a life partner often involves details that the law treats as sensitive, such as your religion, sect, caste or biradari, ethnicity, prayer habits, and any disability or health information you choose to share. We collect these details only when you decide to add them to your profile, and only so that members and families can judge compatibility. In shortWe use your data to run matchmaking, keep members safe, process plans and bookings, and improve the Service, each for a clear legal reason. We do not use your personal data to make decisions that produce legal effects about you based solely on automated processing. Match percentages are suggestions to help you, and the decision to connect is always yours. In shortYour privacy settings decide who sees your photos and contact details. A limited public profile may appear in search engines while your profile is active. A matrimonial service only works if members can see each other, so your profile details are shown to other members and visitors. You stay in control through your privacy settings, where you can choose: While your profile is active and public, a limited public page about it can be discovered and indexed by search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo, and we may notify them of updates through services like IndexNow. Your email address and phone number are never part of that public page. If you disable, close or are removed from the Service, we notify search engines that the page has been removed. Search engines control their own caches, so it can take some time before an old result disappears. Share only what you are comfortable with. Anything you write in your “about me” text, or send in a message, can be read by the people you share it with. In shortBureaus that add clients must have the client’s permission, and messages to bureau-managed profiles are routed to the bureau. Registered marriage bureaus can create and manage profiles on behalf of their clients. A bureau that does this confirms it has the client’s permission to share their details on Shadi Markaz and is responsible for the accuracy of those details. When you contact a bureau-managed profile, your interest and messages are delivered to the bureau so it can respond for its client. If you believe a bureau has published your information without your permission, contact us and we will review and, where appropriate, remove the profile. In shortWe share data only to run the Service, when you ask us to, or when the law requires it. We never sell it. In shortEssential cookies always run; analytics cookies run only if you click “Accept all”. You can change your decision at any time by clearing this site’s data in your browser, which shows the cookie banner again. Most browsers also let you block or delete cookies. Blocking essential cookies will stop sign-in from working. In shortWe keep your data while your account is open, then delete or anonymise it, apart from records the law requires us to keep. In shortWe use technical and organisational safeguards, but no online service can be 100% secure, so please protect your password too. If we become aware of a personal data breach that is likely to put your rights at risk, we will notify you and the relevant authorities where the law requires it. In shortOur members live around the world and some providers operate abroad, so data may be processed outside your country with safeguards in place. Shadi Markaz is operated from Pakistan and serves members in countries around the world. Some of our service providers, such as email and analytics providers, may process data in other countries. When we transfer personal data internationally we take reasonable steps, such as contractual safeguards, to make sure it stays protected to the standard described in this policy. In shortYou can access, correct, download or delete your data and withdraw consent. Most of this you can do yourself from your dashboard. Depending on where you live, including under Pakistani law, the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and US state privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you may have the right to: You can edit your profile, privacy settings and notification preferences, or close your account, from your dashboard at any time. For any other request, email info@shadimarkaz.com. We may need to verify your identity first, and we respond within 30 days. We will not treat you differently for exercising your rights. In shortShadi Markaz is only for adults aged 18 or over. The Service is not intended for anyone under 18, and we do not knowingly collect data about minors. Profiles created by parents, relatives or bureaus must also be for adults aged 18 or over. If you believe a profile belongs to someone under 18, please tell us and we will remove it promptly. Our pages may link to other websites, such as social networks, WhatsApp or venue websites. Those sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for how they handle your information. We review this policy regularly. When we make changes we update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If a change is significant, we will also tell you by email or through a notice in your dashboard before it takes effect. If you have a question or complaint about this policy or how we handle your data, please get in touch. We aim to resolve every concern quickly and fairly. You can also use our contact page.01 Who we are and scope
02 Information we collect
Category Examples Source Account and identity Name, email address, mobile number, gender, date of birth, password (stored only as a secure hash), account type You, or the bureau that registers you Matrimonial profile Marital status, height, complexion, mother tongue, location, education, profession, job sector, income range, family background, parents’ professions, siblings, hobbies and interests, “about me” text You Partner preferences Preferred age range, location, religion, sect, education, profession and other criteria you choose You Photos and media Profile and gallery photos, photos and voice notes you send in chat You Activity and communication Interests sent and received, shortlists, profile views, messages, blocks, reports, support conversations and contact-form enquiries You and other members Membership and bookings Chosen plan, payment method, amount, transaction reference, plan dates, wedding hall reservation details You and our payment records Bureau information Bureau name, owner details, business contact information and the client profiles a bureau manages Marriage bureaus Technical and security data IP address, approximate country derived from the IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, dates and times, sign-in attempts and security logs Your device, automatically 03 Sensitive matrimonial details
04 How we use your information
Purpose What it involves Legal basis Provide the Service Create and manage your account, publish your profile, show search results, deliver interests and messages Performance of our contract with you Matchmaking Compare your partner preferences with other profiles to show compatibility and suggest matches Contract; explicit consent for sensitive details Safety and fraud prevention Verify profiles, detect fake or suspicious accounts, handle reports and blocks, lock accounts after repeated failed sign-ins Legitimate interests and legal obligations Plans, payments and bookings Activate membership plans, keep payment records, manage wedding hall reservations Contract and legal (tax and accounting) obligations Service messages Account confirmation, password resets, new interest and message alerts, plan expiry reminders Contract and legitimate interests Localisation Pre-select your country on search and registration forms using your approximate location Legitimate interests Analytics and improvement Understand which pages are useful and fix problems Your consent (analytics cookies) Legal compliance Respond to lawful requests and enforce our Terms Legal obligations and legitimate interests 05 Who can see your profile
Search engines
06 Marriage bureaus and managed profiles
07 When we share information
08 Cookies and analytics
Type Why we use it Can you refuse it? Essential Keep you signed in, protect forms against forgery, remember your cookie choice, load-balance and secure the site No, the site cannot work without them Preferences Remember settings such as dismissed notices Yes, through your browser Analytics Google Analytics / Tag Manager, used to measure visits in aggregate Yes. Off until you accept, using Google Consent Mode 09 How long we keep data
Data Retention period Profile, photos and preferences While your account is open. Hidden straight away when you close your account, then deleted or anonymised within 90 days Messages and media While either participant’s account is open, then deleted in line with the account deletion process Reports, blocks and security logs Up to 12 months, or longer where needed to investigate abuse or protect members Payment and booking records For as long as tax and accounting laws require Contact and support enquiries Up to 24 months after the enquiry is resolved 10 How we protect your data
11 International data transfers
12 Your privacy rights and choices
13 Age requirement (18+)
14 Third-party websites
15 Changes to this policy
16 Contact our privacy team