FAQ

GDPR Compliance: Ensuring Data Privacy and Security

We prioritize the privacy and security of our users’ data through stringent measures. Only non-identifiable information is collected to limit personal data exposure. Our advanced security protocols protect your data from unauthorized access and breaches, strictly adhering to GDPR regulations. At Wafaq, we uphold strict privacy standards by not requiring personal information for portal entry. User responses are selectively shared only with potential matches, with no personal details disclosed during profile exchanges. We are fully compliant with national Personal Data Protection Laws and the European Union’s GDPR, ensuring robust security and prohibiting data sharing with any public or private entities.

We use the following information and methods for authentication. Information provided by the user for authentication is private.
Users sign up with a phone number that is authenticated using two-factor authentication.

We use services (e.g. Tawtheeq in Saudi Arabia) for authentication. The authentication process is automatic to keep user identity private from Wafaq employees. Once they pass the authentication, they are labeled as “Authenticated”. Only then are put in the matching pool. Those who have provided false information about themselves are permanently barred from our platform in order to protect our users.

If both parties proceed to an in-person meeting (after accepting the match, time chat, and video call), they are provided with each other’s full name and are required to bring their ID with them so that they can check that they are indeed the assigned match.

Building on local customs that instill trust, we provide the option for users to request recommendation letters from relatives, friends, and employers. If this is provided, the user is labeled as “Authenticated Plus”

Yes, we adhere to WCAG / A11Y standards:

Optimized Color and Contrast: We utilize high-contrast text suitable for users with limited vision or color blindness, ensuring readability against all backgrounds and avoiding problematic color combinations.

Color-Independent Information: Our platform delivers information without reliance on color, accommodating color-blind users and ensuring that crucial data, such as required form fields, is universally understandable.

Screen Reader-Friendly Forms: Our forms are optimized for screen readers with clear labels, titles, error messages, and instructions, ensuring easy and accurate completion.

Investing less than an hour on our questionnaire, which can be completed in multiple sittings, is crucial for finding a lifelong partner. Like spending hours on a job application or making an investment decision, consider the time spent on these forms as an investment for life. This approach is much more efficient than traditional methods for identifying suitable matches.

We ask two types of questions: about yourself and about your preferences in a future spouse, including the importance of these preferences.

These questions are designed to gauge compatibility and are based on rigorous social science research, including insights from reputable peer-reviewed journals.

They reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and consider factors indicative of successful marriages, as well as personal preferences like height.

This approach ensures that we account for both local and global perspectives, helping us provide matches that are truly compatible. For more detailed information about our questionnaire, click [here].

While you may leave questions blank, we strongly advise against it. Completing all questions enhances our ability to find a compatible match for you. Incomplete responses result in a lower priority in the matching process, potentially hindering your chances of finding a suitable spouse.

Once you review and confirm your answers in a section of the questionnaire, that section is locked to ensure an accurate representation of yourself. We take this measure to maintain the integrity of the information provided. If you need to change your answers under very exceptional circumstances, you may contact a Wafaq admin via our member’s page on the website or app to request the unlocking of a specific section.

Our algorithms identify a suitable match for a user based on compatibility computed from answers to questionnaire. 

Wafaq utilizes a sophisticated matching algorithm designed to handle complex, high-dimensional compatibility issues that are beyond human discernment. This is why users cannot browse profiles or select their own matches. To maintain privacy and focus, Wafaq provides one anonymized match at a time, allowing users to accept or reject without the distractions of multiple simultaneous conversations. This algorithmic approach not only adheres closely to your preferences for a spouse but also removes the time-consuming and stressful burden of manual profile searching, protecting against the tendency to engage with multiple people simultaneously.

While our system strives to provide the best possible matches, you hold the ultimate control and can reject a match at any stage—from initial assignment to post-personal meetings. If you decline a match, you’ll re-enter the matching pool for a new potential partner, ensuring you never encounter the same rejected match again. Please be aware that frequent rejections may affect your priority in the matching process. Once you reject a match, the match will be automatically notified through their account, ensuring a respectful and non-awkward experience.

To keep the process moving smoothly and respectfully, we implement timers at each decision stage. If you fail to respond within the set time, the system will automatically reject the current match, ensuring that both parties are not left in limbo and that you are not be paired with the same match again.

Once the two individuals of a matched pair agree to proceed to the video meeting stage or the in-person meeting stage, a meeting is set up in which both parties will attend along with relevant parties they have previously specified and agreed upon (e.g. wali for female) during the previous stage of live-chat. We do not mandate upon clients to have the lady’s wali present during the video call but leave it up to their agreement. We strongly encourage the clients to coordinate to have a wali or other trustees be present during an in-person meeting.

Additionally, both female and male users may choose to identify trustees (e.g. wali / mother / trusted relative) who receives updates notifications on progress (e.g. ‘user has started questionnaire section 2’, ‘user has completed questionnaire’, ‘user has three days remaining on timer to respond’, ‘a match has been assigned to the user’, ‘user has rejected match’, ‘user has accepted to proceed to video call stage’). The trustees do not receive any information the client enters in answer to the questionnaire and are not privy to information about the user or their match.

Wafaq’s platform is designed for Muslims of various sects and any degree of religiosity. However, as our process is catered specifically to these communities, we are currently unable to serve non-Muslim clients.

Our service is currently restricted to Muslims, specifically serving Saudi residents and nationals, as well as Saudi nationals living abroad. In order to best serve our users, we include culturally-aware and culturally-diverse questions relevant to the communities we serve. User authentication is paramount, and effectively verifying users is currently feasible for this group. Starting in 2024, we plan to expand to other nationalities and to both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority countries, incorporating questions and authentication processes relevant to those communities, based on funding available in those regions.

When choosing a spouse, consider the following points:

1. Give It Thought and Be Realistic: Acknowledge that neither you nor your potential spouse will be perfect. Be flexible on matters that are less important to you, but remain firm on your essential values and needs. Your preferences should align with why you want to get married and the type of marriage you envision.

2. Self-Reflection and Honesty: Reflect deeply on your preferences. Stay honest about your traits and what you seek in a partner. Remember, presenting yourself as something you are not does not aid in finding a compatible partner.

3. Compatibility and Preferences: Our questionnaire is designed to accommodate diverse community backgrounds and focuses on compatibility without judgment. Be honest in your responses to ensure they reflect your true preferences and the nature of the marriage you desire.

4. Family Input and Personal Aspirations: While family input is invaluable, make sure your final decision on a spouse reflects your personal aspirations for marriage. Discuss your thoughts with your parents/guardians and consider their opinions, but ensure that your choices are truly what you want for your marriage.

These guidelines help to ensure that your choices are well-considered, reflecting both personal values and practical considerations.

If you are a registered user, please contact your designated Wafaq admin through your member’s portal on our website or app. For non-registered queries, visit our ‘Contact Us’ page for assistance. You can find the necessary links and instructions on the member’s page or by following the directions provided on the ‘Contact Us’ page.

Help us grow by spreading the word. A larger user base not only extends the reach of our service to those who can benefit from Wafaq’s services but also enhances the quality of matches for all users. The more users we have, the more people we can serve and the better the quality of matches we can provide to our existing users.