Terms and Conditions

4.1 Technology Platform

BULBUL IS A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM AND INTERMEDIARY SERVICE PROVIDER. Bulbul provides the Platform as a technology service that facilitates connections between Students and Speaking Specialists for Arabic dialect language and cultural learning. Bulbul does not itself provide language tutoring, instruction, assessment, or educational services of any kind.

4.2 Independent Contractor Status

Bulbul manages the onboarding, assessment, training, quality oversight, and disciplinary matters of Speaking Specialists. This operational management relates solely to Platform conduct standards, onboarding requirements, and performance benchmarks, and does not constitute control over the pedagogical content, teaching methods, or specific instructional decisions made by Speaking Specialists in delivering their services. Speaking Specialists are independent freelance contractors and are not employees, agents, or representatives of Bulbul for instruction delivery purposes. Neither Bulbul’s assessment and training process nor its quality oversight function creates any duty of care on Bulbul’s part toward Students in respect of the personal conduct, character, or behaviour of Speaking Specialists, whether on or off the Platform.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY UAE LAW, Bulbul shall not be liable for the quality, accuracy, completeness, cultural suitability, linguistic correctness, or educational effectiveness of any instruction, feedback, assessment, or content delivered by any Speaking Specialist through the Platform.

4.3 Verification and Background Checks

Bulbul conducts its own proprietary assessment, onboarding, and training process for all Speaking Specialists, which may include identity verification, language and cultural competency assessment, and platform conduct training. Bulbul may, at its sole discretion, utilise third-party verification services in connection with this process and reserves the right to implement additional verification measures at any time. Bulbul does not represent that any verification or assessment process is comprehensive, complete, or conclusive, and does not warrant that any Speaking Specialist has no criminal history, adverse background, or undisclosed circumstances. Students acknowledge that Bulbul cannot guarantee the personal character or background history of any individual connected through the Platform. Bulbul shall not be liable for any conduct of a Speaking Specialist that was not disclosed or discoverable through any verification process Bulbul may or may not have employed.

5.1 License Grant

Subject to your full and continuing compliance with these Terms, Bulbul grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to access and use the Platform solely for its intended purpose as described in these Terms and in accordance with all applicable law. This license does not grant you any ownership, property right, or entitlement in or to the Platform, its content, features, data, or intellectual property.

5.2 Scope of License

The Platform License granted to you as a Student is for your personal, non-commercial language learning use only. The Platform License granted to a Speaking Specialist is solely for the delivery of Platform sessions in accordance with the Speaking Specialist Freelancer Agreement. The Platform License granted to an Affiliate is solely for referral activities as described in Sections 9, 10, and 11. Any use of the Platform beyond these permitted purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes a material breach of these Terms.

5.3 Revocation

Bulbul may revoke the Platform License at any time in its sole discretion, including upon any breach of these Terms, for conduct reasons, or for any operational or security purpose. Upon revocation, you must immediately cease all access to and use of the Platform and permanently destroy all Platform Materials in your possession as required under Section 14. Revocation of the Platform License does not entitle you to any compensation or refund except as expressly provided in these Terms.

5.4 No Implied Rights

All rights not expressly granted in these Terms are reserved by Bulbul. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as granting you any rights in or to the Platform, its content, or any related intellectual property by implication, estoppel, or otherwise.

6.1 Eligibility

To create an account you must be at least 18 years of age. The Platform is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. Individuals under the age of 18 may not access or use the Platform under any circumstances, with or without parental consent. There are no exceptions to this age requirement.

6.2 Accurate Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information at registration and to keep it updated at all times. You are solely responsible for all activity under your account including all transactions, bookings, and communications made by any person using your credentials.

6.3 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You must not share your login details with any other person. Bulbul shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorized access to your account. You must notify Bulbul immediately at contact@bulbulclasses.com if you suspect any unauthorized use. Bulbul may from time to time implement mandatory or optional security features including two-factor authentication. Where Bulbul implements mandatory security features, you must comply with them as a condition of continued account access.

6.4 One Account Per User

You may hold only one active account at any time. Creating duplicate, fake, or impersonation accounts is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate permanent termination of all associated accounts and forfeiture of all credits, balances, and pending payments.

6.5 Account Dormancy

If your account shows no login activity for a continuous period of twelve (12) months, Bulbul will send one (1) notice to your registered email and WhatsApp number informing you that your account will be permanently closed and all unused session credits forfeited if you do not log in within thirty (30) days. Logging in within those thirty (30) days resets the dormancy clock. Responding to the notice without logging in does not constitute reactivation and does not extend the deadline. No further notice will be issued after the initial notice regardless of any response. If you do not log in within thirty (30) days, your account will be permanently closed and all credits permanently forfeited. Bulbul’s records of notice dispatch and delivery constitute prima facie evidence that notice was given.

6.6 No Account Transfer

Your account is personal and non-transferable. You may not sell, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of your account or any associated rights to any third party.

6.7 Third-Party Social Login

If you create or access your account using a third-party authentication service such as Google, Apple, or any other OAuth provider integrated with the Platform, you authorize Bulbul to collect, process, and store the personal data received from that provider as necessary to authenticate your account and create your Platform profile. Your use of a third-party login service is also subject to that provider’s own terms of service and privacy policy. Bulbul is not responsible for data practices of third-party login providers beyond what is necessary for authentication. If your third-party login provider account is deactivated, suspended, or deleted, your ability to access Bulbul through that provider will also be disrupted. You are responsible for maintaining an alternative login method or notifying Bulbul to transition your account.

6.8 Geographic Access Restrictions

The Platform may not be available in all countries or regions. Bulbul reserves the right to restrict, suspend, or discontinue access to the Platform from any country, region, or jurisdiction at any time, at its sole discretion and without prior notice. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your access to and use of the Platform is lawful in your jurisdiction. Bulbul shall not be liable for any loss arising from geographic access restrictions.

7.1 Strict 18+ Requirement

The Platform is strictly for individuals aged 18 years and over. Bulbul does not permit any individual under the age of 18 to access or use the Platform in any capacity whatsoever, with or without parental or guardian consent. This is an absolute requirement with no exceptions. By registering on or using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age.

7.2 Age Verification

The Platform relies on User representations made at registration, including the explicit age confirmation required at account creation, to enforce the 18+ age requirement. Bulbul reserves the right to implement additional age verification measures at any time at its sole discretion. If you are under 18 years of age, you must not access or use the Platform, create an account, make any purchase, or interact with any Platform feature.

7.3 Unauthorized Access by Under-18 Users

If an individual under the age of 18 accesses or uses the Platform: (a) their access constitutes a misrepresentation to Bulbul; (b) any parent or legal guardian who permitted, facilitated, or failed to prevent such access shall be solely and fully responsible for all activity, transactions, payments, and content produced through that access; (c) Bulbul may immediately terminate the account upon becoming aware of the User’s age, with forfeiture of all credits and payments at Bulbul’s sole discretion; and (d) Bulbul shall not be liable for any harm, loss, or damage arising from the unauthorized access of an under-18 User. Full liability for any such unauthorized use rests entirely with the under-18 User and/or their parent or legal guardian.

7.4 Safeguarding Obligations

Notwithstanding the 18+ requirement, if Bulbul becomes aware that an individual under the age of 18 has accessed the Platform, Bulbul may take any steps it considers appropriate to safeguard that individual, including immediate account termination and referral to relevant UAE regulatory or law enforcement authorities where required. Bulbul’s safeguarding obligations under applicable UAE law are not limited by the terms of this Section.

9.9 Speaking Specialist Profile and Marketing License

By creating a profile on the Platform and uploading any photograph, introduction video, or other profile content, you grant Bulbul an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to use your profile name, profile photograph, introduction video, and any other profile content for the purposes of marketing, advertising, and promotion of the Platform and Bulbul’s services, including but not limited to publication on Bulbul’s website, social media channels, email marketing materials, YouTube, and any other digital or physical medium, without further payment, consent, or notice to you. You may request removal of your introduction video from third-party hosting platforms by written notice to contact@bulbulclasses.com. Bulbul will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply within ninety (90) days of receiving a written removal request, where technically practicable, provided such removal does not require deletion of content already embedded in existing published marketing materials.

9.10 Session Conduct and Professional Standards

You must maintain the following professional conduct and appearance standards at all times during Sessions:

• You must be appropriately and professionally dressed at all times your camera is on during a Session.
• You must conduct Sessions from a quiet, professional, and distraction-free environment with a clean and appropriate background.
• You must ensure you are free from excessive background noise, third-party interruptions, and distractions that may negatively impact the Student’s learning experience.
• You must not conduct or participate in any Session while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or any substance that impairs your judgment, professional conduct, or presentation.
• You must not smoke, eat, or engage in conduct that is disrespectful or incompatible with a professional learning environment during a Session.
• You must maintain a reliable internet connection and functional audio and video equipment throughout every Session.

9.11 Speaking Specialist as Data Controller

To the extent that you receive Student Personal Data in the course of delivering Sessions - including the Student’s name, language level, learning goals, and personal information disclosed during Sessions - you acknowledge that you may act as an independent data controller in respect of such data under applicable UAE PDPL and GDPR. You agree to: (a) process Student Personal Data solely for the purpose of delivering Platform sessions; (b) not use, disclose, store, copy, or transmit Student Personal Data outside the Platform or for any purpose other than delivering the session; (c) comply with all data protection obligations imposed on you as a data controller or processor by UAE PDPL and GDPR as applicable; and (d) immediately notify Bulbul at contact@bulbulclasses.com if you become aware of any actual or suspected breach involving Student Personal Data. See also Section 26.

11.1 Referral Attribution

Referral attribution is determined by the Affiliate Code entered by the referred individual at the time of their registration on the Platform. The first valid Affiliate Code entered at registration is the sole basis for attribution. Where no Affiliate Code is entered at registration, no commission is attributed to any Affiliate for that registration regardless of any subsequent claim. Bulbul’s Platform records of code entry timestamps are the sole authoritative source for attribution disputes. In the event of simultaneous or contested attribution, Bulbul’s determination is final and binding.

11.2 Commission Structure

Your commission structure is identical to that of Dedicated Affiliates:

• 10% of the package fee actually paid and retained by Bulbul for each of your first ten (10) Qualified Clients.
• 20% of the package fee actually paid and retained by Bulbul for each Qualified Client from the eleventh (11th) onward.

11.3 Commission Release and Qualifying Period

Commissions are held by Bulbul for the full Qualifying Period of thirty (30) calendar days following the Qualified Client’s first payment. During the Qualifying Period, no commission payment is made. After the expiry of the Qualifying Period without a refund, reversal, or chargeback being processed in respect of that Qualified Client’s payment, the commission is released to the Affiliate. If a refund is granted within the Qualifying Period in accordance with Bulbul’s published refund policy, the corresponding commission is cancelled and will not be paid. Bulbul reserves the right to withhold commission beyond the Qualifying Period if a dispute, investigation, or chargeback is pending.

11.4 Qualified Client Definition

A Qualified Client is a new learner who: (a) enters your Affiliate Code at registration; (b) is not already recorded by Bulbul as an existing User or active lead in the preceding 365 days; (c) is a genuinely new individual distinct from you and from any account controlled or operated by you; (d) purchases a Bulbul package at standard price; (e) completes their first paid Session; and (f) whose payment is received and retained by Bulbul through the full Qualifying Period.

11.5 Self-Referral Prohibition

You may not refer yourself, any account you control, operate, or have created, or any entity in which you have a financial or beneficial interest to earn commission on your own purchases. Referrals between different accounts held by the same individual, whether under different email addresses, names, or device profiles, are strictly prohibited and constitute affiliate fraud. Same-household referrals between genuinely separate individuals with separate accounts are permitted. Bulbul has the sole and absolute right to determine whether a referral constitutes a prohibited self-referral, and its determination is final and binding. Any commission paid on a prohibited self-referral is subject to full clawback.

11.6 Post-Release Clawback

Where a commission has been released following the Qualifying Period and a chargeback is subsequently processed on the underlying Qualified Client payment, Bulbul reserves the right to recover the released commission by offsetting it against future commission payments owed to the Affiliate. Where no future commissions are sufficient to recover the amount, Bulbul may demand repayment in writing and the Affiliate must repay the amount within fourteen (14) days of the demand.

11.7 Applicable Rules

All commission calculation, payout timing, fraud prevention, withholding, and termination provisions set out in Sections 20 and 21 apply equally to automatically enrolled Users.

11.8 Commission Lifetime Counter

Commission tiers are calculated on a lifetime basis and may not be reset, transferred, split, or manipulated through any new account, code, email, identity, or arrangement.

11.9 Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises where you as a Speaking Specialist refer a Student through the affiliate program and would receive commission in addition to your session pay for teaching that same Student. Bulbul reserves the right to manage session assignments to prevent such conflicts at its sole discretion. Any such arrangement requires Bulbul’s prior written approval from contact@bulbulclasses.com.

11.10 Session Assignment Algorithm

Session assignments are determined by Bulbul’s proprietary auto-matching algorithm, which considers factors including but not limited to Speaking Specialist availability, language specialty, performance metrics, student profile data, and Platform operational needs. Bulbul reserves the right to modify the algorithm at any time without notice. Speaking Specialists have no right to challenge session assignment decisions, claim discriminatory treatment, or demand specific assignment frequencies. Bulbul does not guarantee any minimum number of sessions to any Speaking Specialist.

12.1 Communication Conduct

• Using offensive, abusive, discriminatory, harassing, threatening, sexually explicit, or defamatory language in any chat, call, session, or material uploaded to the Platform.
• Engaging in or facilitating any form of harassment, bullying, intimidation, or offensive remarks directed at any User or Bulbul staff member.
• Sharing content that is racist, sectarian, religiously offensive, or contrary to UAE public morals, values, or applicable law.
• Discussing topics that Bulbul, in its sole judgment, determines to be materially unrelated to Arabic language and cultural learning or inappropriate for the Platform, during sessions without Bulbul’s prior authorization.

12.2 Unauthorized Activities

• Attempting to solicit, recruit, or redirect any Student, Speaking Specialist, or Affiliate away from the Platform for any competing or private arrangement.
• Collecting, scraping, extracting, or storing data from the Platform by any automated or manual means.
• Sharing login credentials, account access, or session links with any third party.
• Using the Platform for any purpose other than Arabic dialect language and cultural learning services as offered by Bulbul.
• Impersonating Bulbul, its founders, employees, or any other User.
• Using the Platform in violation of any applicable UAE or international law.

12.3 Content Violations

• Uploading malicious software, viruses, unauthorized scripts, or any harmful code to the Platform.
• Uploading or transmitting any content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights without authorization.
• Uploading content that depicts illegal activity, graphic violence, or sexually explicit material.

12.4 Academic Integrity and Anti-Ghostwriting

You must not use the Platform or engage any Speaking Specialist to: (a) complete, write, translate, summarize, or otherwise produce any academic assignment, examination answer, essay, workplace report, professional submission, or certification material for the purpose of misrepresenting it as the product of your own independent effort to any institution, employer, professional regulatory body, or other party; (b) assist you in any activity that violates the academic honesty policy, code of conduct, or ethical standards of your school, university, institution, employer, or professional body; or (c) facilitate any form of academic fraud, plagiarism, or credential misrepresentation. Bulbul is a platform for genuine language and cultural learning only. Any use of the Platform to facilitate academic dishonesty or misrepresentation is a material breach of these Terms and may be reported to the relevant institution or authority.

14.1 General Confidentiality

You shall keep all Confidential Information strictly confidential and shall not at any time during your use of the Platform or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, use, publish, disclose, share, reproduce, or transmit any Confidential Information to any third party without Bulbul’s prior written consent.

14.2 Scope of Confidential Information

Confidential Information includes without limitation: all Platform Materials, curriculum frameworks, course content, lesson structures, Bulbul’s proprietary Arabic dialect teaching methodologies and AI-integrated learning approaches, AI systems and outputs, pricing structures, commission rates, business strategies, operational procedures, student and tutor data, corporate client identities, referral details, financial data, internal communications, and platform architecture.

14.3 Your Specific NDA Obligations as a Student

As a Student you specifically agree not to: (a) share, reproduce, or distribute any Platform Materials or lesson content with any other person for any purpose; (b) disclose the identity, contact details, or teaching style of any Speaking Specialist to any competitor of Bulbul or for the purpose of soliciting that Speaking Specialist for services outside the Platform; (c) use session content, feedback, or learning materials for any commercial purpose, resale, or redistribution; and (d) disclose Bulbul’s pricing, packages, or operational structure to any competitor or for commercial gain.

14.4 Your Specific NDA Obligations as a Speaking Specialist

As a Speaking Specialist you specifically agree not to: (a) use, reproduce, adapt, or distribute Bulbul’s proprietary curriculum frameworks, Platform Materials, lesson plans, Arabic dialect- specific teaching methodologies, or Work Product in any other job, role, platform, institution, or commercial activity - this obligation is separate from and does not restrict your use of general

language teaching skills you independently possess; (b) disclose the identity, learning progress, contact details, or personal information of any Student to any third party; (c) share Bulbul’s pricing, commission structures, or operational processes with any competing platform or individual; and (d) retain any copies of Platform Materials, student data, or Work Product following termination of your agreement with Bulbul.

14.5 Duration

Confidentiality obligations relating to Bulbul’s proprietary curriculum, Platform Materials, AI systems, Arabic dialect-specific methodologies, and Work Product shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely and without time limit. Confidentiality obligations relating to general commercial information such as pricing and operational procedures shall survive for a period of five (5) years following termination, after which such obligations cease in respect of information that has entered the public domain through means other than your breach.

14.6 Remedies for Breach

You acknowledge that any breach of this Section may cause significant and irreparable harm to Bulbul for which monetary damages may be inadequate. Bulbul shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, specific performance, and any other equitable remedy available under UAE law without the need to post bond or prove actual damages, in addition to full monetary damages and legal fees. Bulbul’s right to seek injunctive relief is not affected by any written confirmation of compliance provided under Section 14.7.

14.7 Destruction of Materials on Termination

Upon termination or expiry of your account for any reason, you must immediately and permanently destroy all Platform Materials, session recordings, AI outputs, lesson content, curriculum materials, and any other content obtained from or through the Platform in your possession, whether stored digitally, in print, in cloud storage, or in any other form. Upon Bulbul’s written request, you must confirm in writing that you have fully complied with this obligation. Failure to comply constitutes a continuing material breach of these Terms.

15.1 Bulbul’s Absolute Discretion

Bulbul staff, founders, and authorized representatives have the sole, absolute, and final discretion to determine whether any conduct, communication, content, or behavior on or in connection with the Platform constitutes inappropriate conduct. Bulbul’s determination is final and binding. Bulbul may, at its sole discretion, give you an opportunity to respond before applying sanctions, but is under no obligation to do so.

15.2 Categories of Inappropriate Conduct

Without limiting Bulbul’s general discretion under clause 15.1, the following constitute grounds for immediate disciplinary action:

• Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or threatening behavior directed at any Speaking Specialist, Student, Affiliate, or Bulbul staff member.
• Use of offensive, abusive, insulting, degrading, sexually explicit, or discriminatory language of any kind.
• Racial, ethnic, religious, gender-based, or nationality-based insults or discriminatory remarks.
• Inappropriate, disrespectful, or unprofessional conduct toward Speaking Specialists.
• Any conduct that creates a hostile, uncomfortable, or unsafe environment for any User or staff member.
• Repeated disruptive behavior, chronic no-shows, or systematic abuse of the cancellation, rescheduling, or dispute system.
• Participating in any Session while visibly under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or any substance that impairs your conduct or professional presentation.
• Any conduct that Bulbul, in its sole judgment, determines to be harmful to its reputation, operations, staff, tutors, or the wellbeing of any User.

15.3 Consequences for Students

Where Bulbul determines that you have engaged in inappropriate conduct as a Student, Bulbul may take any one or more of the following actions at its sole discretion, calibrated to the nature, severity, and damage caused by your conduct:

• Issue a formal warning.
• Temporarily suspend your account without prior notice.
• Permanently terminate your account without prior notice, warning, or stated reason.
• Withhold, reduce, and permanently forfeit all remaining unused session credits and hours in your account.
• Absorb and retain all payments made in respect of sessions not yet delivered at the time of termination. Bulbul may, at its sole discretion and based on the severity of the conduct and damage caused, also absorb additional amounts from any available credit balance as a financial remedy reflecting the cost of harm caused to any Speaking Specialist, staff member, or the Platform. Payments for sessions already delivered remain non-refundable irrespective of termination.
• Report the conduct to relevant UAE authorities where it may constitute a criminal offence.

You have no right to challenge, appeal, or seek compensation for Bulbul’s exercise of these powers. Nothing in this clause limits your right to file a complaint with relevant UAE Consumer Protection authorities as described in Section 52.

15.4 No Refund on Misconduct Termination

Where you are terminated for inappropriate conduct, all amounts withheld or absorbed by Bulbul represent Bulbul’s genuine assessment of the harm caused and the losses incurred, including administrative costs, staff time, reputational impact, harm to other Users, and the cost of remedying the situation. These are direct contractual consequences of your breach and do not constitute a penalty clause.

15.5 Consequences for Speaking Specialists

Where a Speaking Specialist engages in inappropriate conduct, Bulbul reserves the right to take any one or more of the following actions at its sole discretion: immediate termination of the Freelancer Agreement and Platform access; financial penalties as set out in the Freelancer Agreement and Section 16; withholding, deduction, reduction, or permanent forfeiture of any pending, accrued, or future earnings and payouts; absorption of amounts from pending payouts as a remedy for harm caused to any Student, staff member, or the Platform; and regulatory referral where the conduct may constitute a criminal offence. The amount absorbed from a Speaking Specialist’s earnings reflects Bulbul’s assessment of the damage caused and is at Bulbul’s sole and final discretion.

16.1 Booking Rules

• All Sessions must be booked at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance through the Platform booking system.
• Sessions are auto-matched between Student and Speaking Specialist based on mutual availability as determined by the Platform’s algorithm.

16.2 Student Cancellation

• You may cancel a Session free of charge if notice is given at least twelve (12) hours before the scheduled Session start time.
• Late Cancellation - your first ten (10) late cancellation incidents ever on the Platform: You forfeit fifty percent (50%) of the session value. Fifty percent (50%) is returned to your credit balance. The Speaking Specialist receives fifty percent (50%) of their session rate.
• Late Cancellation - eleventh (11th) incident onwards: You forfeit one hundred percent (100%) of the session value with zero refund. The Speaking Specialist receives fifty percent (50%) of their session rate.
• This counter tracks your cumulative late cancellation incidents ever on the Platform and does not reset.

16.3 Student Rescheduling

• You may reschedule a Session free of charge if notice is given at least six (6) hours before the scheduled Session start time.
• Rescheduling requests with less than six (6) hours notice are treated as late cancellations and the same progressive penalty applies.
• A separate lifetime counter tracks your late rescheduling incidents independently and does not reset.
• There is no hard limit on the number of reschedules with adequate notice. Admin monitors rescheduling frequency and may restrict your booking privileges if abuse is identified.

16.4 Student No-Show

• If you fail to join a Session without any prior notice, the Session is counted as completed in full, you are charged the full session value, and the Speaking Specialist is paid in full.

16.5 Student Late Arrival

• If you join up to fifteen (15) minutes late, the Session ends at the originally scheduled time, is counted as completed, and the Speaking Specialist is paid in full.
• If you join more than fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time, the Session is closed, counted as completed, and the Speaking Specialist is paid in full. You receive no credit or refund.

16.6 Speaking Specialist Cancellation

• A Speaking Specialist may cancel a Session free of charge if notice is given at least twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled start time.
• Late Cancellation - first five (5) cumulative late cancellation incidents ever on the Platform: The Speaking Specialist’s pay is reduced by fifty percent (50%). The Student receives a fifty percent (50%) Bonus Credit.
• Late Cancellation - sixth (6th) to tenth (10th) cumulative incident: The Speaking Specialist’s pay is reduced by one hundred percent (100%). The Student receives a fifty percent (50%) Bonus Credit.
• Late Cancellation - eleventh (11th) cumulative incident onwards: Bulbul Admin may terminate the Speaking Specialist’s engagement at its sole discretion.
• This counter tracks the Speaking Specialist’s cumulative late cancellation incidents ever on the Platform and does not reset.

16.7 Speaking Specialist Rescheduling

• A Speaking Specialist may reschedule a Session free of charge if notice is given at least twelve (12) hours before the scheduled start time.
• Rescheduling requests with less than twelve (12) hours notice are treated as late cancellations and the same progressive penalty applies on a separate independent counter.

16.8 Speaking Specialist No-Show

• If a Speaking Specialist fails to join a Session without any prior notice, the Session is a missed session. The Student’s full session credit is returned to their account plus a fifty percent (50%) Bonus Credit. The Speaking Specialist’s pay is reduced by one hundred percent (100%) of their session rate.

16.9 Speaking Specialist Late Arrival

• If a Speaking Specialist joins up to fifteen (15) minutes late, the Session is extended by the duration of the delay. The Speaking Specialist is paid their standard rate only for the extended duration with no additional or bonus pay.
• If a Speaking Specialist joins more than fifteen (15) minutes late, the Session is counted as a missed Session and the full no-show penalty applies.

16.10 Session Completion Standard

• A Session is counted as complete when the Speaking Specialist has marked the Student as present and clicked the end session button at or after the fifty-ninth (59th) minute of the Session.
• At the sixty-minute mark (1 hour), the Platform will display an on-screen notification to both the Student and the Speaking Specialist indicating that the scheduled session time has elapsed and either party may close the Session at any time. If both parties choose to continue voluntarily after the sixty-minute mark, this is entirely at their own discretion. No additional charges shall be incurred by the Student and no additional compensation shall be earned by the Speaking Specialist for any time beyond the sixty-minute mark, regardless of how long the continuation lasts. The session record reflects the session as completed at the sixty-minute mark for all billing and performance tracking purposes.

16.11 Platform Technical Failure

• If a Session is interrupted before the 59-minute mark due to a confirmed Platform-side technical failure, the Student will receive a full session credit restored to their account. The Speaking Specialist’s payout for that session will be calculated on a pro-rata basis as follows: the number of whole minutes elapsed from the moment both parties were confirmed as connected in the session to the timestamp of the platform-side failure, as recorded in Bulbul’s server logs, divided by sixty (60), multiplied by the Speaking Specialist’s standard session hourly rate. Partial minutes are disregarded. For example, if a crash occurs at 37 minutes and 45 seconds, the Speaking Specialist is paid for 37 minutes. If the session had not yet properly commenced at the time of the failure (for example, one or both parties had not yet connected), the Speaking Specialist receives no payout for that session.
• In any dispute about the cause of a technical failure, Bulbul’s server logs and technical records shall constitute prima facie evidence of the cause and timing of the failure, including the session connection timestamps and failure timestamp used in the pro-rata calculation. The burden of rebuttal rests on the User claiming a Platform-side failure.
• Technical failures must be reported by both parties through the in-Platform message portal to Admin as soon as reasonably practicable after the failure.
• Technical failures caused by your own internet connection, hardware, software, or device are your sole responsibility. Where the failure is attributable to the Student’s connection or device, the Student receives no credit or refund and the Speaking Specialist is paid their full session rate.
• Speaking Specialists have access to a backup call link which they may send to the Student in the event of a Platform connection failure.

16.12 Bonus Credit Terms

• All Bonus Credits issued under this Section expire twelve (12) months from the date of issue. Bonus Credits have no cash value and cannot be transferred, sold, or exchanged for money.

16.13 Session Dispute Window

• Any operational dispute relating to a Session (including questions of delivery, attendance, or technical failure) must be raised through the Platform message portal to Admin within thirty (30) calendar days of the Session date. Disputes raised after this period will not be considered for operational resolution. This thirty-day window is an administrative process requirement only and does not limit or extinguish any legal claim you may have, which remains subject to the limitation period in Section 47.

16.14 Admin Monitoring

Bulbul Admin monitors the following metrics for both Students and Speaking Specialists through real-time dashboards: late cancellation rates; missed session rates; late arrival patterns; rescheduling frequency; and platform-side technical failure incident rates per Speaking Specialist. Bulbul reserves the right to restrict booking privileges, suspend, or terminate any User whose behavior patterns indicate systematic abuse of the Session policy. Speaking Specialists with recurring platform crash incidents may be subject to technical review, additional performance monitoring, or removal from the Platform if Bulbul determines that a pattern of incidents exists that is inconsistent with normal platform operations. Progressive counters are permanently associated with your identity, registered email, phone number, and device fingerprint. Re-registration after account closure does not reset these counters.

16.15 Session Conduct Standards for All Users

All Users must comply with the following session conduct standards. These standards apply to Students and are supplemented for Speaking Specialists by the additional professional standards in Section 9.10, both of which apply cumulatively:

• You must be appropriately and professionally presented for the duration of any Session on the Platform.
• You must participate in Sessions from a quiet, professional environment that respects the learning experience.
• You must not participate in any Session while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or any substance that impairs your judgment, conduct, or professional presentation.
• You must not smoke, eat, or engage in conduct that is distracting, disrespectful, or incompatible with a professional learning environment during a Session.
• Violation of these standards may result in termination of the Session, recording of an absence against your account, withholding or forfeiture of credits or earnings, and further disciplinary action at Bulbul’s sole discretion.

17.1 Session Recording

All Sessions conducted through the Platform are automatically recorded in their entirety. Session recording is a mandatory technical condition of the Session service. By booking or accepting a Session, you enter into a session agreement under which recording is a non- negotiable term of service. Bulbul processes Session recording data on the lawful basis of contractual necessity under applicable data protection law. You may not use the Session service while objecting to or opting out of recording. Routine undisputed session recordings are stored securely by Bulbul for a period of up to three (3) years from the date of recording. Recordings relating to any active or reasonably anticipated dispute, legal proceeding, regulatory investigation, or conduct review are retained for as long as necessary to resolve the matter, and may be retained indefinitely where required by law, at Bulbul’s sole discretion. You have no right to restrict or demand deletion of session recordings within the applicable retention period.

17.2 Recording Consent Notice

A visible notice is displayed at the start of every Session confirming that the Session is being recorded and AI-monitored. This notice is informational and auto-dismisses after a few seconds. Your continuation of the Session after the notice is displayed constitutes reaffirmation of your consent.

17.3 Chat and Communication Logging

All in-Platform chat messages, communications, and interactions are logged and stored by Bulbul. These logs may be reviewed by Bulbul staff at any time to ensure compliance with these Terms and applicable law.

17.4 Uploaded Materials

All documents, files, images, lesson materials, or any other content you upload to the Platform are stored by Bulbul for a period of up to five (5) years from the date of upload, or such longer period as may be required for legal, operational, or AI improvement purposes at Bulbul’s discretion.

17.5 Activity Monitoring

Bulbul actively monitors all Platform activity including session behavior, login patterns, device fingerprints, IP addresses, and payment behavior. By using the Platform, you expressly consent to this monitoring. Suspicious activity will be investigated and may be referred to relevant UAE authorities.

18.1 Nature of Bulbul Friend

Bulbul Friend is a proprietary AI-powered voice practice companion built by Bulbul using third- party AI model infrastructure. It provides you with conversational Arabic dialect practice outside of live Sessions. Bulbul Friend is not a human tutor. It is an artificial intelligence system with an adaptive voice personality.

18.2 Non-Human Disclosure

Bulbul Friend will identify itself as an AI at the commencement of every interaction. No interaction with Bulbul Friend constitutes professional language instruction, certified linguistic assessment, or professional educational advice of any kind.

18.3 Features and Data Collection

Bulbul Friend: (a) conducts voice-based Arabic dialect practice conversations with you; (b) provides indicative language ability assessments and informal feedback; (c) stores conversation transcripts and builds a learning profile over time; (d) adapts its conversational personality to you based on interaction history; and (e) allows you to view your learning progress through the Platform dashboard. You consent to all of these activities by using Bulbul Friend.

18.4 Assessment Disclaimer

Any assessment, feedback, or language evaluation generated by Bulbul Friend is indicative only, algorithmically generated, and may contain errors. It does not constitute professional linguistic evaluation or certification of any kind and must not be relied upon for any academic, professional, employment, immigration, or certification purpose.

18.5 AI Output Disclaimer

Bulbul Friend is designed to use safe, appropriate, and culturally sensitive language. However, Bulbul cannot guarantee that AI-generated outputs will always be entirely accurate or free from contextually inappropriate responses. Bulbul shall not be liable for any loss, harm, or offense caused by AI-generated content. If you encounter any output you consider inappropriate, use the in-Platform report button immediately.

18.6 Third-Party AI Infrastructure

Bulbul Friend uses third-party AI model APIs. Your interaction data is processed through these systems under Data Processing Agreements. By using Bulbul Friend, you consent to this processing.

18.7 Optional Service

Bulbul Friend is optional. You may choose whether to use it without any disadvantage to your access to live Sessions or other Platform features.

18.8 Right to Modify or Discontinue

Bulbul reserves the right to modify, update, suspend, or permanently discontinue Bulbul Friend at any time without notice or liability. Any learning profile, personality adaptation, or conversation history may be altered, reset, or lost upon such modification. Bulbul is not liable for any such loss.

19.1 Mandatory AI Monitoring

AI monitoring of live Sessions is a mandatory condition of using the Session service. You cannot opt out of AI monitoring while using the Session service. By booking or accepting a Session, you irrevocably consent to AI monitoring of that Session as a condition of your use.

19.2 Scope of Monitoring

AI session monitoring covers: (a) audio content; (b) video content where cameras are enabled; (c) chat messages; and (d) behavioral patterns and interaction data. Monitoring occurs both live and retrospectively through post-Session analysis.

19.3 Just-In-Time Notice

A visible on-screen notice is displayed at the commencement of every Session confirming recording and AI monitoring. Continuation of the Session after this notice constitutes reaffirmation of your consent.

19.4 Purpose of Monitoring

AI session monitoring is used for: quality assurance and teaching performance review; detection of prohibited conduct; post-Session content flagging; safeguarding; and improvement of Bulbul’s AI systems on an anonymized aggregated basis.

19.5 Tutor Performance Assessment

AI monitoring outputs may be used in Speaking Specialist performance assessments. As a Speaking Specialist, you consent to this use through these Terms and your Freelancer Agreement.

19.6 Student Camera

Your camera as a Student is optional and encouraged but not mandatory. Where your camera is enabled, AI monitoring applies to both audio and video. Tutor camera is mandatory at all times.

20.1 Payment Processing

All payments for Bulbul services are processed through a third-party Payment Gateway. By making a payment, you agree to the Payment Gateway’s terms in addition to these Terms. Bulbul accepts no liability for technical failures, processing errors, security incidents, or disputes arising from or relating to the Payment Gateway’s services.

20.2 No Storage of Card Data

As of the effective date of these Terms, Bulbul does not store, access, process, or retain any card numbers, CVV codes, card expiry dates, or card authentication data on its own servers. All card payment data is handled exclusively within the Payment Gateway’s PCI-DSS compliant infrastructure. Bulbul’s liability in respect of card data is expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by UAE law.

20.3 Future Card Storage

In the event that Bulbul introduces direct payment processing or stored payment methods in the future, Bulbul will update its Privacy Policy and these Terms accordingly. Continued use of the Platform following such notification constitutes your acceptance of the updated payment terms.

20.4 Payout Financial Data

For processing payments to Speaking Specialists and Affiliates, Bulbul collects and stores: full legal name or registered business name, IBAN number, payment amount, and payment reference. This data is collected solely for payout processing, stored with reasonable security measures in compliance with UAE PDPL, and will not be shared with any third party except the banking institution processing the transfer and any legally required regulatory body.

20.5 Accuracy of Financial Data

You are solely responsible for providing accurate, current, and complete bank account information. Bulbul shall not be liable for any failed, delayed, or misdirected payment resulting from incorrect or incomplete account details. The beneficiary name must exactly match the legal name registered on the Platform.

20.6 VAT and Taxes

All prices displayed on the Platform are inclusive of UAE VAT at the standard rate of five percent (5%). Bulbul issues a tax invoice for every payment it receives. If the applicable VAT rate changes, Bulbul may adjust its prices accordingly in compliance with UAE Federal Tax Authority requirements. You are solely responsible for any taxes, reporting obligations, or compliance requirements applicable to payments you receive or make in your jurisdiction.

20.7 Currency

All transactions are processed in UAE Dirhams (AED). Bulbul is not liable for any currency conversion losses or international transaction fees charged by your bank or card issuer.

20.8 AML Compliance

Bulbul is subject to UAE Federal Law No. 20 of 2019 on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism. Bulbul reserves the right to monitor, flag, suspend, refuse, or report any transaction it reasonably suspects to be connected with money laundering, fraud, sanctions violations, or unlawful activity to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit without prior notification to you. Bulbul may freeze associated funds during any such investigation.

20.9 Refund Policy

Refunds are available only where a Student requests a refund within thirty (30) calendar days of their initial package purchase, only if their first Session has been delivered and their second Session has not yet been used. No refund is available outside these conditions. All other payments made through the Platform are final and non-refundable unless otherwise required by applicable UAE consumer protection law. Bulbul reserves the right to update its refund policy at any time by publishing the updated policy on the Platform.

20.10 Platform Service Fee

Bulbul charges a Platform Service Fee on each completed Session, deducted from the Speaking Specialist’s session earnings before payout. For payment purposes, a Session is deemed completed when the session credit is debited from the Student’s account. The applicable fee rates are communicated to Speaking Specialists at onboarding and are accessible through the Platform dashboard. Bulbul reserves the right to modify Platform Service Fee rates with thirty (30) days’ notice through the Platform. Continued delivery of Sessions after notice of a rate change constitutes acceptance of the updated rate.

20.11 Tax Invoicing and Withholding

Bulbul may be required by applicable UAE, international, or local tax law to collect tax identification information from Speaking Specialists and Affiliates, report earnings to tax authorities, withhold taxes from payouts, or issue tax documentation on their behalf. If you fail to provide sufficient tax documentation when requested, Bulbul may withhold all or part of your payout until such documentation is received. By accepting payments through the Platform, you authorize Bulbul to issue invoices, receipts, or similar documentation on your behalf as required by UAE Federal Tax Authority requirements or applicable law. You remain solely responsible for your own tax filing and compliance obligations in your jurisdiction.

20.12 Transaction Limits

Bulbul reserves the right, at any time and without prior notice, to impose limits on: (a) the value of any individual transaction; (b) the cumulative value of all transactions conducted by a User during a specified period; (c) the number of transactions or payouts per day or other period; and (d) the maximum payout amount per cycle. These limits may be applied at Bulbul’s sole discretion for fraud prevention, AML compliance, Platform security, or risk management purposes. You have no right to challenge transaction limits imposed by Bulbul in good faith.

21.1 Bulbul’s Role

Bulbul acts as a commercial intermediary facilitating the collection of Student payments and the disbursement of payouts to Speaking Specialists and Affiliates. Bulbul is not a bank, financial institution, payment processor, or electronic money institution.

21.2 Gateway Failures

If a payment fails, is declined, is delayed, is reversed, or is lost due to any act or omission of the Payment Gateway, your bank, card network, or any other third-party financial institution, Bulbul is not liable beyond its reasonable efforts to facilitate a resolution. Bulbul’s liability for gateway- related failures is expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by UAE law.

21.3 Payout Failures

If you do not receive a payout due to incorrect bank details, bank rejection, gateway processing failure, or any third-party failure outside Bulbul’s direct control, Bulbul will make one (1) reprocessing attempt within five (5) Business Days of being notified in writing. Payout failure notifications must be submitted to contact@bulbulclasses.com and must include your full legal name, IBAN number, expected payout amount, and payout cycle reference. Notifications submitted through any other channel do not trigger Bulbul’s reprocessing obligation. After this single reprocessing attempt, Bulbul’s obligation is fully discharged. Any further reprocessing is entirely at Bulbul’s sole discretion. Bulbul may charge a reasonable

administrative processing fee for any payout reprocessing required beyond the initial reprocessing attempt.

21.4 Chargeback and Fraudulent Payment Reversal

Any User who initiates a chargeback, payment reversal, or payment dispute with their bank or card issuer without first completing Bulbul’s internal dispute resolution process as set out in Section 21.5 and receiving Bulbul’s written response thereto is immediately and materially in breach of these Terms. Bulbul reserves the right to: (a) immediately terminate your account; (b) forfeit all credits, balances, and pending payments; (c) pursue you for the full amount of the disputed transaction plus a liquidated damages sum equal to three (3) times the disputed transaction value, plus all legal fees, recovery costs, and administrative charges. The Parties agree that this liquidated damages sum represents a genuine pre-estimate of the losses Bulbul would sustain, taking into account banking fees, administrative costs, staff time, reputational damage, and disruption to Platform operations. A chargeback is a material breach irrespective of its stated grounds where it is filed before Bulbul’s written response to a dispute notice is received.

21.5 Payment Disputes

Any payment dispute must be raised in writing to contact@bulbulclasses.com within fourteen (14) Business Days of the disputed transaction. Bulbul will investigate and respond within a reasonable period. Where applicable mandatory consumer protection law prescribes a minimum dispute period, that minimum period shall apply. Raising a chargeback before receiving Bulbul’s written response to a dispute notice constitutes a material breach of these Terms regardless of timing.

21.6 Sanctions Compliance

Bulbul relies on your representations in Section 41 and on the sanctions and AML screening conducted by its Payment Gateway and banking partners as part of standard financial transaction processing. Bulbul reserves the right to immediately terminate your account, freeze associated funds, and report to UAE authorities upon becoming aware through any means of any sanctions connection. Bulbul’s obligation is to act promptly upon credible notification of a sanctions risk.

24.1 Review System

The Platform operates a bidirectional feedback system. You may rate and review your Speaking Specialist following a Session. Speaking Specialists may report Students following a Session.

24.2 Ownership of Reviews

All reviews, ratings, feedback, and reports you submit through the Platform are the exclusive property of Bulbul upon submission. You irrevocably assign all rights in that content to Bulbul and grant Bulbul a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, use, modify, publish, and distribute that feedback for any legitimate business purpose including marketing.

24.3 Moderation Rights

Bulbul reserves the absolute right to moderate, edit, remove, suppress, or decline to publish any review, rating, or feedback at any time without prior notice, stated reason, or compensation.

24.4 False Reviews

You must not submit false, misleading, defamatory, or malicious reviews or reports. Doing so constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may result in immediate account termination and civil liability.

26.1 Applicable Law

Bulbul processes Personal Data in compliance with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL) and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by virtue of Bulbul’s use of Google Cloud Platform infrastructure hosted in Ireland. Bulbul has entered into a Data Processing Agreement with Google Cloud Platform in accordance with GDPR Article 28. Transfers of Personal Data from the EU/EEA to the UAE are governed by Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission in accordance with GDPR Article 46(2)(c), copies of which are available upon request from contact@bulbulclasses.com.

26.2 Data Collected

Bulbul collects the following categories of Personal Data: account registration information including name, email address, nationality, and contact details; session recordings, audio, and video; conversation transcripts with Bulbul Friend; learning profiles and progress data; payment and payout data including IBAN and legal name; device information, IP addresses, and usage logs; communications through the Platform; and any other data you submit during Platform use.

26.3 Lawful Basis for Processing

Bulbul processes Personal Data on the following lawful bases: contractual necessity for session delivery (including mandatory session recording as a condition of the Session service), account management, and payment processing; legitimate interest for quality assurance, performance monitoring, AI model improvement, internal research, and fraud prevention; explicit separate consent, collected through a dedicated opt-in mechanism at registration independent of these Terms, for marketing communications; and legal obligation for AML compliance and regulatory reporting. Session recording data is processed on the basis of contractual necessity and may not be refused by any User who uses the Session service.

26.4 AI Training Consent

Where Bulbul uses interaction data for AI model improvement and training purposes, this is disclosed at registration through a dedicated consent mechanism separate from acceptance of these Terms. Where you have provided consent for AI training, that consent may be withdrawn at any time by contacting contact@bulbulclasses.com, subject to Bulbul’s right to retain anonymized data as described in Section 26.5.

26.5 Automated Profiling and Your Rights

Bulbul uses automated processing including AI monitoring and Bulbul Friend to build learning profiles, assess language ability, monitor session behavior, and generate performance insights. If you are an EU resident, you have rights under GDPR Article 22 not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects. Where Bulbul’s AI monitoring outputs are used in decisions that significantly affect you, you may request human review by contacting contact@bulbulclasses.com.

26.6 AI Model Improvement on Anonymized Data

Upon account deletion, Bulbul will delete your personally identifiable data within thirty (30) days. Anonymized and aggregated data derived from your interactions may be retained by Bulbul for AI system improvement. Bulbul applies anonymization techniques designed to meet applicable data protection standards. If retained data is subsequently found to be capable of re-identification, Bulbul will delete it upon becoming aware. Genuinely anonymized data is not subject to deletion requests.

26.7 Cross-Border Data Transfer

Your data may be stored on servers located in the United Arab Emirates and/or such other jurisdictions as Bulbul’s infrastructure and hosting arrangements require from time to time. Bulbul will notify Users through the Platform of any material change to primary data storage jurisdictions that affects their rights under applicable data protection law. Third-party AI model providers may also process interaction data outside the UAE. Bulbul implements Standard Contractual Clauses and other appropriate contractual safeguards for all cross-border transfers of personal data from the EU/EEA. Copies of applicable transfer mechanisms are available upon request from contact@bulbulclasses.com.

26.8 Third-Party AI Providers

Bulbul Friend uses third-party AI model APIs. Your interaction data is transmitted to these providers under Data Processing Agreements. By using Bulbul Friend, you consent to this processing.

26.9 Your Rights

Subject to applicable law and Bulbul’s legitimate interests, you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your Personal Data. Requests must be submitted in writing to

contact@bulbulclasses.com. Bulbul will respond within thirty (30) calendar days. Data deletion requests cannot be honored during any active dispute, investigation, or legal proceeding.

26.10 Data Security

Bulbul implements reasonable technical and organizational security measures to protect Personal Data. No system is entirely secure. Bulbul does not warrant that the Platform will be immune from unauthorized access or data breaches.

26.11 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a Personal Data breach, Bulbul will notify affected Users and relevant authorities as required by UAE PDPL and applicable law within the legally prescribed timeframes.

26.12 Speaking Specialists as Data Controllers

As noted in Section 9.11, Speaking Specialists who receive Student Personal Data in the course of delivering Sessions may act as independent data controllers under applicable law. In that capacity, Speaking Specialists are solely responsible for their own data protection compliance in respect of any Student data they handle outside the Platform’s infrastructure. Bulbul shall not be liable for any data protection breach arising from a Speaking Specialist’s independent handling of Student data.

28.1 Bulbul’s Ownership

All intellectual property on the Platform, including but not limited to Platform Materials, course content, curriculum frameworks, teaching methodologies, dialect-specific learning approaches, session recordings, assessments, AI systems including Bulbul Friend, website design, user interface, logos, brand assets, software, databases, and all Work Product created by Speaking Specialists, is the exclusive property of Bulbul (FZC) or its licensed providers and is protected under UAE and international intellectual property law.

28.2 Work Product Assignment

All Work Product created, contributed to, or delivered by Speaking Specialists through or in connection with the Platform is deemed assigned to Bulbul and is the sole and exclusive property of Bulbul. To the extent UAE Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright requires a bilateral written assignment for copyright transfer, such assignment is expressly effected through the separately executed Speaking Specialist Freelancer Agreement signed by each Speaking Specialist at onboarding. The Freelancer Agreement prevails over this Section for Work Product matters between Bulbul and the Speaking Specialist.

28.3 Restrictions on Use

You may not reproduce, copy, distribute, publish, display, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit any Platform content, Platform Materials, or intellectual property without Bulbul’s prior written consent. As a Speaking Specialist you specifically may not use any Work Product, Platform Materials, or Bulbul’s proprietary curriculum in any other job, role, platform, or commercial activity.

28.4 User Content License

You grant Bulbul a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, analyze, and retain any content you upload to the Platform for operational, quality assurance, compliance, marketing, and AI improvement purposes. This license does not extend to Personal Data or personal materials not intended for public use, which are governed solely by the Privacy Policy in Section 26.

28.5 Feedback and Suggestions

Any feedback, ideas, suggestions, or improvement proposals you submit to Bulbul through any channel become the exclusive property of Bulbul immediately upon submission without any compensation, acknowledgment, or obligation. You waive any moral rights or claims in respect of such submissions.

28.6 Tutor Profile Content Marketing License

All profile photographs, introduction videos, written profile descriptions, and other content uploaded by Speaking Specialists to their Platform profiles are licensed to Bulbul on an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide basis for marketing and promotional use as described in Section 9.9. This license survives account termination to the extent that Bulbul has already published the content in marketing materials at the time of termination, subject to any valid removal request made in accordance with Section 9.9.

30.1 Feature Modification

Bulbul reserves the right at any time and without liability to:

• Add, modify, suspend, or permanently remove any Platform feature, tool, function, or service including Bulbul Friend, without prior notice.
• Change the design, layout, or functionality of the Platform without prior notice.
• Modify, restrict, or discontinue access to any content, materials, or AI features without prior notice.
• Alter any commission structure, credit system, or payment mechanism applicable to future transactions. Where such a change materially reduces the commission rate or credit expiry period applicable to amounts you have already earned or purchased, Bulbul will provide thirty (30) days’ notice through the Platform before the change takes effect on your existing accrued amounts.
• Introduce new features or AI capabilities without requiring additional consent beyond these Terms.

30.2 Discontinuation Refunds

Where Bulbul permanently discontinues a paid feature for which a Student has purchased specific credits, Bulbul’s obligation is limited to refunding, at Bulbul’s discretion, the pro-rata value of unused credits for that specific feature that were purchased within six (6) months preceding the discontinuation date. You have no right to claim compensation, refund, or damages for discontinuation of any free, promotional, or general Platform feature.

30.3 Speaking Specialist Payment Withholding

Bulbul reserves the right to withhold, deduct, reduce, offset, or permanently forfeit all or any part of any amount owed or accrued to a Speaking Specialist for any of the following reasons, at Bulbul’s sole discretion: progressive session penalties under Section 16; misconduct under these Terms or the Freelancer Agreement; damages caused to any Student, Bulbul staff member, or the Platform; breach of confidentiality, NDA, or IP obligations; any liability or cost incurred by Bulbul arising from the Speaking Specialist’s conduct; or any other reason Bulbul determines warrants a financial remedy. Bulbul’s determination of the amount to withhold or deduct is final and reflects its assessment of the harm caused and costs incurred. Speaking Specialists have no right to challenge deduction decisions made by Bulbul in good faith exercise of this right.

31.1 Consequences

If you are found responsible for, associated with, or reasonably suspected of involvement in any of the above, you may face: (a) immediate permanent account termination without refund; (b) forfeiture of all credits, balances, and pending payments; (c) civil claims for full actual damages, consequential losses, lost revenue, and all legal fees; (d) criminal referral to the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), UAE

Cybercrime Prosecution, Federal Public Prosecution, or any other relevant UAE or international authority; and (e) international law enforcement cooperation where applicable.

31.2 Security Monitoring

Bulbul actively monitors the Platform for suspicious activity, anomalous behavior, and security threats. By using the Platform, you consent to this security monitoring. Bulbul may rate-limit, temporarily block, or permanently ban any IP address, device, or account exhibiting suspicious behavior, without prior notice.

31.3 Evidence Preservation

In the event of any suspected cyberattack, security breach, or prohibited technical conduct, Bulbul will preserve all relevant evidence and may disclose it to UAE authorities or courts without notifying you.

32.1 Bulbul’s Absolute Right

Bulbul reserves the absolute and unconditional right to suspend, restrict, block, disable, throttle, or permanently terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice, at Bulbul’s sole and unchallengeable discretion. This right applies equally to Students, Speaking Specialists, and Affiliates.

32.2 Grounds for Termination

Without limiting Bulbul’s general right above, Bulbul may terminate or suspend your account for reasons including but not limited to: violation of any provision of these Terms; prohibited or inappropriate conduct; fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative behavior; poor performance or repeated complaints; non-payment or payment fraud; systematic abuse of cancellation or rescheduling policies; cybersecurity violations; IP theft; breach of confidentiality or NDA obligations; or any conduct that in Bulbul’s reasonable judgment is harmful to the Platform, other Users, or Bulbul’s reputation.

32.3 Blocking and Re-registration

Bulbul may, at its sole discretion, block any User from re-registering on the Platform following suspension or termination. Bulbul’s Admin team has sole and absolute authority to block, unblock, disable, or reinstate any User account at any time. Where a User has been blocked from the Platform, they may not re-register or access the Platform in any capacity unless and until Bulbul’s Admin team has expressly unblocked them. Attempting to circumvent a block through a new account, email address, phone number, or device constitutes a material breach of these Terms.

32.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination of your account: (a) all access rights and the Platform License immediately cease; (b) all unused session credits and hours are subject to withholding, reduction, or forfeiture at Bulbul’s discretion as described in Section 15; (c) all pending affiliate commissions may be withheld at Bulbul’s discretion; (d) Bulbul retains all data, communications, recordings, and materials associated with your account; (e) your confidentiality, NDA, and destruction of materials obligations survive indefinitely; and (f) all accrued financial obligations that are not subject to withholding or forfeiture survive termination.

32.5 No Liability for Denial of Service

Bulbul shall not be liable to you for any loss, damage, cost, lost earnings, or claim arising from the suspension, restriction, blocking, or termination of your account, regardless of the reason.

45.1 Good Faith Negotiation

In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the use of the Platform, you must first notify Bulbul in writing at contact@bulbulclasses.com with a clear description of the dispute. Both Parties shall engage in good faith negotiations for a period of thirty (30) calendar days from the date of written notice (“Negotiation Period”) before initiating any formal legal proceedings. Bulbul will engage substantively during the Negotiation Period without committing to any specific response timeline.

45.2 Arbitration

If the dispute is not resolved within the Negotiation Period, either Party may refer it to binding arbitration administered by the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre (SHICAC) or such other recognized UAE arbitration body as Bulbul may designate. The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator in English in Sharjah, UAE. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding.

45.3 Court Jurisdiction

If arbitration is not invoked or is unavailable for a particular dispute, the courts of Sharjah shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

45.4 Consumer Protection Rights

Notwithstanding the above, if you are a consumer under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2023 on Consumer Protection, you retain your right to file a complaint with the UAE Consumer Protection Department, Ministry of Economy, or any other competent consumer authority.

45.5 Injunctive Relief Exception

Nothing in this Section prevents Bulbul from seeking immediate injunctive relief or emergency orders from any competent court in connection with a breach or threatened breach of the confidentiality, non-disclosure, intellectual property, or cybersecurity provisions of these Terms.