'.ae' domain name registry introduces fundamental registration changes

The moves are designed to enhance and structure the UAE's increasing presence on the Internet as the country's business and community continues to move on-line.

The new registration policies, rules, terms and conditions provide a high quality legal framework to those wishing to register under the '.ae' name. In addition, price reductions of up to 60 per cent per year and two new domain name categories for professionals and individuals have also been introduced.

Critically, the new registration and dispute documents of '.ae' received the endorsement of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the international organisation dedicated to promoting the use and protection of intellectual property. The Dispute Resolution Policy and rules of '.ae' are new but have been based on 'ICANN' uniform dispute resolution policy (Policy and Rules). The endorsement makes UAEnic the first Top Level Domain administrator (TLD) in the Middle East to have obtained WIPO endorsement and the first to observe the best international standards and practices for domain name registration and disputes.

Domain names describe the web site address that is assigned to particular company, organisation or individual to identify their site, for example www.etisalat.ae. Should the domain name already be taken, the new policies, rules, terms and conditions outline procedures for contesting that name and the steps available for resolving the dispute.

'The new rules, terms and conditions are key to laying the foundations as the UAE increases its presence online,' explained Abdulla Hashim, Manager, UAEnic. 'It describes the subjects of the domain name and includes registration practices, procedures, intellectual property rights, the registration agreement and the availability of contact details. The section detailing the dispute resolution, which is key to the new proposals, details alternative means for challenging existing domain names.'

In an additional move to further encourage users to register under '.ae', UAEnic has reduced fees of registration by over 60% for government, educational and non-profit organisations, and by 25% for commercial companies and network providers. Previously, all domain names cost 200 (AED) per year. This has now been reduced to 150 (AED) for commercial companies and network providers and just 75 (AED) for other organisations. The price for a personal domain name is lower still at 50 (AED) per year.

To complete the improvements being announced, UAEnic has also increased the number of domain name categories from seven to nine. As the use of the Internet grows in the UAE, so will the number of web sites that require a UAE web address. The first of the new categories is the '.pro.ae' domain, which is designed for professionals, including doctors and lawyers, who wish to set up a web site in the UAE. Secondly, the '.name.ae' domain has been created for individual users who wish to build a personal web site.

'The combination of these three improvements is a fundamental move by UAEnic to improve our service of assigning names to the customer and increasing the UAE's identity on the Internet,' said Abdulla Hashim. The Internet is currently dominated by the '.com' domain and this is starting to reach saturation point. By finalising a solid policy framework, reducing fees of registration and extending the domain name categories, UAEnic is preparing the ground for the UAE to become truly e-enabled.'

By providing policies, rules, terms and conditions for registrations and disputes, decreasing fees and extending the categories, UAEnic is putting in place the necessary measures to cope with the increasing e-economy and e-society in the UAE. The '.ae' domain names will provide the UAE with an identity in cyberspace and allow the country to be seen as making bold steps into the on-line world.