Dubai forum to see opportunities in domain name sector

On the 3rd and 4th of February the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) of UAE, ICANN and ISOC will host the Middle East DNS forum in Dubai.

The forum will examine business opportunities within the domain name sector and provide participants from governments, ccTLD and gTLD Registries, Registrars, and the broader business community an opportunity to share experiences and best practices.

"We are very excited to witness the birth of the Middle East DNS Forum this year. The DNS Forum is the place for all interested parties in the Middle East to come together, share ideas and confer about how to further advance the domain name industry in the region," said Baher Esmat, ICANN’s Regional Vice President, Middle East.

"Developing the domain name industry is one of ICANN’s strategic objectives in the Middle East and we are committed to work with all stakeholders towards achieving this objective,"

The forum will cover topics including new gTLDs, registry strategies for domain name growth, the role of ccTLDs in strengthening the domain name industry at national and international level, registrar accreditation in a borderless environment and registrar strategies in a competitive environment.

ICANN’s Generic Domains Division recently announced that the number of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) delegated into the Internet’s Root Zone has topped 100. Delegation is one of the final steps before the registries that control the domains may begin accepting registrations for names that will use the new gTLDs.

"For the first time, Internet users across the world will be able to use generic Top-Level Domain names entirely in their native languages," said Akram Atallah, President of Global Domain’s Division. "This change will promote closer connections between people, brands and organisations and will in turn provide new routes for businesses to reach their customers. Today we hope to provide businesses with an insight into the emerging business opportunities in the domain name sector".

The first new gTLD to be placed into the root, under the new program, was dot-shabaka

"We are now entering a significant phase in the development of the Middle East domain name industry with the introduction of Top-Level Domains such as .? set to totally transform the dynamics of existing structures," said Yasmin Omer, General Manager of dotShabaka Registry and a Platinum Sponsor of the Middle East DNS Forum.

"Events such as the Middle East DNS Forum are crucial to encourage the necessary collaboration and policy debate needed to ensure we can tackle the challenges of building a more robust industry,"

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