The United Arab Emirates Network Information Center (UAEnic), a business operating within Etisalat, announced changes to the .ae domain name registry process. 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 legal framework to those wishing to register under the .ae name. In addition, price reductions of up to 60 percent per year and two new domain name categories for professionals and individuals have also been introduced.
Te new registration and dispute documents of .ae received the endorsement of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the international organization 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.
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, organization or individual to identify their site. 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.
In an additional move to further encourage users to register under .ae, UAEnic has reduced fees of registration by over 60 percent for government, educational and non-profit organizations, and by 25 percent for commercial companies and network providers. Previously, all domain names cost 200 Emirati dirhams per year. This has now been reduced to Dh150 for commercial companies and network providers and just Dh75 for other organizations. The price for a personal domain name is set at Dh50 per year.
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 Internet is currently dominated by the .com’ domain and this is starting to reach saturation point. By finalizing 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,” said Abdulla Hashim, UAEnic manager.
In May 1995, the United Arab Emirates Network Information Center (UAEnic) started handling the registry operations of the Internet domain name for .ae Top Level Domain. Now with over 7,000 domain names registered, it handles the day-to-day operations of Domain Name Registration services and also acts as a Local Internet Registry, where it assigns IP Address to the Local Internet Community.
Etisalat is the UAE’s provider of advanced communication solutions, offering multimedia and value added services in fixed line and GSM, Internet services and e-commerce solutions. It’s divisions and subsidiaries include Smart cards and related solutions, Data Clearing House, Contact Centre, Submarine cable laying and maintenance services, several international submarine cable links, an international Internet exchange, Academy and College and Cable TV. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
