New domain name policy from September15

The UAE Network Information Centre (UAEnic), a unit of Etisalat, has announced a change in its registration policy of domain names registered directly under .ae top level domain.

The new policy will allow registration of domain names directly under .ae top level domain (TLD) for everybody (companies and individuals) based on first come, first serve basis and it will start from September 15, said Abdulla Hashim, UAEnic manager.

Currently, registration of domain names directly under .ae top level domain is restricted only to commercial companies.

Companies and corporations were invited to register their desired domain names directly under .ae top level domain before the implementation of the new policy.

This step aims at enhancing and promoting the increasingly growing online presence of the UAE in line with the country's policy that encourages the adoption of Internet technology, Hashim added.

"UAEnic is committed to promoting the Internet and name of the UAE in cyber space by encouraging both individuals and organisations to have their own domain names under .ae.

".ae is the digital online identity of the UAE. Apart from representing the country on the Internet, it also plays a critical role in extending its global reach.

"The rapid adoption of the .ae domain name in the UAE is a national obligation and will serve to enhance the online presence of the UAE and will be in line with the recent e-government and e-education initiatives that have been launched in the country."

Hashim further pointed out that over the past three years, there has been a growing global trend among businesses, government departments and even individuals, to be present on the Internet under their country code TLD as compared to the .com TLD.

"Being assigned a domain name of choice under the .com TLD is no longer assured, as it is fast reaching saturation point. By opting for a country code TLD, businesses and government departments can maintain the integrity of their presence on the Internet, on the one hand, and be more closely associated with their country of origin, on the other," he added.

UAEnic also plays a crucial role in protecting the interests of its customers through the proper management of their domain names. UAEnic website, which can be accessed at the URL prompt of www.uaenic.ae, carries in-depth information on the necessary procedures, for the benefit of customers in the UAE.

"There are also plans to have second level domain name under 'ae' shortly. Two new sub domains - '.pro.ae' for the professional and 'name.ae' for the individual user - have also been assigned."

The UAE is expected to have about 10,000 domain names featuring 'ae' by the end of the year. It currently stands at over 7,000 plus.

The number of dial-up subscribers in the UAE is forecast to touch 300,000 by year- end from just over 250,000. The user base would touch one million plus during the same period.