Arabic Domainers Ready to Roar with .امارات (.emarat)

Arabic domainers are excited about the newly announced .IDN extension, which is .امارات (.emarat).  The release is planned for the second quarter of 2010.  The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority will be managing this release. The director general of the TRA urged the use of this .IDN as he appealed to Arabic users’ nationalism, “We encourage all companies and entities in the UAE to register for .ae and .emarat as it represents their local business identity and brings their country pride.”

The Arabic speaking (and searching) demographic has been a frustrating one as internet usage in Arab speaking countries is under 25%.  Though it is a very promising population as internet usage is exploding at a 1,176.8 % growth rate.  (See link).  Arabic IDNs are cheap now but for a reason.  As Arabic users as a whole haven’t begun using the Internet, the logic goes that they are not tied to .com’s (as they only started using the Internet recently), and they can be swayed to use new IDN.IDNs such as .امارات (.emarat).

Given the lack of IDN.com familiarity and loyalty, the Arabic market is one of high-risk, high-reward and new IDN.IDN owners could reap the rewards.

*On a policy note, NIC.AE has embarassed itself with the discriminatory practice of letting anyone register .ae domains except for Israeli citizens or entities. (See link).  Hopefuly, the TRA will be more open-minded.