Registration of Arabic Domain Names Under the Arabic Domain (.السعودية) Begins

The Communications and Information Technology Commission, represented by the Saudi Network Information Center, intends to open registration of Arabic domain names under the Arabic domain (.السعودية) in two phases, starting from the 17th of Jumada al-Thani 1431H, for those wishing to register.

Those wishing to register from the public and private sectors will be able to register their own Arabic domain names during the special (first) phase, according to specific standards and conditions, while individuals will be able to register their own Arabic domain names during the general (second) phase, which begins on the 18th of Shawwal 1431H. Registration in both phases will be as follows:

1. Special phase: Extends from 10:00 am on Monday 17 Jumada al-Thani 1431H (corresponding to 31 May 2010), and ends at 10:00 am on Monday 30 Rajab 1431H (corresponding to 12 July 2010). Any entity may participate during this phase by requesting registration of Arabic domain names matching their official or commercial name or trademark in Arabic, as stated in the commercial registration certificate or trademark certificate, or the official name for government and quasi-government entities (without modification, abbreviation, or translation). Priority will be given to applications from government and quasi-government entities, and otherwise, the Arabic domain name will be allocated to whoever holds the oldest official documents (according to the date of the commercial registration certificate or the date of the trademark certificate) that match the same name requested for registration.

2. General phase: This phase begins at 10:00 am on Monday 18 Shawwal 1431H (corresponding to 27 September 2010), during which any natural or legal person may register Arabic domain names on a first-come, first-served basis.

In this context, the official spokesperson for the Communications and Information Technology Commission, Mr. Sultan Al-Malik, revealed that the approval and publication of two regulatory bylaws had been completed — the first general and permanent for registration under the Arabic domain (.السعودية), and the other special and temporary for organizing the process of opening registration under this domain. He explained that this stimulating step, with the Arabic-language addresses it provides, comes within the framework of the Commission's efforts to raise internet usage rates among citizens in the Kingdom. For more information and to review the new regulations governing Arabic domain names, you can visit the website of the Saudi Network Information Center (www.nic.net.sa).