.dubai Pre-Register Domain - .dubai Domain Information

MISSION/PURPOSE OF THE .DUBAI TLD

The mission/purpose of the .dubai TLD is to promote the Emirate of Dubai (Dubai) and its constituents including, but not limited to, its residents, culture, events, commerce, economy, institutions, government and landmarks through the creation of an online space and brand identity thereby reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading global knowledge, economic and socio-cultural hub.

The .dubai TLD will establish an online brand identity, which reflects the global economic and commercial success underpinning Dubai and its people. It will serve to complement existing methods of communication for government-affiliated entities and organisations registered in Dubai, seeking to promote Dubai by establishing official and authoritative channels for online communication. This function of the TLD is consistent with Dubai's status as a global leader in innovation and growth, ensuring Dubai's online presence is capable of fulfilling the future needs of its growing population and an ever-changing, ever-expanding internet landscape.

The applicant, Dubai eGovernment Department (DEG) of the Emirate of Dubai, employs multiple information and communication technology channels to provide services to those who live and trade in Dubai, in line with its vision of improving the lives of people and businesses. DEG works in conjunction with all government departments and entities that come under the government umbrella in Dubai. The strategic importance of embodying the DEG vision stems from its ultimate goal to reinforce Dubai's position as a leading knowledge and economic hub. As such, the operation of the .dubai TLD as the authoritative online space for promoting Dubai is within the ambit of DEG's existing functions.

DEG is committed to operating the .dubai TLD under the following principles:

Collaborative and inclusive: DEG intends to collaborate with all the officially registered organisations in Dubai including government affiliated entities, registered businesses, non-government organisations, associations and various groups to increase their awareness and to encourage them in obtaining .dubai domain names to promote Dubai in unison:

Customer Focused: DEG intends for .dubai domain names to reflect various economic, social and cultural aspects of Dubai and its actual organisations and institutions present in real life. The choice of self-explanatory, intuitive and easy-to-understand .dubai domain names in certain cases will help in effortlessly perceiving the purpose of .dubai domain names by various Internet user segments and will promote the achievement of the TLDs mission. DEG also intends to foster an environment whereby not only existing organisations in Dubai can participate in the new online name space but also new local innovative and successful online businesses can be created utilizing .dubai domain names.

Trust and confidence inspiring: DEG intends to create a dedicated, authoritative and legitimate online space for all participating organisations to enhance the trust and confidence in online services in Dubai. Internet users will be assured of the existence of these organisations and they will be verified through a highly efficient process (executed online) by DEG. Privacy and confidentiality will be preserved for all the non-publicly available data.

Fair, transparent and equitable: DEG intends to formulate publicly available policies and their fact and evidence based implementations for allocating and administering .dubai domain names including but not limited to registration, privacy, complaints, disputes, potential revocations, etc. to ensure fair, transparent and equitable operating processes and procedures. DEG intends to utilize public consultations for policies wherever applicable.

Innovative and robust: DEG intends to utilize leading edge robust technology infrastructure coupled with effective and efficient processes in operating the .dubai TLD. DEG is in the process of forming strategic partnerships and alliances with local and international bodies to adopt best practices and to innovate through liaising with them.

Moral and ethical: DEG intends to preserve general morally and ethically accepted principles and public order in terms of the selection of .dubai domain names as well as the actual published content. DEG may conduct periodic audits to sustain these principles.

DEG is the government department responsible for publishing website guidelines and standards that, among other things, dictate which domain name must be used by each government entity. DEG also conducts biannual evaluations for compliance with these standards. DEG will revise these standards to mandate each government entity within Dubai to use a .dubai domain name upon delegation of the .dubai TLD.

DEG strives to achieve a globally competitive knowledge economy through the smart use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) including Internet. In this context, the .dubai TLD will contribute to regionally and globally promoting Dubai by encompassing its constituent organisations in a prudently planned manner to enhance online accessibility.

The registration of .dubai domain names will be restricted to entities affiliated with the government of Dubai, and organisations registered in Dubai. This restriction is recognition of the role of these entities as chief advocates for promoting Dubai for the benefit of all residents and organisations in Dubai and Internet users in general and facilitates the establishment of official and authoritative channels of online communication. Hence, the .dubai TLD will convey a certain level of trust and confidence since .dubai domain names will only be registered to officially mandated government entities and officially registered organisations in Dubai. 

BENEFITS OF THE .DUBAI TLD

The six main beneficiaries who will gain advantage from the .dubai TLD are:

1. Entities affiliated with the Dubai Government: including government departments, authorities and foundations of the Emirate of Dubai. These entities will be eligible to register domain names that are related to their executive functions. Through the creation of the .dubai TLD, the greater availability of desired domain names will provide government-affiliated entities with the opportunity to promote their services and the Emirate of Dubai using appropriate, more succinct domain names - leading to more direct, intuitive navigation.

The .dubai TLD will benefit government-affiliated entities by allowing them to leverage the TLD's unique online identity and effectively communicate their vision, values and services, while emphasising their affiliation with the Emirate of Dubai as well as with the government of Dubai. This benefit will promote the transition to the online provision of government services and reduce the number of people visiting government offices, thereby increasing the productivity and efficiency in provision of services by government-affiliated entities. In addition, it is anticipated that the greater availability of information pertaining to the services provided by government-affiliated entities will improve the transparency of the provision of these services.

The delivery of more effective public services to those who live and work in Dubai promotes Dubai as an ideal location to work, live and invest. These benefits will facilitate the .dubai TLD's core function as the key promotional tool for all government-affiliated entities and serve to align the online activities of these entities, thereby ensuring a uniformity of approach.

2. Organisations registered in Dubai: including all businesses, non-profit organisations, NGO's and associations registered in Dubai or any of the Dubai Free Zones (within the jurisdiction of Dubai). These organisations will be eligible to register a .dubai domain name that matches or is close and substantially related to their name or service(s) rendered. The creation of an authoritative online space will provide registered organisations with a clear and trusted channel in which to communicate information and engage in e-commerce, as well as allow these entities to be identified as official organisations registered in Dubai.

The .dubai TLD will benefit organisations registered in Dubai by allowing them to leverage off the TLD's unique online identity and effectively promote their goods and services whilst emphasising their affiliation with the Emirate of Dubai. It will help organisations to gain the implicit trust of their customers through the affiliation with the Emirate of Dubai (since customers of businesses will have the assurance that the businesses are officially registered in Dubai). These benefits will facilitate the .dubai TLD's function as the key promotional tool for organisations and encourage these entities collectively to promote the mission/purpose of the .dubai TLD.

3. Residents of Dubai: residents of Dubai will benefit from the publication of all content by government-affiliated entities and organisations through .dubai domain names. This content will ultimately promote Dubai and benefit its residents. For example, .dubai domain names registered by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing will benefit residents of Dubai by, among other things, allowing them to build the .dubai online identity into their overall online marketing strategies. The elevation of Dubai onto the international stage through the .dubai TLD will boost tourism and investment in local initiatives, whilst continuing to develop an innovative online market which will ultimately serve to benefit the residents of Dubai.

4. Tourists and Visitors of Dubai: Dubai attracts a significant number of visitors every year as a leading regional business hub and also as a major touristic destination. Dubai's number of tourists in 2011 reached 9.3 million, up from 8.49 million reported in 2010, according to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the Emirate's tourism regulatory body. This positions Dubai in a favourable spot within the top ten most visited cities in the world.

Tourism related businesses (hotels, restaurants, tour operators, retail, cultural facilities such museums, art galleries, etc.) will all have the chance to benefit by registering their domain names under the .dubai TLD. This will allow tourism related businesses to promote themselves under the .dubai umbrella and will help them to affiliate themselves with the Emirate of Dubai. In turn, visitors and tourists will have more trust and confidence while accessing and using tourism related e-commerce services. Hence potentially millions of tourists and visitors can access .dubai domain names using shorter, more succinct domain names; this will lead to more direct, intuitive navigation.

5. DEG: The operation of the .dubai TLD will complement DEG's existing function as the government department responsible for promoting the use of information and communication technology in the provision of government services and in facilitating e-Transformation across the Emirate. The .dubai TLD will also support DEG's vision of improving the lives of people and businesses interacting with the government of Dubai, doing so by establishing authoritative communication channels by which government-affiliated entities and organisations may convey information. The .dubai TLD will also benefit DEG by functioning as a long-term asset that will be developed in line with the needs of Dubai, as well as responding to the ever-changing Internet landscape.

6. Internet Users: the .dubai TLD will benefit Internet users by granting them access to authoritative and reliable content, owing to the registration of .dubai domain names being restricted to government-affiliated entities and registered organisations - the ultimate authorities on legitimate information on Dubai. The creation of a single dedicated space to access all information relating to Dubai will also provide ease of navigation to Internet users.

GOALS OF THE .DUBAI TLD

The specific goals of the .dubai TLD are described below, along with the method for their measurement and the benefits associated with each goal.

Reputation of the .dubai TLD

Among government-affiliated entities and registered organisations, the first goal of the .dubai TLD is its recognition as the official, authoritative online space for the Emirate of Dubai. It is anticipated that this recognition will encourage the registration of .dubai domain names by these entities and also facilitate the function of the .dubai TLD as the key promotional tool for government-affiliated entities and organisations in Dubai. Among Internet users, the goal is that the .dubai TLD will be recognised as the official online platform for accessing authoritative content relating to Dubai - the virtual location of Dubai that will be accessible by Internet users around the globe.

Registration demand will be the key indicator of whether the .dubai TLD has achieved its intended reputation as the official, authoritative online space for the Emirate of Dubai. As a primary measure, DEG considers that meeting the projected registration volume will evidence its success in attaining the intended reputation. In addition, DEG will conduct social media surveys and market studies to measure the attainment of the intended reputation amongst Internet users; these will be conducted annually during the first five years after the TLD's launch to closely track awareness, reputation and use of the .dubai TLD.

Development of legitimate content online

The second goal of the .dubai TLD is for its introduction to advance the development of legitimate, accurate and up-to-date content that promotes the Emirate of Dubai online. It is anticipated that restricting the registration of domain names to government-affiliated entities and organisations will encourage these entities to publish content online. DEG's outreach and communications activities relating to the .dubai TLD will focus on encouraging these entities to embrace the benefits of the TLD by publishing legitimate online content.

DEG considers that attaining the intended reputation and achieving this goal will be symbiotic; for this reason the methods described above to measure the attainment of the intended reputation will also be utilised to measure whether DEG's goal of promoting the development of legitimate online content regarding Dubai is achieved.

Promoting the Transition to the Online Provision of Services

DEG anticipates that the introduction of the .dubai TLD will promote the further transition towards the online provision of government services and reduce the number of people visiting government offices - one of the stated goals of the Department. The .dubai TLD will provide registrants with an official communication channel which authoritatively emphasises their affiliation with Dubai and empowers these entities to provide their services online.

The .dubai TLD will support other initiatives implemented by DEG which aim to support and drive the online interaction and e-Transformation between government entities, organisations and the residents of Dubai. The achievement of this goal will be measured by reference to analysis frequently undertaken by DEG to determine the success of various initiatives aimed at reducing the number of people visiting government offices, promoting the provision of online government services and the overall adoption of online government and non-government services in the Emirate of Dubai.

ANTICIPATED CONTRIBUTION TO THE CURRENT SPACE

The Emirate of Dubai has experienced exponential growth in population, investment and infrastructure over the last two decades and is now considered a global leader in innovation. This growth has translated into a significant expansion of Dubai's diverse online presence relative to the TLDs used, the identity of the registrant and the subsequent legitimacy of content published.

The .dubai TLD will provide a high level of differentiation from existing TLDs, primarily in relation to its unique mission/purpose. No other TLD currently exists that is specifically devoted to the promotion and needs of a single city. The TLD will serve to consolidate Dubai's online presence by being one of the first TLDs added to the root in which a city's image and the values of that image are clearly communicated by and through the TLD via authoritative channels.

The .dubai TLD similarly addresses the needs of Internet users by providing an easily identifiable and dedicated TLD with assurances regarding the legitimacy of content. Those providing unauthoritative information pertaining to Dubai will be easily identifiable by the unavailability to them of a .dubai domain name. User experience within the .dubai TLD will centre on maintaining a degree of uniformity of the underlying religious, cultural and moral values of constituents of the Emirate of Dubai, and United Arab of Emirates in general.

The features of the .dubai TLD, as described above, clearly differentiate the .dubai TLD from existing TLDs, given the different needs that the .dubai TLD serves to address.

The introduction of the .dubai TLD will promote consumer choice and competition amongst existing TLDs by offering entities affiliated with the government of Dubai and organisations registered in Dubai the opportunity to register domain names in a unique TLD environment.

The .dubai TLD does not purport to replace but will complement the .ae ccTLD which serves a much broader purpose. The .dubai TLD will be recognised by Internet users as the official, authoritative online space for Dubai, supported by marketing and outreach activities. This reputation will once again complement and not compete with the reputation established by the .ae ccTLD. The .dubai TLD ultimately promotes competition by making available a unique TLD for Registrants and Internet users, hence promoting consumer choice.

REGISTRATION POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF THE .DUBAI TLD

Eligibility to register .dubai domain names will be restricted to entities affiliated with the government of the Emirate of Dubai and organisations registered in Dubai or any of the Dubai Free Zones. During the domain name registration process, government affiliated entities will be required to provide the contact information of the entity's legal representative whereas registered organisations will be required to provide their registration number, as found in the database of registered organisations maintained by the Department of Economic Development of Dubai. It is important to note that the collection of this information will not result in any delay in the registration process. In consultation with DEG, the TRA will perform periodic audits on an ongoing basis to verify the eligibility of registrants based on the provided information. In doing so, the TRA will utilise established mechanisms and processes currently in place to verify the eligibility of registrants in the gov.ae and co.ae restricted zones.

The collection of identifying information prior to the allocation of domain names, and the verification of eligibility criteria following registration, ensures that the restrictions described above are adhered to, ultimately serving to maintain the integrity of the .dubai TLD. The safeguards that will be implemented against allowing for registrations in violation of this eligibility restriction are discussed in the response to question 28 - Abuse Prevention and Mitigation.

Government-affiliated entities may register .dubai domain names related to their executive functions, whilst registered organisations may register a domain name that matches or is close and substantially related to their name or service rendered. In addition, DEG will maintain a list of words which may not be registered in the .dubai TLD. This list contains words that, among other things, may:
- violate public morality or are contrary to public order
- are against a religion or a religious character
- deceive the public
- be prejudicial to the interest or security of Dubai or the United Arab Emirates

Restrictions will also be imposed on how domain names may be used. DEG will conduct periodic audits to ensure that the content published through .dubai domain names:
- does not violate public morality
- is not against a religion or a religious character
- promotes government entities, organisations or services in Dubai

Restricting eligibility to register domain names to government-affiliated entities and organisations registered in Dubai ensures that the published content is authoritative and legitimate. Restricting government-affiliated entities and registered organisations to .dubai domain names which are related to their executive functions or match their name or service rendered ensures that content is being provided by the entity most capable of providing authoritative content. This helps promote the attainment of the .dubai TLD's intended reputation. The maintenance of a list of second level domain names which DEG will not allow to be registered ensures that the .dubai TLD is operated in a manner consistent with the religious, cultural and moral values of the people of Dubai, and United Arab of Emirates in general. The operation of a globally-recognised but regionally-specific online space representative of the people of Dubai's values allows for the accurate promotion of the place and people.

PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Government-affiliated entities applying for a .dubai domain name will not be required to provide information in addition to that published on WhoIs. However, organisations registered in Dubai will be required to provide their registration number, in addition to standard contact information, in their application for a domain name.

Registration numbers are already made publicly accessible through the various online databases. In other words, DEG does not consider it relevant or a requirement to keep this information confidential, but will ensure that the various policies that will be implemented by DEG protect against the misrepresentation and misuse of this information. DEG's WhoIs Data Collection and Display Policy will preserve the rights of Registrants regarding how their personal information is handled, whilst respecting the interests of law enforcement agencies and other national agencies acting in the public interest. Similarly, DEG's Privacy Policy will ensure that Registrants are made aware of:
- when information about them is being collected
- the purpose for which it is being collected
- whether the information may be passed on to third parties
- the rights of individuals regarding the manner in which their personal information is handled
These policies will ensure that personal information will not be provided to third parties other than ICANN or law enforcement agencies.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES

The DEG Communications and Business Development Department will conduct a number of outreach and communications activities in relation to the .dubai TLD, which will align with existing marketing strategies and initiatives. The objectives of these activities include:
- Generating awareness of the unique focus of the TLD among Internet users and subsequent demand for domain names among registrants

DEG will conduct the following activities, targeted at registrants and Internet users:
- DEG will directly contact each of its established contacts within the government-affiliated entities to educate them on the focus, benefits and differentiation of the .dubai TLD. Following this, DEG will provide more detailed information to government-affiliated entities regarding eligibility and allocation of .dubai domain names during various government forums. These efforts will facilitate the demand and utilisation of .dubai domain names by these entities.
- DEG will issue press releases, publish advertisements in various local and international publications and conduct a press conference highlighting the introduction and the benefits of the .dubai TLD to organisations registered in Dubai and Internet users in general. These efforts are targeted towards local and international Internet users to ensure that the .dubai TLD is recognised as the dedicated, authoritative space for the Emirate of Dubai.
- DEG will host a launch event for the .dubai TLD. The event will include speakers from various government-affiliated entities and will focus on generating awareness among all stakeholders.
- DEG will recruit high-profile Brand Advocates to deliver the .dubai message with maximum cut-through, effectiveness and impact.
- DEG intends to collaborate with established government and also other organisations to jointly adopt and promote .dubai TLD. Publicizing early adopters and creating success stories will be used to encourage further adoption of .dubai TLD. 

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of the .dubai TLD is anticipated to result in the minimisation and, in some cases, the elimination of social costs and other negative consequences imposed upon consumers by the adoption of the following operating rules:
1. Method of resolving multiple applications for a domain name.
2. Cost benefits for registrants.
3. Contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalations.
These operating rules will be described along with the manner in which they serve to eliminate or minimise social costs and negative consequences imposed upon consumers.

METHOD OF RESOLVING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS

The method of resolving multiple applications for a domain name varies depending on the particular stage of the launch process - i.e., whether or not the domain name is being registered during the Sunrise, Landrush or General Availability period. The resolution method for each stage is provided below, along with a discussion of the manner in which the selected method serves to eliminate or minimise social costs.

Sunrise Period

A ʹsunrise period' is a period of time for a defined category or categories of prospective domain name registrants to register domain names before registration opens to the general public. DEG will implement two Sunrise Periods aimed at different categories of registrants - one aimed at trademark holders and another aimed at government-affiliated entities. In accordance with the Registry Agreement, a sunrise period must be implemented in all new gTLDs for a minimum of 30 days during the pre-launch phase, to protect the legal rights of trademark holders. Multiple applications for a domain name will be resolved by auction during the Sunrise period aimed at trademark holders.

DEG will also implement a Sunrise Period during which only government-affiliated entities may apply for .dubai domain names over a 30-day period. Concomitantly, DEG may contact government affiliated entities to inform and to encourage them for application. Multiple applications for a particular domain name are not anticipated during this Sunrise Period, as government-affiliated entities are restricted to registering domain names that are closely related to their executive functions. In the event that multiple applications are received for a domain name during this period, the applicants will be required to participate in mediation to settle the contention. The DEG retains ultimate discretion regarding the allocation of .dubai domain names to government affiliated entities.

Utilisation of the auction method to resolve multiple applications in the .dubai TLD during the sunrise period for trademark holders is anticipated to minimise and possibly eliminate social costs and other negative consequences imposed upon consumers.

Similarly, resolving multiple applications for a .dubai domain name received during the sunrise period for government affiliated entities by participation in mediation ensures that the domain name is allocated to the entity that, as determined by DEG in its discretion (additionally through legal advice for contentious cases), is in the best position to provide authoritative content and promote the Emirate of Dubai. The subsequent increase in legitimate and accurate content online serves to promote consumer trust and minimises the amount of time and money wasted by consumers on illegitimate sites.

Landrush Period

A ‘landrush' period is a period of time for all prospective registrants to register domain names before registration becomes available on a first-come/first-serve basis. In accordance with the Registry Agreement, a trademark claims service must be implemented during the first 60 days that registration is open for general registration. This will coincide with the landrush period for the .dubai TLD.

The auction method will be used to resolve multiple applications for a domain name during landrush, because the benefits of utilising auctions and burdens of using the first-come/first-serve method in sunrise, as described in the immediately preceding section of this answer, apply with equal force to the landrush period. Just as in the sunrise period, auction allocation during the landrush period provides an efficient, transparent, fair and objective method for resolving multiple applications for a domain name.

General Availability

General availability commences when domain names are made available for general registration. Upon commencement of general availability, domain names will be able to be registered at the standard registration fee and allocated on a first-come/first-serve basis. The lower cost and certainty associated with the first-come/first-serve method renders it a viable and sustainable method of resolving multiple applications on an ongoing basis.

COST BENEFITS TO REGISTRANTS

Although registrations in the .dubai TLD will not offer cost benefits when compared to existing TLD offerings, significant benefits will be obtained through the higher level of service, recognition and authority provided by the TLD.

CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS TO REGISTRANTS

Domain names in the .dubai TLD will be provided to and renewed by registrants at competitive markets rates. Although registrants will be provided with advance written notice of price increases as required under the Registry Agreement, no further contractual commitments will be made to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation as commitments of that kind may serve to restrict the registry operator's ability to adapt to changes in the market place.

The Dubai eGovernment (DEG) has engaged the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority UAE (TRA) to deliver registry services for this TLD. This response describes protection of geographic names as implemented by TRA.

1 PROTECTION OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES

In accordance with Specification 5 of the New gTLD Registry Agreement, the registry operator must initially reserve all geographic names at the second level, and at all other levels within the TLD at which the registry operator provides for registrations.

TRA supports this requirement by using the following internationally recognised lists to develop a comprehensive master list of all geographic names that are initially reserved:
- The 2-letter alpha-2 code of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, including all reserved and unassigned codes [http://www.iso.org/iso/support/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/iso-3166-1_decoding_table.htm].
- The short form (in English) of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, including the European Union, which is exceptionally reserved on the ISO 3166-1 List, and its scope extended in August 1999 to any application needing to represent the name European Union [http://www.iso.org/iso/support/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/iso-3166-1_decoding_table.htm#EU].
- The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names, Technical Reference Manual for the Standardisation of Geographical Names, Part III Names of Countries of the World. This lists the names of 193 independent States generally recognised by the international community in the language or languages used in an official capacity within each country and is current as of August 2006 [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn%20tech%20ref%20manual_M87_combined.pdf].
- The list of UN member states in six official UN languages prepared by the Working Group on Country Names of the United Nations Conference on the standardisation of Geographical Names [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/9th-uncsgn-docs/econf/9th_UNCSGN_e-conf-98-89-add1.pdf].

Names on this reserved list in TRA's registry system are prevented from registration.

A corresponding list of geographic names will also be available to the public via the registry operators website, to inform Registrars and potential registrants of reserved names. The lists noted above, are regularly monitored for revisions, therefore the reserved list (both within the registry and publicly facing) will be continually updated to reflect any changes.

In addition to these requirements, TRA are able to support the wishes of the Governmental Advisory Council (GAC) or any individual Government in regard to the blocking of individual terms on a case by case basis. TRA's registry system allows such additions to be made by appropriately authorised staff, with no further system development changes required.

The following applies to all Domain Names contained within the registry's reserved list:
- Attempts to register listed Domain Names will be rejected.
- WhoIs queries for listed Domain Names will receive responses indicating their reserved status.
- Reserved geographic names will not appear in the TLD zone file.
- DNS queries for reserved domain names will result in an NXDOMAIN response.

2 PROCEDURES FOR RELEASE

We understand that if we wish to release the reserved names at a later date, this will require agreement from the relevant government/s or review by the GAC, and subsequent approval from ICANN.