.ابوظبي
| Status: | Delegated |
| country: | Abu Dhabi |
| Language: | Arabic |
| Manager: | Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre |
| Registry Provider: | Telecommunications Regulatory Authority UAE |
| Type: | GeoTLD |
| Category: | IDN |
| Priority #: | 85 |
ابوظبي is an Arabic Scipt IDN geographical TLD delegated to the Root Zone in ICANN's New gTLD Program on 6 April 2016.[1]
The Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre filed an application for the delegation of the TLD in the root zone of the internet domain name system (DNS) and to serve as registry operator on behalf of the Government of Abudhabi. Its main objective is to promote the city of Abu Dhabi including its businesses, culture, events, institutions, tourism and people as well as to enhance its position as a leading international center for knowledge and technology. If approved by ICANN, the registration of domain names under the ابوظبي domain name space will be restricted to all entities that are connected and registered with the Abu Dhabi Government. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority UAE (TRA) will provide back-end technical registry operations for the TLD.[2]
Application Details
Excerpted from applicant response to question #18 in TLD application:
"The mission⁄purpose of the ابوظبي. Arabic IDN TLD is to authoritatively promote the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi) – including its residents, culture, events, commerce, institutions and landmarks – to Arabic-literate Internet users. This will be facilitated by the establishment of a dedicated, authoritative online space for the exclusive use of organisations registered in Abu Dhabi and entities affiliated with the government of Abu Dhabi thereby reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading international knowledge and economic hub.
The ابوظبي. TLD will create a globally-recognised, regionally-significant Arabic script namespace dedicated to the specific needs of Arabic-literate Internet users seeking authoritative information relating to Abu Dhabi. The ابوظبي. TLD will therefore assist in eliminating previous language barriers to accessibility faced by Arabic-literate Internet users.
The ابوظبي. TLD will establish a distinct, easily-identifiable online brand which reflects the religious and cultural philosophy informing Abu Dhabi and its people. It will supplement existing means of communication for government-affiliated entities and organisations registered in Abu Dhabi, promoting Abu Dhabi to Arabic-literate Internet users through official and authoritative channels for online communication and exchange. This function of the TLD is consistent with Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global leader in innovation and development, ensuring Abu Dhabi’s online presence is capable of fulfilling the future needs of a growing population within the Internet landscape.
The applicant, the Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Centre (ADSIC), employs information and communication technologies to make services available using multiple channels for those who live and do business in Abu Dhabi, in line with its vision of making the Abu Dhabi Government more effective and efficient in delivering modern services. ADSIC is considered as the governmental party that owns the IT agenda of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and has the authority to practice the following competences: – Supervise the implementation of the e-Government program in Abu Dhabi Government entities (ADGEs). – Sponsor initiatives and mature assets and competencies that it deems of critical importance for the e-Government project. – Propose policies and technology standards for government and relevant entities to achieve a comprehensive quality in reaching the highest levels of efficiency, confidentiality, and safety in the e-Government project. – Issue rules and guidelines regarding the implementation of IT policies and the technical specifications, and communicate them to all the Government entities. – Submit the guidelines to the Council regarding the IT sector and the e-Government.
The mandate translates into the mission of government modernisation at large: – Performance improvement – Process simplification – Use of IT
ADSIC works in collaboration with all government departments and entities under the government umbrella in Abu Dhabi. The strategic importance of representing the ADSIC vision stems from its ultimate goal to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading intelligence and economic hub. As such, the operation of the ابوظبي. TLD as the authoritative online space for promoting Abu Dhabi to Arabic-literate Internet users is within the scope of ADSIC’s functions.
The registration of ابوظبي. domain names will be restricted to entities affiliated with the government of Abu Dhabi and organisations registered in Abu Dhabi. This restriction is in recognition of the role that these entities fulfil as chief advocates for promoting Abu Dhabi for the benefit of all residents of Abu Dhabi, and further facilitates the establishment of official and authoritative channels of online communication."[3]