.emarat (امارات.) Domain Extension Available and عمان. (.OMAN) Coming Soon...

      The domain extension مارات. ((DOT)Emirate)-in Arabic characters) part of the Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) scheme under the ICANN programme allowing local language characters to be used in domain extensions (instead of English) went live the second week in November.

     Previously, the top level domain extension for the Emirates was .ae. One now can register their مارات. name if passing the requirements. It costs about 99 USD to register the 'dot emirate' name at a domain registrar such as 101domain.com. Domain registrars are authorized to sell the domain name with the extension assuming the name is still available.  'Due to the governing law of the UAE: Israeli entities and individuals are not eligible for .ae domain names.'

         It was announced that in Oman the عمان. (.OMAN) extension will be come live sometime next year reportedly in the first quarter of 2012. The extension has already been approved and registered by the proper authoritative organizations. It will be interesting to see what the demand is for the new extensions and what type of website development will be taking place.