What is a . AE Domain? How Does it Compare versus Global Domains?
A domain name is a bit like the American flag (or any flag for that matter). The iconic red, white, and blue let you know that the country you’re seeing is America. It’s not Scandinavia or Israel.
Just like a country’s flag, a domain name lets people know who you are. Your domain might help differentiate that you sell cars not clothes, for example.
It might not be all that visual but it’s the first thing customers will see or click on when checking out one of your site’s links. So, it should reflect your brand well. It should speak to what you do in simple terms. It also has to speak to the country you’re targeting.
This is where global and local domain extensions come into play. Let’s say you’re setting up shop in Dubai. You wouldn’t just choose any old domain name. To really target your audience well, you’d go with a .AE domain.
Time to Get Yours
To help you navigate this post quicker, we’ve included a table of contents so you can skip to the sections that interest you most:
Who is the .AE domain for, really?
.COM vs. .AE domain, a quick comparison
Legal requirements for registering a .AE domain
Have you decided? Here are 6 best practices for choosing your .AE domain
Streamline your brand with a .AE domain
So, what is a .AE domain?
Simply put, a .AE domain name is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United Arab Emirates. It’s a domain used by businesses that operate and sell their services and products in the UAE.
The .AE domain is operated by the .AE Domain Administration (aeDA) which is a part of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Businesses that operate or sell in the UAE will best suit a .AE domain.
Every domain is categorized in the DNS (Domain Name System) and each country has its own subset—the .AE domain is simply one of many global domain names.
What is a ccTLD?
So, what exactly is a ccTLD? Short for “country code top-level domain”, a ccTLD is a domain extension that’s applied to each country in the world. Every country has its own special ccTLD that enables internet users in that region to search and find sites or content focused on that country.
All ccTLDs only usually have two characters, meaning that every TLD you come across will always have at least two characters as well eg: .NZ, .AU, .UK, .US and so on.
Who is the .AE domain for, really?
Thinking of setting up an online business in the UAE without a local presence? Or perhaps you’re thinking of actually moving to the UAE to set up a business? Or you are an established offline business in the UAE.
Registering a .AE domain makes sense in all of the above cases since it’s an internationalized business. .AE domain administration isn’t only for those with a local presence in the UAE, it’s also perfect for those offering services or products in the region from a different location.
Of course, going down the .AE route isn’t your only option. You could always register for a .COM domain. A .COM domain is just like a .AE domain, the only difference is that it’s not limited to the UAE. It’s a worldwide top-level code that doesn’t have .AE’s local appeal.
So, which domain is the best choice for businesses looking to set up shop in the UAE or sell services in the region?
.COM vs. .AE domain, a quick comparison
.AE Domain
- It’s Great for SEO
If you’re selling services or products in the UAE (with or without a local presence), registering for a .AE domain will bump up your local SEO ranking in the United Arab Emirates.
Since your SEO efforts will be solely focused on the UAE (the country you’re targeting), you’ll be facing less international competition from those in a similar market, niche, or industry to your own. This means search engines like Google will be able to crawl your site quickly, identifying you as a site that’s tailored for UAE users, increasing the chances of being displayed in the first two SERPs (search engine result pages).
It’s all about localization vs internationalization. If you’re in a smaller market, you’re more likely to stand out and get more customers. If you’re in a large market,, you’re no longer the big fish in the small pond.
With a .COM domain you’ll be competing against a range of global businesses, making it more difficult for you to stand out and bump up your SEO ranking. Registering for a local domain like a .AE provides you with all the benefits of localization.
- It Feels More Professional
UAE domain registration for businesses selling services or products in the United Arab Emirates gives off a more professional feel. Not only will it showcase that you’re based in the UAE or that your market is in the UAE, it will also help build up an identity for your business.
Some internet users within a specific region will prefer to go with local businesses, and having the .AE differentiator will assure them that you’re a genuine brand focusing on UAE, helping you build trust amongst potential consumers.
- It Showcases Your Commitment to Your Audience
As we’ve briefly mentioned, registering for a .AE domain builds trust between you and potential customers. It shows your commitment to the market you’re targeting and the respect you have for your audience.
You’re basically showing your UAE audience that your services and products are made exclusively for them; tailored to their style, tastes, and culture.
- There’s a Bigger Selection of Domains that Haven’t Been Picked Out Yet
The .COM domain space is filled with millions of websites, and each day more and more domains are getting snapped up.
Let’s say you have a particular vision for what your domain name will look like. Your chances of getting that domain are a lot lower if you go for a .COM extension. Registering for a .AE domain, on the other hand, gives you a little bit of freedom and flexibility with your brand’s domain name.
This is simply because fewer sites and businesses competing for your dream .AE domain name.
.COM Domain
- The Internet Standard
One of the reasons the .COM domain is so popular is because it’s the most used suffix on the internet. When typing in a site address, most users automatically go for .COM rather than a local domain (unless they’re from that region specifically).
This makes .COM a sort of “internet standard” across the web, making it easier to set up. Since it’s not tied to a specific region like a local domain is, there are no special registration requirements. This also means you get access to a bigger, global audience .But it’s worth noting that you’ll be in competition with lots of other global brands, too).
- Trust and Familiarity
Since it’s the most popular domain, .COM naturally builds trust and credibility in your brand. Most, if not all, internet users recognize the .COM domain. Local domains? Not so much, but then again it all depends on the kind of market you’re targeting.
If you’re going after a small, local sector then it’s best to stick with a local domain name. If you’re after a large global presence, then going for a .COM domain is a smarter option.
Legal Requirements for Registering a .AE Domain
One of the great things about registering for a .AE domain is that it’s super easy. Just like a .COM domain, the registration is unrestricted. There are no specific legal hoops to go through. All you need to do is use an accredited registrar or domain provider to set up your domain name.
Pro-tip: OnlyDomains is a leading global registrar with over 900 extensions available, there’s a wide range of global domains for your business to choose from.
Though the .AE extension later got re-delegated to the TRA, its makeup pretty much stayed the same, save for a few differences in requirements for different .AE domains.
Businesses looking to set up shop in the UAE (with or without a local presence) have three options: .AE,.CO.AE and .NET.AE.
Below are the requirements for each:
- .AE: This domain is for all types of businesses that sell services or goods in the UAE (with or without a physical presence in the region).
- .CO.AE: This domain is for registered local businesses
- .NET.AE: This domain is only available to network providers in the UAE
Whilst the above domains are mainly for business use, there are other domains available in the UAE that have different purposes:
- .ORG.AE: To be used strictly by not-for-profit organizations.
- .SCH.AE: Any registered school in the UAE has the option of using this domain
- .AC.AE: Academic facilities like colleges can register .ac.ae domain names
- .GOV.AE: Can be registered by UAE ministers and government officials
- .MIL.AE: Only available for use by the UAE government for military purposes
Once you’ve set up a domain, it’s important you get an SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer) for your site. This gives your business a stamp of approval, authenticating your site’s identity with an encrypted connection. It essentially acts as a form of security protocol that creates an encrypted connection between a web server and your website.
Though not a strict legal requirement, most (if not all) online businesses possess an SSL certificate to give their brand more credibility. Not only that, but it ensures that secure transactions take place online and that all customer data is kept safe and secure. Thus preventing hackers and criminals from modifying information between the browser and your site.
What about a Domain Transfer?
Perhaps you already have a website and are looking to transfer your domain to another registrar? How do you do it? The process is actually super easy.
All you need to do is unlock your domain name and get the auth code (also known as a transfer secret) from your current registrar. You can then go to the transfer page of your desired provider and initiate the transfer to them.
The Lifecycle of a .AE Domain
.AE domains can be registered for one to two years. Once this period is over, you’ll need to renew your .AE domain with your current registrar. Most registrars should be able to provide you two options; automatic or manual renewal.
If you’re going to continue doing business in the UAE (with or without a local presence) setting up your domain to auto-renew probably makes more sense.
This means you can sit back and let the registrar renew your domain for you. A manual renewal, on the other hand, requires you to do this yourself. If, for whatever reason you forget to renew the domain on time, you’ll have to restore your domain name to start using it again.
Have You Decided? Here are 6 Best Practices for Choosing Your .AE Domain
Ready to set up shop in the UAE with a .AE domain? A .AE domain registration is relatively simple, it’s the next part that’s the most difficult—choosing your domain name.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. We’ve come up with a simple six-step guide to choosing the perfect domain name for your business.
- Research
After you’ve drafted up a few domain names and have an idea of what you like and what you don’t, try to shortlist at least three top choices.
Now it’s time to do a bit of research. Do a domain search on Onlydomains or use the Whois tool) to see whether your .AE domain has already been snapped up.
The benefit of going for a local domain means you’ll probably have access to a wider range of names that haven’t been chosen yet. Even if you find that yours has been snapped up, move on to your other options. You might just be lucky and get your number one choice.
- Make it Short and Sweet
Shorter is better. In fact, the most successful domain names have a maximum of 12 characters. But why is a shorter domain more successful?
- The likelihood of users misspelling or entering in typos diminishes with a short domain name—meaning more website traffic and potential customers.
- Shorter domains have a tendency to be catchier and stick in people’s heads more often than a longer domain name.
- They are easier to read and comprehend. A short domain name often gets straight to the point and helps users understand what the site is about. Short domain names are mobile friendly. More users than ever are accessing the internet using their mobile, so it’s important to take into consideration the size of the screen and the fact that they’re using their fingers to type. Going for a short domain will ensure an easier typing experience and less room for misspellings and typos.
- They naturally take up less space on a page, meaning they can be used across the web on different banners, sites, and social feeds easily—helping to draw in even more potential customers.
- But Make it Easy to Remember Too
Of course, a short domain is easier to remember than a longer domain, But if you have a complicated short domain, full of jargon or acronyms it defeats the whole purpose.
The goal of your site is to be user-friendly, and stuffing your domain with complicated words will only confuse potential customers. Even if you’re in a select niche and targeting a very specific audience, you want your domain name to be memorable and catchy.
Long, drawn-out words and jargon will take away from this effect, and make it more difficult to remember. Stick to domains that are short and sweet. In other words, easily understood and to the point.
- Go with Keywords Related to Your Brand Search
Make sure your domain is relevant to your business and what you’re selling. Use simple keywords to target your audience and attract the right kind of users to your site.
Not only will this improve the usability of your site, but it will better help search engines like Google understand it, leading to a possible increase in rankings.
- Avoid Double Letters or Misspelt Domains
Ensure that your domain name is brandable and easy to spell by avoiding any double letters.
You’ve probably come across those sites before (think www.pressstop.com or www.lotsofflout.com). Those are hypothetical examples, but you get the point. They’re difficult and confusing to type into a browser because of their double letters.
- Be Quick
Once you’ve got your perfect domain name, don’t wait around. It’s key you pounce on the opportunity ASAP. The internet is full of up and coming brands, and you never know if someone else is thinking of the same domain as you, so register it quickly.
Once you have your domain you can start building your website or explore other creative ways to use your domain name
Streamline Your Brand with a .AE Domain
Thinking of setting up an online business in the UAE? Streamline your brand and target the customers you want fast with OnlyDomains.
With competitive pricing and a free transfer, OnlyDomains is a top choice for businesses looking to grow both locally and globally.
