Arabic Domain Name of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Website Launched

The Government of Dubai Media Office has announced the launch of the Arabic domain name of the website of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.

The move follows a historic breakthrough after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority won approval from the Internet Corporation Assigned for Names and Numbers (ICCAN) to use the internet domain in Arabic, placing the UAE among the first four countries in the world to register domain names in their official languages and not in Roman script.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s website can now be reached through either of the following addresses when typed in Arabic script: “sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid.emarat” or “mohammed-bin-rashid.emarat”.

The Government of Dubai Media Office said that this remarkable achievement reflects His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s keenness to promote the Arabic language, and reaffirms the UAE’s deep-rooted Arab identity.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has given full backing to a diverse range of initiatives that nurture and encourage the use of the Arabic language. With a substantial increase in the number of internet users in the region, Arabic domain names will allow a greater audience of Arabs to access information online.

Emphasising the importance of the Arabic language as a key symbol of national identity, the UAE government decided in March 2009 to authorise Arabic as the official language at all federal institutions and entities.

Launched in 1999, the official website of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stands out among other personal websites in the region, as it combines the latest audio-visual technology with innovative website design and clever writing. Features such as live streaming of notable events and pages filled with information about the country’s tourism and traditions make it a must-see website to acquaint oneself with the UAE.

Available in both Arabic and English, the site is the leading source of news and information about His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s activities, with an archive of more than 30,000 articles, 18,000 photographs and 1,500 video clips. The latest figures put the number of visitors to the site at about 85,000 per month, at a rate of 3,000 hits per day. Since its launch, the site has received 180,000 e-mails and over 7,000 visitors have left messages on the guestbook.

A smart layout and intelligent design enable visitors to access information quickly and easily, and the site is updated 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep visitors abreast of all the latest developments and activities of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The site is a must for internet users who seek information on His Highness’ activities, initiatives and statements, especially those that impact politics and economics, as well as social and humanitarian causes.

Visitors are also treated to a personal profile of His Highness, including insightful features portraying his love of equestrian sports and falconry, in addition to pages filled with his work in literature and poetry. Acting as a rich database of content with interactive features, the website also allows visitors to perform comprehensive research through its powerful search engine.

What is a domain name? A domain name is a Web address, such as godaddy.com, that is linked to an IP address (which represents a physical point on the Internet). When someone types a domain name into a Web browser, the requested Web page displays. A domain name consists of a top-level and a second-level domain. A top-level domain (TLD) is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (godaddy.com). The most common top-level domains are .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Some other popular top-level domains are .BIZ, .INFO, .NAME and .WS. These TLDs have certain guidelines but are, for the most part, available to any registrant, anywhere in the world. The part of the domain name located to the left of the dot — “godaddy,” in this case — is called the second-level domain (SLD) name. The second-level domain name is the “readable” part of the address and refers to the organization or entity behind the Internet address. Second-level domain names must be registered with an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)-accredited registrar.

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