Welcome to our simple guide on how to buy a domain a .ae domain. Whether you’re a local, an expat, or even someone residing outside of the United Arab Emirates looking for a .ae domain, we’re here to make the process as smooth as possible.
In addition to being the official country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of the UAE, it’s also a short, sharp, and easy-to-register domain name. You can register a .ae domain exactly like you register a .com domain name. Here is our step-by-step guide to take you through the process.
Check Availability
The absolute first step is to do a .ae domain search – also known as check availability to see if the name you want is available. You can do that right here:
If the domain you want is taken you can get creative and come up with another domain or do a whois search to see who owns the domain name you’re after and check if they’re interested in selling it.
There are over 161 million .com domains registered vs. 300,000 .ae domains. The .ae registry also announced .ae grew at a record rate of 20% over 2022.
You’ll very likely find a great domain in .ae (just basis the size of the namespace and simple probability!). Once you’ve found that perfect domain name, it’s time to register it. Just follow the prompts, enter your details and you’re done. You’re officially the proud owner of a shiny new .ae domain name.
Who Sells .ae Domains?
.ae domain names are sold by Registrars accredited by aeDA (the registry that runs .ae), and resellers around the world. OnlyDomains is directly accredited with aeDA (so no middlemen) and has been offering .ae domain names for 5+ years.
Where to Buy .ae Domain?
.ae domains are available at most domain registrars and resellers around the world. Before you make a choice, it’s important to ensure that your .ae domain name provider (or any domain provider) meets the below checklist. Registering a domain may be a one-time activity but renewing it and ensuring it’s safe – just like your other business assets is key:
- Website language: Well, this is to ensure nothing is lost in translation and you don’t have to struggle each time you want to manage or update your domain name.
- Brand Reputation: Read a few brand reviews on sites like TrustPilot, G2 to spot any red flags
- Support Availability & Language: In case something doesn’t work as expected, you know the business will be able to provide good quality support in the language you speak.
- Currency & Payment Methods: Ensure they support your local currency & payment methods
How Much Does a .ae Domain Cost?
.ae domains cost anywhere between Dh129 to Dh365 per year. You can register your .ae domain name at Dh129/yr at OnlyDomains. A .ae domain can be registered for a duration of 1 to 5 years.
Domains are just like your Netflix or Amazon Prime account and need to be renewed every year.
Can Any Country Get a .ae Domain?
.ae domain names are unrestricted and can be registered by anyone around the world. The registration process is just like other global domain extensions like .com, .org.
We also have a step-by-step article about .ae domain registrations that can help you buy your .ae domain.
Can You Permanently Buy a .ae Domain?
You cannot buy a .ae domain permanently, it’s a subscription service (similar to your Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Spotify account) as we mentioned above. But a great way to secure your .ae domain and be worry free would be to register it for multiple years so you don’t have to think about renewing it every year.
You can register a .ae domain for a maximum of 5 years.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter if you are based in Dubai, Doha or Delhi – a .ae extension is a no-hassles domain if you’ve got your eyes set on the Emirati region.
I hope you now have a good idea of what it takes to buy the UAE domain. If you still haven’t made a decision, we have an interesting article that compares .ae to the .com TLD and can help you make up your mind.
If you’re ready to buy your .ae domain name, you can get started with your .ae domain registration right here.
