Melbourne-based technology company ARI Registry Services is set to power the world’s first new Top-Level Domain after its client, dotShabaka Registry, today signed a Registry Agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the ????. Top-Level Domain.

Surpassing almost 1900 other applicants from around the world, ????. (.shabaka translates to .web in English) will become the world’s first borderless Arabic new Top-Level Domain and will provide Arabic speaking Internet users with an alternative to namespaces such as .com, .net and .org.

Expected to be live on the Internet in the coming months, ????. will enable Arabic speaking Internet users to better navigate the web in their native language.

Yasmin Omer, General Manager of dotShabaka Registry said: “Today’s contract signing is a monumental occasion. As the first new TLD, ????. is set to become the centre of all things Arabic on the Internet. It is an incredible achievement not only for us but for the entire Arabic speaking world. It will pioneer a new way for people to use the Internet that begins with the Arabic language.”

Adrian Kinderis, CEO of ARI Registry Services, congratulated dotShabaka Registry on the historic achievement.

“We’re extremely proud to be supporting such an important project. dotShabaka Registry will revolutionise the way the global Arabic speaking community use the Internet and we’re honoured to be a part of the movement,” Mr Kinderis said.

He added that it was a noteworthy achievement for an Australian technology company to be recognised for its success on the global stage.

“ARI Registry Services is at the forefront of the new Top-Level Domain program with two clients in the top three applications. In supporting ????., we will be powering the very first new Top-Level Domain to go live.

“This is also in addition to supporting some of the most innovative entrepreneurs, largest brands and governments in the world through the .menu, .melbourne, .ibm .host, .doha, .barclays, .physio and many other inspiring new Top-Level Domains.”

While buoyed by today’s announcement, Mr Kinderis also encouraged the ICANN Board to address the final remaining issues within the program to allow applicants to swiftly move from the contract negotiation phase through to delegation.

“A number of small issues remain outstanding that may impede the delegation process. I encourage ICANN to expedite the resolution of issues such as predictability in pre-delegation testing, rights protection mechanism requirements, testing of the Trademark Clearinghouse interface and the trademark +50 process,” Mr Kinderis said.

dotShabaka Registry published a statement today about signing the first new Top-Level Domain Registry Agreement. It can be read here.