Egypt applies for domain name in Arabic

Egypt is to apply for the first domain name written in non-Latin characters, it has been reported.

The nation's information technology minister Tarek Kamel told a conference discussing online access in emerging nations that it would take the step in a bid to expand both access and content.

Speaking at the start of the Internet Governance Forum, being held in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh, he said a formal announcement would be made shortly.

Pronounced 'masr', the address will be written using characters taken from Arabic if it is approved.

Mr Kamel said the domain registration "will offer new avenues for innovation, investment and growth".

"Hence we can truly and gladly say... the internet now speaks Arabic. It is a great moment for us," he added.

The move follows the recent decision of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to allow applications for non-Latin character use – a change which potentially impacts upon domain name consultancies.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry