Dubai, UAE – The size of the Internet domain market in the UAE is estimated at AED 665 million in 2026. According to estimates based on dismantling the market components into 3 main layers, including: Internet domain registration, the resale market, and basic services related to domain management.
This estimate comes in light of the expansion of the digital economy in the UAE and the increasing reliance on digital identity in commercial and institutional activities. Domains are increasingly being used as part of companies’ operational architecture.
The size of the Internet domain registration sector is estimated at AED 220 million, driven by new company registrations. Emerging digital institutions, and renovations to existing domains.
A prominent source of value
The Internet domain resale sector (secondary market) is one of the most prominent sources of value in the market. Premium domains, short names, and domains related to strategic sectors such as real estate, technology, and artificial intelligence are traded.
The size of this sector is estimated at approximately AED 260 million, based on relatively limited trading volume compared to the total active ranges. With a focus on actual, monitorable transactions, in light of the growing investment view of domains as tradable and revalued digital assets.
multiple services
In contrast, the core Internet domain services sector includes authorized registration services, the Domain Name System (DNS), and core domain protection management. And associated digital identity solutions. The size of this sector is estimated at approximately 185 million dirhams annually. After excluding broader digital services such as cloud hosting and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. And digital infrastructure not directly related to domains, with a focus on direct operational services related to domain name management only.
The UAE has between 25 and 27 authorized providers of Internet domain registration services
