.ae Domain vs .com Domain: Which Domain Extension Is Best For Your Brand?

Top-level domains are a basic necessity when you intend to establish a full-scale business in the UAE. In the technological landscape of Dubai, the selection between .ae domain name and .com domain names is particularly significant for individuals and businesses working towards establishing a strong online presence.

Knowing the differences, benefits, and impact of these domain extensions is necessary for your brand identity and SEO in the UAE. So, are you ready to explore the world of domains and domain hosting selection? Because beyond technicalities, your choice of a new domain possesses the ability to shape your brand image, customer reach, and online goals.

In the end, the choice between a localized .ae domain and a well-known .com domain can significantly affect your upcoming success. Every business wants a domain extension that denotes its geographical location and the majority of businesses in the UAE choose local domain extensions like .ae, .om, .ga, or .sa. 

There are some other reasons for that, as many people or business owners aren’t completely sure which domain extension they should opt for. Therefore, to shed some light on it, we’ll be comparing the .ae and .com domains to help you make a well-informed decision.

Understanding the .COM Domain Name

The .com domain name is an acronym for commercial websites and is the most popular domain name extension used on the web. Any website that earns money online, for example, online shops or retail shops, together with portfolios, blogging websites, and eCommerce websites, is a .com website. 

Because of the rising popularity of the .com website extension, new demands were being posed to domain name systems and hence, the domain name generator tools might recommend the .us and .ae domain extensions. But having said that, it is senseless to buy a domain name that doesn’t symbolize the personality of your website. It can lead to losing credibility and an increase in bounce rates. Each of these elements can harm the reputation of your website and, therefore, must be avoided.

Understanding the .AE Domain Name

The .ae website extension is a ccTLD, i.e., country-code Top-Level domain, used to launch an online business or website in the UAE region. It is a local domain extension popularly used in the UAE and represents websites and companies that originate from Dubai. This domain extension is widely used by residents, citizens, or locals of the UAE to deliver their services or run online businesses.

Comparing the .AE Domain vs. the .COM Domain

As explained earlier, the .ae domain represents a ccTLD, i.e., a country-bound top-level domain, which is most commonly used in the UAE, and is regulated and governed by the .aeDA, i.e., the .ae Domain Administration.

This .aeDA is an important member of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and it manages and governs all the rules and policies associated with the working of the .ae domain name. 

If you’re a local and/or a UAE resident, or if your business works or has target clients in Dubai, then it will definitely be a clever choice to choose the .ae domain extension.

On the contrary, the .com domain is the most extensively used website extension, which suits the majority of businesses across the globe. Besides this, it is commonly known and everyone’s first choice because it has a long history. It was the original version of a domain extension. 

Its name originates from the term “commercial.” For this reason, businesses and organizations used to register their names under the .com domain. Nowadays, the majority of business owners have shifted from this assumption and apply it just as a suffix to end the name of their website just because it is commonly available and famous.

This .com extension supports websites by having a more prominent digital presence and also helps make your website more professional and captivating. For these reasons, numerous rapidly developing businesses choose this domain extension. 

Determining between these two domain names requires a lot of time and in-depth research. As both the .com and .ae domains can be utilized as suffixes for commercial websites. You should think about which one of the two will exactly reflect your business before opting for your website.

It is an important step in this process because it can easily affect the success or failure of your website. The significance of domain extension will depend on various factors, like the aim of your website, pricing, geographical location, country or region code, SEO, and marketing.

– Purpose of Your Website

If you’ve developed a website for commercial purposes, you can buy a .com domain extension regardless of your geographical location. However, if the purpose of your website is for personal or commercial use and you’re a resident of the UAE, then you must buy .ae domains because they’ll be more appropriate for your business.

– Pricing

Concerning the cost of domain names, the price of the .com domain is budget-friendly. The standard industry price of a .com domain name is fairly affordable. For this reason, it is widely used not just by business owners but also by individuals. 

At MilesWeb, you can buy .com domain names at the lowest possible price, whereas you can buy .ae domains at a competitive price. Neither of the two will cost more, specifically when you’re planning to launch an online website or business.

– Geographical Location

What is the location of your company? The location of your company is one more factor in determining the correct domain extension for your website. In addition, the target location of your audience is also another feature that you need to consider when buying a domain name.

If your company is situated in the UAE and you use the UAE IP address and UAE servers, or if your audience or client base is in the UAE, you may acquire a . ae domain name. Nonetheless, having said that, if your website targets people in different countries, then purchasing a domain name like a .com domain will be beneficial to your company or you can change your existing domain name.

– Country or Region Code

Both the .ae domain registration and a .com domain registration can be done from anywhere in the world. Thus, there’s no limitation on the domain name registration part. Despite that, there’s a major difference between them, and that difference is the country code. 

As you know, the .ae domain extension is a ccTLD, which indicates that the .ae domain name is suitable for websites that are aimed at providing their services to the inhabitants of the United Arab Emirates and the surrounding area. On the other hand, the .com domain is a gTLD, i.e., the generic top-level domain. This suggests that a .com domain extension can be utilized by international websites. 

The majority of business or website owners select a domain extension on the basis of their country code. If the purpose of registering a domain name is generic, then the .com domain is selected, and if it is for the UAE audience, then mostly the .ae domain name is selected. Most of the companies opt for a .com domain name due to its strong demand.

– SEO

When deciding between .ae domain and .com domains, SEO really matters, and you should also understand the impact of domain extensions on your SEO results. But despite that, the majority of people ignore it. Depending on overall choice and frequency of use, the existence of a .com domain name in a website address stimulates reliability in the visitors.

Also, Google’s search engine algorithms have progressed over the years, impacting the way domains contribute to local SEO. Earlier, Google Search Console permitted the assignment of a specific region, like the United Arab Emirates, to any international domain, including the .com domain.

But nowadays, this is not the case. Google may not always correctly identify .com domains in terms of their intended regional focus, even though the .ae domains are automatically associated with the United Arab Emirates. 

This could be a crucial factor for improving SEO, specifically for businesses that are looking to maximize their online visibility in the UAE region. 

– Marketing

When advertising your website to your potential customers, remember that the majority of people are just going to think that every website ends with a .com domain name. Therefore, the .com domain is mostly advised for the websites.

This is particularly helpful if other websites have domain names that are similar to yours because it gives you an advantage over them by using the .COM extension, which keeps visitors from leaving.

But despite that, from a marketing point of view, .ae domain names are a lot better for businesses and websites based in the UAE. 

Comparison Table Showcasing the Performance of .COM and .AE Domain Names

Why .COM Domain Name Is Perfect for Worldwide Expansion?

Vast improvements have been seen in the present technological era, where different domain names like .io, .ly, and .ai domain names have captured the fascination of advanced technological organizations. There’s no doubt the spellbinding appeal these domain names hold within the computer-savvy audience contributes to applying a hi-tech and contemporary appeal to niche-specific businesses.

Irrespective of the preference these domain extensions are getting from a wider context, the .com domain remains the most sought-after domain extension and stays by far the most popular choice for businesses planning for long-lasting and far-reaching recognition.

Standing up to increasingly growing competition from other types of domains, .com has maintained its dominance. Whether it is the unparalleled market share, irresistible history, international brand identity, SEO improvement, or remarkable re-sale price, every element demonstrates the coveted status of .com domain names.

This domain extension remains an undeniable item on the internet. It symbolizes the digital presence and keeps on boosting the confidence of businesses and individuals. You can also earn a profit by buying and selling the domain names.

Why .AE Domain Name Is Perfect for Worldwide Expansion?

As many entrepreneurs have already started new businesses in Dubai, if you’re also planning to open a new business in Dubai and offer something special to them, then you should grab an AE domain.

Why? Because of the following reasons:

– SEO-Friendly

A .ae domain extension can be beneficial to you in ranking your website higher in the UAE local search engine results pages and also telling Google that your website targets that audience. But keep in mind that content is also important; therefore, just having a good domain doesn’t mean you can ignore it.

– Rapidly Engaging

The two letters in the .ae domain are enough to tell visitors from Dubai that your company or services are here to cater to them, thus improving engagement.

– More Availability

Why settle for a complicated alternative when there’s more availability for .ae than the .com domain? You can seamlessly choose the perfectly suitable .ae domain. 

– Reliable and Trustworthy

You can develop a strong connection with the clientele in the UAE using this domain that is linked to the UAE region.

Audience Demographics for the .AE Domain and the .COM Domain

The .com domain extension is a flexible and widely accepted TLD (top-level domain). Even though it is primarily devised for commercial websites, it doesn’t have any restrictions on its use, thus making it the first choice for startups, businesses, blogging websites, and personal websites around the world.

Whereas the .ae domain name is the generic domain name for the UAE which stands for ccTLD, i.e., country code top-level domain. It is primarily chosen by online startups and big corporations that are functioning in the United Arab Emirates, or those who want to penetrate the Dubai market more vividly.

It is mainly chosen by online start-ups and big corporations that are already functioning in the United Arab Emirates or those who are planning to start their business in Dubai.

What should I do if my Desired Domain Name Extension is Already Registered?

If your desired domain name extension is already registered, then think creatively, use a different character, or select a different domain name or aligned name if another company has an almost identical name. You can also decide to use a different domain extension, wait for the domain name to expire, or contact the owner of the existing domain name.

Are the .COM and .AE Domain Extensions Depleting?

You know that .com domains are here to stay, they’ve been present all the time. They’re also the most commonly used domain names and therefore, there might be less possibility of their availability because of increasing demand as well as the time businesses and individuals have had to register the best domain names.

But, on the contrary, .ae, a ccTLD, has a lesser number of registrations; therefore, if you’re planning to buy .ae domain, the possibility of acquiring your choice of a business name increases.

.AE Domain Registration Requirements

Registering and applying for localized domain extensions is allowed at the 2nd level in the unrestricted zone or the 3rd level in the restricted zone. In the past, businesses used to widely opt for the .co.ae extension.

But nowadays, this has been discredited by the UAEnic. According to this, businesses and individuals are selecting to use 2nd-level domain registrations for all commercial uses. Businesses that already opted for such types of domain extensions were authorized to continue to use them, but this choice was left to the business owner’s decision. 

Shortly after that, the .ae domain name was again authorized to TRA, because of which new rules and policies were proposed by the .AE domain authority. According to this, it was granted that the usage of .co.ae domain had been added for local commercial uses.

The policy also states that this domain is associated with the company’s name and the customers are familiar with it.

Below, we’re sharing a list of domain names with their guidelines for the type of company authorized to register under them:

• .edu – Only educational institutes are allowed to register under this domain extension.
• .net – Only network providers are allowed to register under this domain extension.
• .gov.ae – Only government or government officials, like ministers, are allowed to register under this domain extension.
• .AE – There are no limitations on the types of companies, businesses, and organizations that are allowed to register under this domain name.
• .co.ae – Only businesses that already have an existing website with this domain extension can register under this domain name.

Important Note: All of these aforementioned domain extensions need a Trade license issued from the UAE Government.

.com Domain Registration Requirements

There are several important things to know before registering a domain name. A .com domains don’t have any restriction needs, which makes them easily available to anyone, at any place. Fortunately, in contrast with other country-specific domain extensions, .ae domains are also open for registration by anyone. Thus, the domain registration process for both .com and .ae is smooth.

Increased Visitors and Sales with the .AE Domain Name

Moreover, .ae domains are perfect for startups compared to others. Definitely, they’ll rank higher in the search engine results pages than other domain names on Google. If this is what you want when you’re planning to drive more traffic to your website, then the .ae extension is best.

Besides that, .ae domains fascinate advertising companies that recognize your closeness to the target niche. Which provides for more generic advertising, which is more effective than a typical message. 

This relevancy with other businesses will help your website because there’ll be a higher flow of traffic plus added revenue from the advertisement. All of these elements help boost the popularity of the .ae domain.