AEserver at ICANN85 Mumbai

Attending the ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai that took place on 7-12 March 2026 was a great experience, both personally and professionally. For us at AEserver, the event was a strong success. We were able to connect with key partners, build new relationships, and further strengthen our position as a trusted domain registrar in the UAE, especially in the growing .ae domains space.

The event brought together stakeholders from across the global internet ecosystem, including domain registrars, registries, domain investors, hosting companies, and professionals from media and advertising. From the moment I landed in Mumbai, the experience started on a positive note. The weather was pleasant and the city had a great energy. When I reached the Jio World Convention Centre, the scale and organization of the venue stood out immediately. It was well planned and ideal for hosting a global event of this level. Everywhere, there were conversations happening and connections being built.

One of the biggest highlights for us was the opportunity to meet our international partners. In day to day operations, we rarely get the chance to meet them in person. Events like ICANN give us that space to reconnect, have focused discussions, and build stronger business relationships. Since we could meet the same people across multiple days, the conversations were more meaningful and productive.

For AEserver, the objectives were clear. We wanted to promote the increasing demand for .ae domains, connect with businesses looking to buy .AE domains, and expand our reach as a reliable domain registrar UAE companies can depend on. We also focused on strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities in the Middle East domain market.

The sessions at ICANN85 were also very useful. There were important discussions around the upcoming new gTLD round, along with updates on policies, DNS security, and compliance. These topics are important for any domain registrar, and it was valuable to hear directly from the ICANN community about what lies ahead.

Beyond the sessions, the real value also came from the informal side of the event. Each day continued with networking dinners, side events, and casual meetups. These interactions made a big difference. You were never alone after the sessions. There was always someone to meet, a discussion to continue, or a new idea to explore.

If I had to describe the event in one line, it would be about the overall feeling. You could see that people were happy to be there, open to conversations, and willing to collaborate. That is what makes an event truly successful.

Overall, ICANN85 in Mumbai was a very rewarding experience. For AEserver, it helped us strengthen our global presence and build momentum in the .AE domain space. For me personally, it was a great first step into the ICANN community, and I look forward to attending many more such events in the future.