At webhosting.today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Munir Badr, the founder of Domain Days Dubai. We discussed the challenges facing the domain market in the MENA region and how Domain Days Dubai is addressing these issues.
webhosting.today: Why have you decided to make an event for domains in the Middle East region? What are the problems that you tried to solve with this event?
Munir Badr: I decided to create Domain Days Dubai to address the gap in the market and respond to the growing interest and need for domain-related knowledge and networking in the Middle East region. The domain and hosting industry here has undergone significant changes, with many large players establishing a permanent presence alongside local brands engaged in healthy competition. Despite these developments, there remains a significant gap in terms of education, awareness, and professional networking.
By organizing this event, we aim to bring together industry experts, businesses, and enthusiasts to discuss trends, share knowledge, and foster connections. Our goal is to address issues related to lack of information, limited networking opportunities, and to promote best practices in domain management and online presence.
Additionally, many people from this region face challenges traveling to Europe and the US due to visa requirements. The UAE, and specifically Dubai, is an ideal venue for such an event, serving as a bridge between the Arab World, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Dubai is a global hub, with direct flights to over 100 destinations, and offers fantastic shopping, dining, and year-round resort experiences. Need more reasons?
webhosting.today: What are the current challenges in that region in terms of the domains and web hosting market?
Munir Badr: The MENA region encounters several challenges in the domains and web hosting market. These challenges include limited awareness about the significance of domains and web hosting, a relatively small market size compared to other regions, and a lack of local expertise in some countries. Additionally, regulatory issues and the need for improved infrastructure, such as local hosting options, present obstacles. There is also a need to educate businesses on the benefits of a strong online presence and its impact on their growth and success. While ecommerce and social media usage are on the rise, the adoption of local domains, hosting on local servers, and creating local content remains an area needing further attention.
webhosting.today: What were the biggest difficulties for you to create an event like that?
Munir Badr: Let’s begin with the fact that this is the first event I have ever organized. While I have attended and spoken at many events, curating an event from start to finish is a completely different challenge. Adding to this, my time is extremely limited due to my full-time role as the CEO of AEserver, one of the largest providers in the region. One of the biggest challenges was securing the right speakers and partners who could provide valuable insights and attract attendees. Another difficulty was ensuring that the event would meet the diverse needs of the participants, ranging from beginners to industry veterans. Logistics, such as finding a suitable venue, managing registrations, and coordinating schedules, also posed significant challenges. However, the most critical aspect was establishing credibility and generating interest in a region where such events are still relatively new.
At the beginning, I had verbal commitments from a few partners with whom I had spoken, while others understood that there were certain risks in supporting a brand new event in a totally new region. I was very transparent with all our partners that we would all share the risk, both financial and reputational. This is why I want to say a special thanks to our founding sponsors, particularly it.com Domains, who was our title sponsor and supported us from the start. As preparations progressed, there was a significant influx of other partners who didn’t want to miss out on a show that was rapidly gaining momentum. Finally, the fear of missing out (FOMO) played a positive role, and many last-minute partners signed up. The rest is history!
webhosting.today: Tell us about your team. How many people are involved in the organization?
Munir Badr: In the beginning, our team was just me! Then, I met a sponsor who mentioned a well-known event professional available for contract work. That’s how I met Jason Nickerson, who is now our CMO. His timely arrival was a great relief, and our partnership has been very successful. Soon after, I enlisted our local co-host, the Dubai Blockchain Center, led by its founder and CEO, Dr. Marwan Alzarouni. Dr. Marwan, a long-time domain investor and a good friend and client of mine, has been a fantastic addition to our team. I also received support from my core business at AEserver, with some team members helping with operational tasks. Altogether, four people were actively involved in the event preparations. Additionally, we hired a local event agency to assist with onsite preparations and management.
I must also confess that I received valuable advice and tips from many friends and contacts in the industry. Their support and guidance were crucial, helping me gain confidence and persevere. Overall, I want to acknowledge the entire community for helping build this event, from speakers to sponsors to advisors to friends and family. It was a true team effort with many unsung heroes working in the background. Thank you all!
webhosting.today: What was the reception of the first edition?
Munir Badr: The inaugural edition of Domain Days Dubai was met with great enthusiasm and positive feedback. Attendees praised the high-quality content, networking opportunities, and the chance to learn from industry leaders. Social media was buzzing with updates and photos from the event, and many who traveled to Dubai for the first time were captivated by the city’s beauty and hospitality. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the EPIC after party, where we took over one of the largest yachts in Dubai for four hours, making headlines in both local and international industry coverage. The positive feedback on social media, especially on LinkedIn, and the widespread sharing of photos and videos from the event, are solid proof that it was a total success. Our post-event survey showed a strong demand for another edition!
webhosting.today: Any anecdotes?
Munir Badr: Actually a few:
What I enjoyed the most about Domain Days was not only were there lots of familiar faces, but I also met serious players from other parts of the world that don’t normally make it to US-based domain conferences. After the first event, it became a must-attend conference – Braden Pollock, CEO – Legal Brand Domains
The range and depth of the presentations as well as the contacts into the Domain Investor community in the Arab Emirates were outstanding. Munir Badr delivered what he promised and the “Dubai Domain Days” was probably the best-organized conference I have had the pleasure of attending – Christian Voss – CMO – Sedo.com
The domain name industry in the MENA region continues to have potential for growth and development. Events such as Domain Days MENA not only contribute to this growth and development, but also provide a good platform for ICANN to engage with industry players; both globally and locally, and discuss our key initiatives and projects. Fahd Batayneh – Stakeholder Engagement Director, Middle East – ICANN
webhosting.today: From your declarations, it seems that you plan to have the second edition this year in November. Tell us more about your plans and how the event will change compared to the first edition.
Munir Badr: Yes, we already announced the second edition of Domain Days Dubai, scheduled for November 5-6 this year. Based on the feedback from the first edition, we plan to introduce more interactive sessions, workshops, and panel discussions to provide hands-on learning experiences. We are also expanding our speaker lineup to include more international experts and industry leaders. Additionally, we aim to incorporate more networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect more effectively with peers and potential collaborators. We expect north of 250+ attendees this year and much more deals happening on the event floor. Our early bird ticket sale is currently on and this is the best value for money.
webhosting.today: What are your long-term plans for the event?
Munir Badr: My long-term vision for Domain Days Dubai is to establish it as the premier domain and web hosting conference in the Middle East & Africa region. We aim to grow the event year by year, increasing the number of participants, speakers, and partners. Our goal is to foster a strong community of domain professionals and enthusiasts in the region, driving innovation and growth in the industry. We also plan to introduce regional chapters and take the event to different cities with the help of local hosts to maintain engagement and support continuous learning and networking.
