The president of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has urged the Arab world to join in determining the future of the internet in a meeting held in Dubai.
According to Fadi Chehade, as the Arab world becomes more user-friendly Arab countries must play a bigger role in creating policies related to internet governance.
“The Internet is becoming far more user friendly for the Arab world. Now it is time for Arabs to become much more engaged in the Internet’s future,” he said.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Arab multi-stakeholder internet governance meeting, Chehade said he hoped the ICANN Middle East engagement strategy developed in May would be brought to force.
“It is critical that the Arab world itself come to the table to help us develop that strategy. We want to hear all the Arab voices; those of the Domain Name industry, governments, businesses and even unaffiliated Internet users.”
In the meeting there was a general agreement the domain name industry be more fully developed in the Arab region, with ICANN ready to add its support to that effort so long as the region’s internet leaders map the way forward for the organisation.
From Dubai, Chehade heads to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will meet African internet heads, still part of his worldwide tour aimed at increasing global participation in ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model.
