FAQs

Under the Ministerial Resolution, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (‘TRA’) has been appointed to manage the Bahrain Registry.

The TRA is the manager, administrator of all the Top Level Domain names assigned to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This includes ccTLD .BH and subdomains such .com.bh, org.bh, net.bh, etc and the assigned Internationalized Domain Name: ALBAHRAIN. البحرين.

A domain name is a part of an address that you type in your browser to get to a placeholder on the internet. The address you type in your browser is called an URL. You can think of a domain name as a means to create postal addresses that you manage yourself. Those addresses are then used to uniquely identify a digital address on the internet.

URL stands for Uniform Resource Location. By using a URL like http://www.register.bh you are using the domain register.bh to get to the placeholder for www.register.bh.

TLD stands for Top Level Domain.

The top-level .bh and the IDN .albahrain are open to the public for registration. Under .bh there are the following subdomains with different eligibility criteria according to the regulations:

Whois is an Internet service and protocol that searches and displays information pertaining to a domain name from repositories of domain name registrars worldwide. This allows for anyone to search for a particular domain and access the records associated with that domain name registration.

The public accessible WHOIS server whois.nic.bh will accessible over WHOIS protocol and also accessible over https://whois.nic.bh

The WHOIS data will always be redacted (unless the disclose flag is used).

A registry is the database of all domain names registered under a given TLD or subzone within the TLD such as .com.bh

Registrars are organizations accredited and certified by the registries to sell domain names.

A domain name registrant is a person or organization that is recorded in the registry database which is entitled to use a registered domain name. A registrant is also sometimes called the ‘Registered Holder’.

Login into your CentralNic console and sign the RRA as you would for any other TLD. Please note that there is a registrar accreditation fee that will be invoiced upon execution of the RRA to registrars by TRA directly.

There are no restrictions regarding registrars having a business presence in Bahrain, albeit registrars will be reviewed by TRA on the following basis: registrars are only allowed to sell other TLDs that are in line with the morality clauses of .bh. Registrars that are deemed to sell unethical TLDs will be rejected.

A domain name may be registered from 1 to 5 years. The life cycle for a domain reflects various stages during a registration and its expiration. From the initial creation of the domain name will transition through various events and have a different status on each part of this lifecycle.

The Bahrain Registry domain names follow standard gTLD lifecycle which is illustrated below:

1. Find a registrar here – https://register.bh/where-to-buy-a-bh/
2. Choose your domain name on the platform of the registrar
3. Comply with TRA regulations and agree to the terms and conditions
4. Pay the registrar the applicable fee for your domain name
5. Your new domain name can now be managed

Domains may be registered in annual terms from 1 to 5 years. Generally, registrars will charge annual rather than monthly fees.

This depends on your registrar of choice and the registrar’s terms and conditions.
It is important that if you register a domain name for 1 year or more, that at the end of that term, if you wish to retain the domain name that you must “renew” your domain name in time with your registrar so that your domain does not get deleted and released to be registered again by another party.

Renewing your domain is a simple process between you and your registrar (the retailer that you purchased your domain from).

If you don’t know when your registration is due for renewal then you need to contact your registrar or do a WHOIS lookup here: https://whois.nic.bh/

Please note, usually, you can renew your registration at any time before the expiry date.

When the fee for renewing the domain is not paid for, the domain will transition to the status pendingDelete where it’s no longer working (See also the domain lifecycle). After 45 days your domain name will be released to the public again where anyone can register your domain.

It is possible to change registrant details or assign the domain name to another person or entity provided that the new registrant meets any eligibility criteria, agrees to comply with the regulations and provides full accurate and complete contact details. Your registrar can help you with this process.

If you have a domain name with one registrar and you wish to move to another registrar this is possible. This change is called a registrar transfer. See FAQ section (“Registrar transfer“).

There are 2 types of transfer for a domain:

• registrar transfer: See FAQ section (“Registrar transfer“).
• registrant transfer: See FAQ section (“Registrant transfer“).

See each section below for an answer.

If you want to change reseller for your domain name (registrar) the process is shown below:

By using the Registrar transfer process the ownership for the domain can be transferred from 1 party to another party. This is controlled by giving the authCode to the receiving party. In every case the new registrant must meet all eligibility criteria that may apply to the domain name and comply with the domain name regulations.

An AuthInfo code is a code composed of lower and up case letters, digits and special characters with a minimum length of 16 characters that is used to transfer a domain name from one registrar to another.

This can be managed and updated with the Registrar of record.

No. All registrants must supply their own contact information which must be true, complete and accurate.

As this is a new system there will be no change. However gTLD lifecycle will be followed.

On the Bahrain Registry platform, the registrar can choose ROIDs within some limits and with respect to the uniqueness of the registry system.

In normal circumstances, there is no need for this. However, if you receive a domain after a transfer you can change the AuthInfo code.

Sunrise will be a trademark sunrise period lasting at least ninety (90) days, comprising a minimum of a thirty (30) day Advertisement notice period followed by sixty (60) days of an end date Sunrise. Sunrise and Grandfathering phases (applicable to البحرين.) will overlap in time.

All existing legacy .bh and subdomain domain names currently allocated will be offered the opportunity as pre-qualified customers to have their matching البحرين. names in Arabic language.

This registration model is known as “grandfathering” and its objective is primarily to provide legacy customers with a priority registration period where they have exclusive access to their matching names in the Arabic IDN version. During the grandfathering phase .bh domain holders may submit an application for their matching IDN. The requested domain will remain in a pending create status until it is verified for eligibility and accuracy of Arabic translation.

The application window will be open for a period of six (6) months which may coincide with the Sunrise phase or be ongoing as announced by the Bahrain Registry. At the conclusion of the Grandfathering phase any names which have not been claimed shall be released for general availability unless reserved by the TRA in its sole discretion.

The Local Bahrain Priority General Availability Phase commences after sunrise/grandfathering phase. It shall have a duration of four (4) months with allocation of qualified names on a first come, first serve basis strictly provided the registrant applicant (whether a business, entity, individual, organization) is located or resides in Bahrain. This is to give priority to Kingdom of Bahrain residents and local businesses and organizations over any international registration.
It is the responsibility of the Registrar to verify and ensure that only Bahrain entities, organizations and residents apply for and register names during this period. Documentation may be requested for proof of residency or qualification to participate during this phase but it is not mandatory. Information requested will not be submitted to the Registry unless specifically requested to comply with spot checks or to investigate complaints.

Eligibility restrictions and local nexus restrictions will always apply to the following extensions:

The Bahrain Registry reserves the right to reject after registration any domain name which provides false information or does not have a registrant residing in Bahrain or company with an office address in Bahrain where local presence requirements exist.

General Availability is an allocation of domain names on a first come, first serve basis.
.bh and البحرين. can be registered by registrants globally and no restrictions apply.