Domain Name in Lebanon
A Q&A Guide
Navigating the digital landscape is crucial for any business or organization in Lebanon, and your domain name is the cornerstone of your online identity. This FAQ section is designed to provide clear, concise answers to common questions about securing and maintaining your domain names.
General Information
A domain name is your unique address on the internet (e.g., yourcompany.com.lb) that serves as your digital identity online. For Lebanese businesses, registering a .lb domain establishes local credibility, demonstrates connection to Lebanon, and effectively targets the Lebanese market.
The
Lebanese Domain Registry (LBDR) is the authorized body responsible for managing
and regulating Lebanon's .lb country code top-level domain (ccTLD) and its
second-level domains. The LBDR operates under a Registry-Registrar model,
meaning you cannot register directly with them but must use an accredited
registrar.
- .com.lb - Commercial entities and businesses
- .org.lb - Licensed Lebanese non-profit organizations or international organizations with official status in Lebanon
- .net.lb - Network providers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
- .edu.lb - Educational institutions
- .gov.lb - Lebanese governmental organizations (restricted)
Currently, LBDR does not offer direct registration under .lb. All registrations must be under second-level domains like .com.lb, .org.lb, etc. However, LBDR reserves the right to change this policy and will offer priority registration to existing registrants when direct .lb registration becomes available.
Currently, .lb domains generally do not support IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names) with non-ASCII characters.
Registration Requirements and Eligibility
Eligibility varies by extension:
- General requirement: Must have a Lebanese postal address for .com.lb, .edu.lb, .net.lb, .org.lb, and .gov.lb
- Individual registration: Currently not directly supported
- Organizations: Lebanese entities, companies, or organizations with registered presence in Lebanon
- Foreign entities: Must have a registered office or subsidiary in Lebanon, or use a trustee service
If
you do not have the required local presence in Lebanon (e.g., a postal
address), some registrars offer a Trustee Service for an additional fee. They
will act as your legal representative in Lebanon to fulfill the registration
requirements.
A domain name must:
- Be between 3 and 63 characters in length.
- Contain only lowercase letters (a-z), digits (0-9), and hyphens (-).
- Start and end with a letter or a digit.
- Not contain a hyphen in the third and fourth positions simultaneously (e.g., ab--cde.com.lb).
- Not be composed entirely of digits.
Yes. A domain cannot be identical to an existing one. Furthermore, the LBDR maintains a list of reserved and prohibited names (e.g., generic terms, names of public figures, offensive words).
Yes, an organization may register a maximum of 100 domain names under the .lb ccTLD
The Registration Process
- The domain name
- Primary and secondary name servers (and IP addresses if applicable)
- Identity of your Registrar
- Full name, title, organization name, postal address, email, and phone number of the Registrant.
- Optional contact details for administrative, technical, and billing contacts.
- Optionally, your trademark certificate number.
- Choose an LBDR Accredited Registrar: Select a service provider accredited by the LBDR.
- Check Availability: Use your registrar's tool to ensure your desired name is available.
- Submit Application: Complete the registrar's application, which includes the official LBDR-A (Agreement) Form.
- Provide Documentation: In some cases, the LBDR may request additional documents to validate conformity or identity, such as valid identification (ID card/passport), Power of Attorney, trademark certificate, commercial circular, specific attestations for educational institutions or board members, or proof of postal address.
- Configure Name Servers: You must provide at least two valid and operational name servers for your domain.
- Activate Your Domain: Once the application is approved, you will receive an email to validate your contact details and accept the LBDR policies. Your domain becomes active only after this validation is complete.
Registration timelines vary:
- Standard processing: 1-3 days once all requirements are met
- Complex cases: Up to 60 days for applications requiring additional verification
- Activation: Once approved, domain status becomes "Pending Activation" until contact validation is completed
No, a trademark certificate is not required for domain registration.
Domain Management, Renewal & Transfers
Domains must be renewed annually, though you can pay for multiple years in advance (typically up to 3 years).
The expiration process follows these stages:
- Renew Grace Period (30 days): Domain remains active and can be renewed normally
- Redemption Period (30 days): Domain becomes inactive but can be restored by registrar
- Delete Pending Period (60 days): Domain inactive but can be restored by Registry, usually with penalty fees
- Deleted: Domain becomes available for new registration
All updates must be initiated through your registrar. While technical updates (like changing name servers) are straightforward, changing the official Registrant information is a formal process that requires validation and approval from the LBDR.
Yes, you can transfer your domain to a different accredited registrar at any time. Your current registrar is obligated to provide you with a transfer authentication code (Auth-Code) free of charge within 5 working days of your request.
No. A registered domain name cannot be modified. If you want a different name, you must register it as a new domain.
Legal & Compliance
The LBDR is the central registry for .lb domains, setting policies and maintaining the overall database. Registrars are accredited service providers that act as intermediaries, directly handling applications, renewals, and management of domain names on behalf of registrants. You work with a Registrar, and the Registrar interacts with the LBDR.
As a registrant, you are legally responsible for:
- Providing accurate and up-to-date information and responding to queries from the Registry.
- Ensuring your domain name and its use do not infringe on third-party rights (e.g., trademarks) or violate Lebanese law.
- Complying with LBDR policies and procedures.
- Renewing your domain on time.
- Taking full responsibility for the registered domain name's lawful use
Yes. A domain can be compulsorily suspended or deleted for several reasons, including:
- A court order or decision from the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) committee.
- Providing false or inaccurate registration data.
- Failure to pay registration or renewal fees.
- Technical failure (e.g., non-operative name servers).
- Violation of LBDR policies.
Disputes are typically handled by the LBDR's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process or through the Lebanese courts.
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