Published on · Updated on · By the IT LABS PRO team
Your domain name is the address of your website and your business e-mail. In Morocco, the .ma extension is a natural choice for a company that targets the local market. But how do you get one? Who runs it? What does it cost, and should you also register the .com? Here are the answers, with the official rules.
Check whether a name is free with our free domain name checker: it works for .ma, .com and most other extensions.
Who runs .ma?
The national “.ma” domain is managed under the authority of the ANRT (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications, Morocco’s telecoms regulator), which keeps the central registry of domain names. The rules for allocating and managing names are set by an ANRT decision (decision no. 02/2024 of 5 February 2024 for the version in force).
In practice, you do not register your name directly with the ANRT: applications must go through a registrar, a company declared to the ANRT to sell .ma domain names. Hosting companies, web agencies and internet providers often play this role.
Who can register a .ma?
Any individual or organisation can register a .ma domain name: company, association, public body or private person, Moroccan or foreign, by providing the identification details the registrar asks for. When registering, the holder accepts the ANRT’s rules, including the publication of some data in the “WHOIS” directory.
The rules to know
- The name must be available: check with your registrar’s WHOIS search or our domain name checker.
- It must have at least two characters and at most 63 characters.
- It must be registered under one of the extensions provided for by the regulations (for example .ma, or second-level extensions such as .co.ma or .net.ma).
- Registration is valid for a set period and must be renewed before it expires, or the name can become available again.
How much does a .ma domain cost?
Each registrar sets its own price, which varies with the services included (DNS management, WHOIS data protection, support). As an example, one registrar advertised .ma names “from 119 MAD a year” in September 2026. Always compare the first-year price with the renewal price, which can be different.
The domain name is only one of a website’s yearly costs: with hosting and the SSL certificate, allow 2,500 to 3,200 MAD a year in total, depending on the hosting plan (see our guide to web hosting in Morocco).
.ma, .co.ma or .com: which to choose?
.ma
Short and easy to recognise, it shows that your business is Moroccan. It is the best choice if your customers are mainly in Morocco.
.co.ma
A second-level extension, historically associated with commercial companies. It is longer and less memorable than .ma; it can be a fallback if the .ma is already taken.
.com
The international extension, relevant if you target customers abroad or if your brand has international ambitions.
Our advice
If your budget allows, register both the .ma and the .com of your brand: one redirects to the other, and you stop anyone else from using a name close to yours. Choose the main extension according to your market.
Choosing a good name
- Short and easy to spell, spoken or written.
- No hyphens or digits if possible: they cause typing mistakes.
- Close to your brand rather than stuffed with keywords.
- Checked: no trademark owned by someone else, no awkward meaning in other languages.
Protecting your domain name
Your domain name is a company asset. Make sure it is registered in your company’s name, not in the name of a provider or an employee. Turn on automatic renewal, keep access to the management account and note the expiry date. To protect your brand beyond the domain name, contact the OMPIC (Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale, Morocco’s trademark office).
The steps to register your .ma
- Choose a registrar declared to the ANRT.
- Check that the name is available.
- Provide the holder’s identification details (your company’s).
- Pay for the first year and point the DNS to your hosting.
- Turn on automatic renewal.
Domain name, hosting and e-mail: how they fit together
A domain name is just an address. To show your website and receive your e-mail, it has to be connected to services:
- web hosting, which stores your website’s files;
- DNS servers, which say where your website and mailboxes are;
- e-mail, for business addresses such as contact@your-company.ma;
- the SSL certificate, which switches on HTTPS and the padlock in the browser.
These services can be with the same provider or with different ones. What matters is keeping control of the account that manages the domain name: it is what lets you move everything if you change host or agency.
The most common mistakes
- Letting the provider register the name in its own name: if you fall out or change agency, you risk losing your address.
- Using a personal e-mail address or a former employee’s as the technical contact: renewal notices stop arriving.
- Choosing a name too close to an existing brand: risk of disputes and confusion for your customers.
- Forgetting the variants: common typos, with or without a hyphen, other extensions. Registering the most obvious ones protects your traffic.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer a .ma to another registrar?
Yes. Transfers happen between registrars, following the procedure set by the ANRT’s regulations. Make sure you have your name’s management details before you start.
What happens if I forget to renew my .ma?
After expiry, the name can be suspended and then become available to others. Turn on automatic renewal and keep an up-to-date contact e-mail with your registrar.
Can a foreign company or individual register a .ma?
Yes. Any individual or organisation, Moroccan or foreign, can register a .ma domain name by providing the requested information.
Do I need a .ma to rank well in Morocco?
It is not required, but a national extension helps Google and visitors associate your website with Morocco. Content, speed and the quality of the website matter far more.
In short
.ma is run by the ANRT and registered through a declared registrar, for at most a few hundred dirhams a year depending on the offer. Register it in your company’s name and, if possible, also register the .com of your brand. Building your website? IT LABS PRO takes care of the domain name, the hosting and the website: discover our website development in Morocco.
Sources (in French)
- ANRT, decision no. ANRT/DG/02/2024 of 5 February 2024 on .ma domain names: anrt.ma (PDF)
- ANRT, guidelines for managing the “.ma” domain: anrt.ma (PDF)
- Example of a price seen (Clouder, “Nom de domaine .ma”, checked on 30 September 2026): clouder.ma
- OMPIC, domain names: ompic.ma