.qa

API commandsRestrictions

Important

The .QA Registry has unilaterally decided not to renew their Registrar agreements with international registrars, leaving us with no alternative but to transition the management of .QA domains to a locally accredited registrar. Without this change, we would no longer be able to renew or manage .QA domains on behalf of our registrants.

We have signed an agreement with our new provider Q Host Technologies (this name will also be seen as “registrar” on whois lookups). All domains will be migrated on 2024-11-21, then we will use the new connection for the continuation of service for your existing domains, as well as restart registrations and transfer-ins, which we had previously stopped on 2024-10-31.

API Commands

Please find in the following a set of the most commonly used standard API commands in order to register, modify, renew, and transfer a domain name.

AddDomainModifyDomainRenewDomainDeleteDomainTransferDomainRestoreDomain

Domain Registration

(API Command reference » AddDomain)

Command

command         = AddDomain
domain          = yourdomain.qa
period          = (INT)
ownercontact0   = (CONTACT)
admincontact0   = (CONTACT)
techcontact0    = (CONTACT)
billingcontact0 = (CONTACT)
nameserver0  = (NAMESERVER)
nameserver1   = (NAMESERVER)

Domain Modification

(API Command reference » ModifyDomain)

Standard command

command = ModifyDomain
domain  = yourdomain.qa

Change of Registrant

Exception

command       = TradeDomain
domain        = yourdomain.qa
ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)

Domain Renewal

(API Command reference » RenewDomain)

Command

command    = RenewDomain
domain     = yourdomain.qa
period     = (INT)
expiration = (INT)

• When a Domain Name Licence is renewed, the Domain Name Licence Period is increased by the length of time for which the Domain Name Licence is to be Renewed.
• .qa domain names are eligible for renewal at any time before the Expiry Date for any period as long as the resulting total Domain Name Licence Period does not exceed five (5) years and ninety (90) Calendar Days. The ninety (90) Calendar Day period added to the end of the Domain Name Licence Period is to allow Registrants the ability to renew their Domain Name Licence whilst not forfeiting the remainder of the Domain Name Licence Period.

Domain Deletion

Command

DeleteDomain

is not available for .qa TLDs.

As .qa domains cannot be deleted explicitly. To delete a .qa domain you have to set the domain renewal mode or default renewal mode to AUTODELETE or AUTOEXPIRE.

Domain Transfer

(API Command reference » TransferDomain)

Exception

command = TransferDomain
domain  = yourdomain.qa
auth    = ...

Domain Restore

(API Command reference » RestoreDomain)

Command

command = RestoreDomain
domain  = yourdomain.qa

Domain Restrictions

It isn’t allowed to use words or abbreviations that are contrary to The Qatari Law or Islamic morality!

The Qatar Domains Registry reserves the right to reject or refuse any Application for a Domain Name, or cancel or suspend any Domain Name which has been Registered that in the Qatar Domains Registry’s opinion intentionally or unintentionally, is, or may be considered to:

1. violate public morality or is contrary to public order or is against a religion or a religious character;
2. deceive the public;
3. be involved with illegal or fraudulent activities;
4. be prejudicial to the interest or security of the State of Qatar;
5. be names of governmental organisations;
6. be names of well-known persons (unless permission has been obtained in advance from the well known person concerned);
7. correspond to trademarks or service marks of a third party (unless permission has been obtained in advance from the third party);
8. correspond to any other word or name that the Qatar Domains Registry adds or is directed to add to the list of reserved words from time to time.

This does include a prohibition of gambling.