ICANN announced that it has moved its Annual General Meeting, ICANN84, from Muscat, Oman to Dublin, Ireland. The corporation had to change its plans due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
According to Domain Name Wire, ICANN84 will take place in Dublin, Ireland. ICANN has clarified that its decision is not related to Oman itself, which remains a safe and entirely appropriate host for major international events. The relocation stems from broader regional instability in the Middle East, particularly the recent exchange of missile and air strikes between Israel and Iran, as well as the reported U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
These developments have led to widespread flight delays and cancellations, along with airspace closures across several countries in the region, severely disrupting air travel. ICANN has chosen to act prudently.
“Given this uncertainty – and the possibility that travel to and from Oman could remain difficult – ICANN made the decision to relocate ICANN84 now to allow adequate time to secure a suitable alternative venue, given the impending planning deadlines for the meeting. Acting promptly allows ICANN to avoid a scenario where the meeting could be forced into a remote-only format, and helps to ensure a stable and well-attended event,” ICANN’s statement reads.
The organization also noted that taking this step now helps avoid the risk of being forced to shift the event entirely online at the last minute – a scenario they are keen to prevent.
The ICANN84 date has not changed: it will take place in Dublin on October 25-30.
