The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has officially announced the relocation of its 87th conference – this year’s Annual General Meeting. Originally slated to occur in Muscat, the capital of Oman, from October 17 to 22, the event’s location became increasingly uncertain following the outbreak of an armed conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran in late February. Despite this, ICANN’s leadership had delayed the decision to relocate, possibly hoping for a favorable resolution to the conflict.
Regrettably, such a resolution did not materialize. Moreover, the threat to the safe conduct of ICANN87 has grown even more pressing. Oman, known for its staunch policy of political neutrality and its reputation as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” has recently found itself at odds with the U.S. President. This tension arose after Iran announced plans to jointly oversee maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. In response, Donald Trump threatened Oman with sanctions and potential military action. Clearly, under these circumstances, relocating the conference became unavoidable.
“The decision to relocate the meeting was made in consultation with the meeting hosts and local partners in Oman, with a shared focus on ensuring that the AGM can proceed on schedule and support broad global participation. [...]Accessibility, travel reliability, and the ability to participate, both in person and online, are essential to its success. In light of recent developments affecting regional airspace, ICANN has taken this step now to provide certainty for participants and ensure the meeting can move forward as planned,” reads the corporation’s official statement.
ICANN87 will ultimately take place on the previously scheduled dates on the island of Bali, Indonesia, at the conference center of the prestigious Westin Resort Nusa Dua resort complex. Domain Incite, reporting this development, notes that ICANN meetings intended to be held in Oman have been relocated for the second time in the past year. Previously, ICANN84, scheduled for October of last year, was to have been conducted there. However, it was moved to Dublin due to ongoing political instability and armed conflicts in the Middle East.
