The UAE has spent years positioning itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence, and many Dubai start-ups built their brands on .ai web addresses. Now a new domain ending is attracting attention from tech founders worldwide: .si, Slovenia's country-code domain, which has suddenly become shorthand for super intelligence.
From quiet ccTLD to global trend
.si is administered by ARNES, the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia, according to the IANA root zone database, and operates under the Register.si name. Delegated in 1992 after Slovenia's independence, it remained a largely domestic domain for more than three decades. Foreign applicants can also register it.
That changed in September 2026, when US President Donald Trump said the United States would use "Super Intelligence" (SI) instead of artificial intelligence and later signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt the term, as reported by France 24/AFP and TechCrunch.
Register.si told the BBC that around 44,000 .si addresses were registered in September, compared with fewer than 2,000 in August, including 11,000 on 30 September alone, while cautioning against attributing the whole increase to the US terminology change. Netcraft reported that daily .si registrations briefly outpaced .ai.
Why it matters for Dubai's tech sector
For AI companies in Dubai and across the UAE, the trend echoes the earlier .ai rush, when Anguilla's ccTLD became the default address for artificial-intelligence brands. A short .si name can signal a next-generation AI positioning, protect a brand from speculators, or support international marketing. Register.si itself has encouraged trademark and company-name holders to secure their names.
As with any trend-driven extension, businesses should compare first-year and renewal prices, check trademark conflicts and avoid paying speculative aftermarket prices for names that may still be available at standard rates.
Recommendation: UAE companies can check availability and register a .si name at BuyADomain.ae.