<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Earlier this year, and as part of the recommendations of ICANN’s Engagement Strategy in the Middle East, we issued an RFP seeking a consultant to work on a study that defines the DNS Industry in the Middle East and Adjoining Countries (22 Arab States, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), and ti provide a set of recommendations on how to progress it forward. It feel on the shoulders of the EURid Consortium to deliver this study.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Please find the draft report of the study as well as an infographic both at <a href="https://community.icann.org/display/MES/MEAC+DNS+Study">https://community.icann.org/display/MES/MEAC+DNS+Study</a>. Please note that the document is draft, and so is open for any comments or feedback you may have. Feedback and comments can be sent to <a href="mailto:meswg@icann.org">meswg@icann.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Please note that we intend to hold an update session at the ICANN Dublin meeting to share the findings of the study with whoever is interested in it or in the DNS Industry in the MEAC region. The session will take place on <b><u>Tuesday October 20 at 16.15 – 17.30 UTC</u></b>. More information can be found at <a href="https://meetings.icann.org/en/dublin54/schedule/tue-middle-east-dns">https://meetings.icann.org/en/dublin54/schedule/tue-middle-east-dns</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>We look forward to receiving your feedback and comments, and to seeing you at our session in Dublin soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b>Baher Esmat</b> and <b>Fahd Batayneh</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Global Stakeholder Engagement, Middle East<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>ICANN<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>