Register the domain in your company name, pick .ae if you sell locally (and .com if you also go global), host on a reputable box with SSL, and use you@yourdomain.ae — not a Gmail. If the developer owns the accounts, you do not own the business online.
.ae vs .com
Register both if the name is available. Redirect one to the other so you never split the brand. .ae signals you operate here. .com helps people who type that habit. Neither substitutes for a site that loads and a number that dials.
Hosting that does not embarrass you
Cheap shared hosting with a 20-plugin WordPress stack is why sites fail Core Web Vitals. You want SSL, daily backups you have tested, a server reasonably close to the region or a CDN, and mail that is not jammed in spam. An AED 15 host can be fine for a brochure if restore exists. It is not fine if it is the only copy and nobody has ever restored it.
Professional email is not optional
hello@yourdomain.ae (or you@) belongs on the site, invoices and Google profile. Founder@gmail.com on a corporate footer is a trust leak. Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 are normal. Forwarding-only setups break when the host moves.
Ownership checklist
- Nic.ae / registrar login is yours
- Hosting panel is yours
- DNS documented: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC
- You can change nameservers without asking a vendor
- ITZ can still maintain the site as a helper, not a landlord
Frequently asked questions
Should I use .ae or .com?
If you sell in the UAE, get .ae. Add .com if you can. Point both at one site. Do not run two different websites on the two names.
Who should own domain and hosting?
Your company. The developer gets access to do the job. If you cannot log in without them, you are renting. ITZ hands over the keys on the build.