.mr is the country-code domain of Mauritania. A company based abroad can register one without a local office or a Mauritanian partner, and the name is live within a few hours. The registry publishes very little online, which is why the rules are worth checking before you file.
Who runs the .mr domain?
The IANA root zone database lists the Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya as the manager of .mr, with its registry, NIC-Mauritanie, at nic.mr. The zone is signed with DNSSEC: IANA shows a secure delegation from the root.
The same university manages Mauritania’s Arabic-script country domain, .موريتانيا, which IANA records as delegated since 30 January 2019.
Can a foreign company register a .mr domain?
Yes. Holders based in any country can register a .mr name. Individuals and organisations can both hold one, and the registration needs no local presence, no company registration number and no trademark. There is no application form and no document to send.
One condition applies to every holder: before registering, you must make sure that the name does not infringe the rights of third parties or national rights, and does not breach local cultural and religious norms. A trademark that belongs to someone else, or a sexually offensive name, are refused for that reason.
What are the rules for a .mr name?
The main rules, as Domgate applies them for .mr:
| Rule | .mr |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 to 63 characters |
| Registration time | a few hours |
| Registration and renewal term | 1 to 10 years |
| Late renewal after expiry | 35 days |
| Restoration after deletion | none |
| Transfer and change of holder | with the authorisation code |
| Second levels | .org.mr, .edu.mr, .perso.mr |
The absence of a restoration period matters. Once a .mr name is deleted, it cannot be recovered through the registrar: renew on time, and use the 35 days after expiry only as a safety net.
How are .mr disputes handled?
This is the point to check before relying on it. The WIPO ccTLD database lists no dispute policy and no dispute provider for .mr, and the registration rules it links to are no longer online. Before you count on a dispute route for a .mr name, ask your registrar which procedure the registry applies today.
For a brand, the cheapest protection is to register the name before someone else does. The extension also reads as “Mr”, the English abbreviation of Mister, which makes it a natural choice for personal names and for brands built on the word.
What does a .mr domain cost?
At Domgate a .mr domain costs €300 a year, at registration and at each renewal, and the same for a transfer. The three second levels are registered without an application form.
Can you register the Arabic-script domain .موريتانيا?
Yes. Domgate also registers .موريتانيا, at €300 a year, under the same conditions: no local presence, no company number and no trademark needed. For a company that addresses Arabic-speaking customers in Mauritania, holding the name in both scripts keeps a lookalike out of the hands of others.
What should you do now?
- Check whether your brand is free under .mr with the whois tool.
- If you sell or plan to work in Mauritania or West Africa, register the name now: there is no presence requirement to meet.
- Put the renewal date in your calendar: a deleted .mr cannot be restored.
Domgate is a corporate ccTLD registrar for 1,300+ extensions. It registers .mr for brand owners, law firms and registrars, and lists the rules of each African country domain on its Africa page.
