Buying a .ma domain name: The most important step in its creation

Key facts

A .ma domain is Morocco's national extension, managed by ANRT. Registration must go through an accredited registrar and requires an identifiable holder with supporting documents. At an accredited registrar such as Hostino, the reference price is about 150 MAD excl. VAT per year. After purchase, ANRT allows 14 days to verify the holder; without a compliant file, the domain may enter serverHold status.

The .ma registry is managed by ANRT (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications).

Typical price at accredited registrars: about 150 MAD excl. VAT per year (e.g. Hostino).

The holder name must match the national ID (individual) or trade register/Modèle 7 (company).

Holder verification deadline: 14 days after registration.

Without compliant documents, the domain can be suspended with serverHold status.

Check availability on mawhois.com or the official .ma registry WHOIS.

Buying a .ma domain name is more than a technical formality: it officially establishes your online presence in Morocco. The .ma extension is managed by ANRT, and every registration must rely on an identifiable holder, with a correct name and justifiable documents.

In this guide, you will see how to reserve your domain step by step — and why holder verification matters as much as choosing the name itself. An incomplete file or a nominee holder can lead to domain suspension (ServerHold status), or even deletion.

Why .ma is strategic

A .ma domain anchors your brand in the Moroccan market, builds local trust, and supports visibility with audiences in Morocco. Unlike a generic extension, the national registry sets clear rules: the declared holder must be verifiable.

Before buying, check availability on mawhois.com or the .ma registry WHOIS.

How to buy a .ma domain name

Choose a short, memorable name aligned with your activity. Avoid ambiguous spellings and hard-to-dictate characters.
Check availability via WHOIS.
Use an ANRT-accredited registrar for registration and document follow-up.
Enter the real holder (person or company) — not a fictional intermediary.
Pay and keep the registration confirmation.

Technical activation can be fast. Administrative validation of the holder file, however, remains essential to keep the domain secure over time.

Holder verification: the step often overlooked

ANRT requires every .ma to be linked to a holder whose identity (or company identity) can be proven. Accredited registrars collect and submit identification documents to the registry.

Without this verification:

the domain may stay pending validation;
you risk a move to ServerHold;
website, email, and related services become unavailable;
without regularization, the registry may delete the name.

Verification is not optional: it is what makes your .ma purchase truly secure.

The holder name must be correct

The most critical point at purchase time: the holder name must match exactly the documents you can provide.

For an individual

Use the full name as shown on the national ID (or passport for a foreign holder).
Avoid nicknames, initials only, or a “convenient” name different from the official identity.

For a company

Register the domain under the legal company name, consistent with the trade register / Modèle 7.
Do not put the domain under an employee, contractor, or temporary partner unless they are the justifiable holder.

What you must avoid

Nominee holders or invented data
Accounts created under a third party “to go faster”
Inconsistencies between WHOIS, invoice, and ID documents

An incorrect holder name today often means suspension tomorrow.

Domain suspension: what ServerHold means

ServerHold is a suspension imposed by the ANRT registry, not a DNS outage at your hosting provider.

In practice:

the website may become unreachable;
mailboxes at @yourdomain.ma stop working;
WHOIS shows serverHold;
only a compliant deposit of the real holder’s documents can lift the block.

If you just bought a .ma, also watch for pendingCreate: it often means administrative validation is still in progress. ServerHold already means an active suspension.

If your domain is already affected, see our dedicated article: ANRT holder verification and ServerHold risk.

Checklist before (and after) purchase

The domain name is available and relevant
You use an ANRT-accredited registrar
The declared holder is the real person or company
The holder name matches official documents
Documents (ID / company papers) are ready to upload
You reply quickly to registrar emails about ANRT
You check WHOIS after registration

Summary

Buying a .ma domain name means choosing your online address — and securing the holder. ANRT verification, a correct holder name, and a complete file prevent domain suspension.

For the full path (requirements, documents, timelines): guide to buying a .ma domain in Morocco.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a .ma domain cost in Morocco?

At ANRT-accredited registrars, the reference price is about 150 MAD excl. VAT per year. Hostino, Clouder and ADK Media charge around 149 to 150 MAD. Avoid non-accredited resellers charging over 800 MAD for the same .ma with no real added value. Annual renewal follows the same price range at accredited providers.

What documents are needed to register a .ma domain?

For a Moroccan individual, a national ID (CIN) is required with a holder name identical to the document. For a company, the trade register and recent Modèle 7 are needed under the legal company name. A foreign holder can provide a passport or incorporation documents. The accredited registrar submits the file to ANRT.

How long does it take to activate a .ma domain?

Technical registration can be nearly instant, but ANRT validates the holder file administratively. Allow up to 14 days for full verification. During this period, WHOIS may show pendingCreate. Once validated, status changes to Active/OK. Without compliant documents within 14 days, the registry may suspend the domain with serverHold.

Can foreigners buy a .ma domain?

Yes, foreign individuals and companies can register a .ma through an ANRT-accredited registrar. The holder must be identifiable: passport for an individual, incorporation documents for a foreign company. The same 14-day verification rules apply. The holder name in WHOIS must match the submitted documents exactly.

Why use an ANRT-accredited registrar?

Only ANRT-accredited registrars can register directly with the .ma registry. They handle holder document submission, renewal and EPP codes for transfers. A non-accredited reseller complicates support, domain recovery and serverHold resolution. Hostino is an accredited registrar offering .ma at about 150 MAD excl. VAT per year.