Hi Fahd and all; Below are my comments for the ICANN MEAC strategic plan; 1. Global comments: * In terms of effectiveness and performance, the ICANN MEAC strategic goals are in some extend converging with a set of SDGs for economic development and sustainability (Ex: SDG#9 : Infrastructure and development, SDG# Global partnership and collaboration). Its appropriate to mention such synergies between the UN goals and ICANN goals in the region. Thus, will push further governments support of ICANN MEAC strategic goals. * The coordinating of the allocation and assignment of the unique identifiers for the Internet - ("IP") addresses, DNs - in MEAC strategic plan requires in-depth clarifications for more efficiency of results at the field level, this is due to the lack of IPv6 national plans in the region. Government as well as ISPs, registrars etc ... need urgent engagements with different stakeholders in the region for an effective IPv6 deployment. We see only some academia attempts in such direction, thus, requires more effective support. 2. Specific comments to the alignment with ICANN's 2016-2020 Strategic Plan: * While ICANN is guided by core values enumerated in its Bylaws like diversity, fairness, integrity, creativeness, effectiveness, responsiveness, and transparency, it's very important to re-mention such values in the MEAC strategic plan and show the strong commitment of the ICANN MEAC-SWG in storing such values, the region is in an early stage in instituting such culture and values. 3. Comments related to the strategic areas for engagement 4. Support secure, stable, and resilient domain name system (DNS) infrastructure in the MEAC region * Promoting ICANN's role and multistakeholder approach in MENA region is still very challenging to realize, we witnessed such issue in the Arab MAG representatively! Furthermore, many Arab states are yet not committed to the bottom-up approach in the decision making process. The needed strategy should not be limited to promotion; it should dive deeper in an effective consensus debate between different stakeholders and their governments to develop IG policies to implement a practical bottom-up decision making process in the field. * We advise for more coordination and support for the policy development and advocacy related to the strategy technical functions such the DNS, security, DNSSEC, etc in MEAC region. 5. Promote a healthy and competitive domain name marketplace in the MEAC region * We are all aware of the trillions of things which will be connected by the end of 2020, many using the DNS and all using IP addresses as a platform. This will expand dramatically as well in MEAC region "Ex: IoT industry in Saudi Arabia and UAE". We advise for more focus by the ICANN MEAC strategic plan in manage these huge waves of change affecting the DNS industry. * The availability of new TLDs, DNSs and IPs are driving social and economic change and expansion, it's wise to clarify in the strategic plan the regional engines that ICANN is committed to put in place to empower the regional responsible industry that fosters economic growth and innovation. Cordially. Hafedh Al Yahmadi