Dear ME Space community, I hope you’re all doing well. Since we haven’t received a topic for our ME Space ICANN85 session—and given that many in our region are engaged in non-commercial user issues—I thought it could be valuable to dedicate our discussion to this area and strengthen regional dialogue around it. With that in mind, I’d like to propose the following session topic: *Public Interest, Internet Governance, and Civic Space in the Middle East: The Role of ICANN’s Non-Commercial Community* *Brief description* Public interest and inclusive participation are increasingly important in Internet governance discussions across the Middle East. While ICANN’s multistakeholder model provides a global framework for shared decision-making, engagement from the region—particularly from civil society, academia, and individual users—remains limited and varies across stakeholder groups. This session will examine how civic space in the Middle East intersects with Internet governance processes at ICANN, with attention to public-interest considerations in DNS policy development. The discussion will explore participation pathways within ICANN, regional challenges to engagement, and the value of diverse perspectives in contributing to more balanced and legitimate outcomes. By grounding global Internet governance debates in Middle Eastern realities, the session aims to support greater understanding of ICANN processes and encourage informed, sustainable participation from the region. I’d really welcome your feedback and recommendations. Warm regards, Amine Hacha / Executive Committee - Non commercial Users Constituency ( NCUC)