What is .ruhr?
.ruhr entered the DNS root zone on December 10, 2013, 12 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
dotSaarland GmbH also runs one other TLD, including .saarland.
On the technical side, .ruhr is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .ruhr, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.ruhr).
Same registry, other endings
1 other TLD shares this operator.
.ruhr FAQ
What does .ruhr mean?
.ruhr is a generic top-level domain named for the word "ruhr", and it's aimed at cities & regions. It doesn't belong to any country.
What is .ruhr used for?
.ruhr is mostly used for cities & regions. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .ruhr?
None. .ruhr is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .ruhr domain extension?
dotSaarland GmbH operates .ruhr as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .ruhr created?
.ruhr was delegated to the DNS root zone on December 10, 2013.
Is .ruhr a valid domain?
Yes. .ruhr is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2013, so .ruhr addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .ruhr domain?
.ruhr names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read dotSaarland GmbH's policy if you're unsure.
Is .ruhr DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .ruhr.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed July 22, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
