What Majarra does

Majarra (مجرة) is an Abu Dhabi-based digital media company that operates a subscription platform aggregating premium international content brands localized into Arabic. Founded in 2021 (formerly Haykal Media) and backed by North Base Media with a $3M round, the company licenses and operates Arabic editions of Harvard Business Review, MIT Technology Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Popular Science (Oloom), Fortune, and France's Psychologies (Nafseyati), alongside proprietary assets including the Manhom database of Arab individuals and companies. Its consumer subscription is priced at $49 USD per year for unlimited access across the full content network, distributed via iOS and Android apps and a self-serve web platform.

The company's technology stack centers on Arabic language processing, anchored by the July 2024 acquisition of Lableb, an Arabic AI and NLP startup whose capabilities now power content search, summarization, and personalized recommendations across the platform. In April 2026, Majarra launched what it describes as the first Arabic podcast voiced by AI, applying its language technology to audio content production.

Majarra operates a hybrid B2C/B2B business model. Consumer revenue comes from individual annual and monthly subscriptions, while enterprise revenue flows through the Renaissance Partners program, which supplies Arabic digital content access to employees, youth, and stakeholders of partner organizations. Named institutional partners include Crescent Enterprises, SDAIA (Saudi Data and AI Authority), Hevolution Foundation, Network International, Beit Al Hikmah, and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, with Crescent Enterprises alone providing free access to more than 13,000 young Arabs. The company serves ten MENA markets, is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and won the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Arabic Language in 2025.

Name

Majarra

Legal name

Majarra (مجرة)

Website

https://majarra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Majarra operates a subscription-based Arabic digital content platform aggregating premium international publications such as Harvard Business Review Arabia and MIT Technology Review Arabia, serving Arab consumers and enterprise clients across the MENA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arabic Digital Content and Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (513120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Publishing Aggregators & Distribution (e-book distribution, news syndication) (MPAJAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Syndication, Distribution & Rights Management Platforms (BPAMAJAN), Distribution Feeds & Syndication (Partner Delivery, APIs, Feeds) (MPAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Arabic digital content
• Premium content subscriptions
• Content localization services
• Arabic language AI
• Digital media publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer Subscriptions: Annual and monthly subscription plans offering unlimited access to all Majarra content platforms including Harvard Business Review Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Popular Science, Psychologies, and more. Annual plan priced at $49 USD with 50% savings compared to monthly.
2. B2B / Enterprise Content Solutions: Corporate partnerships through the Renaissance Partners program, enabling organizations to provide Arabic digital content to employees, youth, and stakeholders. Also includes branded content and advertising opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Majarra operates a unified subscription-based digital content platform that licenses and localizes premium international publications into Arabic, bundling them under a single subscription. The company aggregates content across management (HBR Arabia), science and technology (MIT Technology Review Arabia, Oloom/Popular Science Arabia), social innovation (SSIR Arabia), business news (Fortune Arabia), and mental health (Nafseyati), distributing via mobile apps, web, and a B2B Renaissance Partners enterprise program.

Product overview

Majarra operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture providing a unified digital content subscription service for Arabic-speaking audiences. The core Majarra platform aggregates premium international content adapted for Arabic readers, including Harvard Business Review Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, Stanford Social Innovation Review Arabia, Oloom (science content), and Fortune Arabia. Supporting platforms include Nafseyati (mental health), Manhom (Arab biographical database), and Lableb AI (Arabic NLP technology acquired in 2024). The ecosystem also includes the Majarra for Business enterprise offering and MIT Technology Review Arabia's annual Innovators Under 35 award program. The platform launched its mobile app in 2022 and an AI-powered Arabic podcast in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harvard Business Review Arabia: Arabic edition of Harvard Business Review featuring leadership and business management content
• MIT Technology Review Arabia
• Stanford Social Innovation Review Arabia
• Popular Science Arabia (العلوم للعموم)
• Nafseyati (نفسيتي)
• Fortune Arabia
• Manhom
• Lableb AI
• Majarra Insights (رؤى مجرة)

Products and services

• Majarra Subscription Platform A subscription-based digital content platform providing unified access to premium Arabic content across multiple publications covering management, science, technology, psychology, health, and personal finance. Sold via mobile apps (iOS and Android) and web at $49 USD per year or a monthly plan.
• Harvard Business Review Arabia (هارفارد بزنس ريفيو) Arabic edition of Harvard Business Review delivering thought leadership content on management, leadership, and business strategy to Arab professionals. Accessible at hbrarabic.com.
• MIT Technology Review Arabia (إم آي تي تكنولوجي ريفيو) Arabic edition of MIT Technology Review covering emerging technologies, innovation, and scientific developments. Accessible at mittrarabia.com.
• Oloom (العلوم للعموم / Popular Science Arabia) Science content platform making scientific knowledge accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences, featuring articles and videos on health, science, and technology topics. Accessible at oloom.majarra.com.
• Nafseyati (نفسياتي) Mental health platform launched in partnership with France's Psychologies, providing psychological and mental wellness content in Arabic. Accessible at nafseyati.com.
• Stanford Social Innovation Review Arabia Arabic edition covering social innovation, philanthropy, and impact-driven initiatives. Accessible at ssirarabia.com.
• Fortune Arabia Arabic edition of Fortune magazine covering business news, corporate rankings, and economic analysis for the Arab world.
• Manhom (من هم) First database of Arab individuals and companies in Arabic, providing biographical and corporate information about Arab leaders and organizations. Accessible at manhom.com.
• Lableb AI Arabic AI and NLP technology platform providing advanced Arabic language processing capabilities including natural language understanding, text processing, and information retrieval specific to Arabic. Accessible at lableb.com.
• Majarra for Business Enterprise offering providing brands and organizations access to Majarra's user base of ambitious Arab professionals through advertising, content partnerships, and brand integration opportunities under the Renaissance Partners program.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 13,000 young Arabs provided free access to premium Arabic content through Crescent Enterprises partnership

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and major.

• Crescent Enterprises (Al Hilal for Projects)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Crescent Enterprises (operating as Al Hilal for Projects) and Majarra renewed their strategic partnership to advance knowledge access and future skills across the Arab world. The partnership provides more than 13,000 young Arabs with free access to premium Arabic content. This is a multi-year renewed partnership building on earlier collaboration.
• Halo InvestingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Halo Investing announced a partnership to power the launch of Majarra's new capital markets ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, focused on innovating structured products and fixed income markets through technology and tokenization, with emphasis on Islamic finance products and global liquidity enhancement.
• Network InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025Network International partnered with Majarra's Renaissance program to provide Arab youth with access to exclusive online learning and knowledge resources.
• Abu Dhabi Arabic Language CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre signed a cooperation agreement with Majarra to support Arabic language development and digital content initiatives.
• Hevolution FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025Hevolution Foundation joined Majarra's Renaissance Partners program to empower Saudi youth through knowledge and content access.
• Beit Al Hikmah (House of Wisdom)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Beit Al Hikmah and Majarra signed a strategic cooperation agreement in the presence of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, to promote Arabic language and knowledge.
• SDAIA (Saudi Data and AI Authority)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2024SDAIA and Majarra signed a cooperation agreement to publish digital content about artificial intelligence in Arabic. This partnership supports Saudi Arabia's AI literacy and digital content objectives.
• Saudi Media ForumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2024Majarra established a partnership with the Saudi Media Forum for impactful knowledge sharing and content collaboration.
• JareedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Majarra and Jareed announced a strategic partnership for knowledge exchange, enabling broader dissemination of Arabic digital content.
• Visioneers (New Media Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024New Media Academy (Visioneers) and Majarra signed a cooperation agreement to implement joint projects for knowledge dissemination and Arabic digital content development.
• NEMA EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2024Majarra and NEMA Education signed a strategic cooperation agreement to advance educational content in Arabic.
• Zid (E-commerce platform)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2024Majarra and Zid formed a strategic partnership to pioneer the Arabic e-commerce sector, providing content and knowledge resources for e-commerce professionals in Arabic.
• Saudi Society of Medical GeneticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2024Majarra and the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics signed an MoU to spread knowledge in genetics and medical science in Arabic.
• SDAIA (Saudi Data and AI Authority) - Nahda PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2023SDAIA (Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority) joined Majarra's Renaissance Partners program to provide AI and digital knowledge content to Saudi youth and professionals.
• Harvard Business Review ArabiacoreOthersMajarra operates the Arabic edition of Harvard Business Review, one of the world's leading management publications, providing Arabic-language access to HBR's thought leadership content including the Saudi Arabia special edition released in 2026.
• MIT Technology Review ArabiacoreOthersMajarra operates the Arabic edition of MIT Technology Review, licensing and localizing technology and innovation content for Arab audiences. Hosts the annual Innovators Under 35 (IU35) MENA award.
• Stanford Social Innovation Review ArabiaminorOthersMajarra operates the Arabic edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review, providing access to social innovation and nonprofit management content in Arabic.
• Popular Science Arabia (Oloom)coreOthersMajarra operates Oloom (Science for All), the Arabic edition of Popular Science, offering science and technology content for Arabic-speaking audiences.
• Psychologies Arabia (Nafseyati)minorOthersMajarra operates Nafseyati (Mental Health platform) in partnership with France's Psychologies, offering mental health and wellness content in Arabic.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jamalon: Jamalon is the largest Arabic e-book subscription and retail platform in the MENA region, aggregating licensed international and Arabic titles. It is the closest direct competitor to Majarra in Arabic digital content subscription distribution, with overlapping target customer and a comparable aggregation business model.
• Kitab Sawti: Kitab Sawti is a leading Arabic audiobook subscription platform operating across MENA. It overlaps with Majarra in paid Arabic audio content, subscription GTM, and Arabic-speaking professional/youth audience, though focused specifically on audiobooks.
• iRead: iRead is a MENA-focused Arabic digital reading and e-book subscription service. Comparable to Majarra in offering licensed Arabic content under a subscription model targeting Arab readers.
• Neelwafurat: Neelwafurat is one of the largest Arabic online bookstores, distributing licensed Arabic and international books across MENA. Comparable to Majarra as a digital Arabic content distribution intermediary with a B2C/B2B book/content model.
• Kotobna: Kotobna is an Arabic digital bookstore and e-book distribution platform. It competes with Majarra in Arabic digital book distribution and shares the aggregation model for Arabic content consumers.

Regional players

• Anghami: Anghami is the leading Arabic music streaming subscription platform in MENA. It shares the Arabic subscription platform business model, regional audience, and Gulf-anchored content distribution, but focuses on audio music rather than knowledge content.
• Shahid (MBC Group): Shahid is MBC Group's leading Arabic video streaming subscription service in MENA. Comparable to Majarra as a major Arabic subscription content platform serving Arab audiences, though focused on video rather than text/knowledge.

Broad incumbents

• Scribd: Scribd operates a global subscription digital content platform aggregating books, audiobooks, and documents. Comparable to Majarra in the digital subscription aggregation model and B2C self-serve distribution, but at much larger global scale and not Arabic-specialized.
• Audible (Amazon): Audible is the global leader in audiobook and spoken-word subscription content, owned by Amazon. Comparable to Majarra in paid subscription audio content and broad content library aggregation, though global rather than Arabic-focused.
• Medium: Medium is a global digital publishing subscription platform for premium articles and thought leadership. Comparable to Majarra in aggregating premium written content under a subscription model serving professional readers, but in English and broader topics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/haykalmedia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnXo8
• Facebookfacebook.com/Majarra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haykalmedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/hunamajarra?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Majarra