Diwan Software

What Diwan Software does

Diwan Software Limited is a UK-incorporated Arabic language computing specialist founded in 1986, with a regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City and an operational base in Newcastle upon Tyne. The company develops Arabic typography, desktop publishing software, mobile calligraphy applications, and educational technology products, supplemented by bespoke Arabization consulting. Its core technology centers on a proprietary Unicode-based Arabic text shaping and BiDi (bi-directional) engine, an extensive Arabic font library including the award-winning Mishafi typeface with over 3,000 letter forms, and the first complete Unicode encoding of the Holy Quran with corresponding calligraphy typeface.

The product portfolio spans legacy desktop publishing applications (Ready,Set,Go! and al-Nashir al-Sahafi, no longer under active development), the Yaqout DTP package for Windows, the Oannis e-reader for educational deployments, and the active consumer-facing CalliPro mobile application (formerly Ana Muhtarif Al Khat) available on iOS, Android, and macOS. Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time perpetual software licenses ($250–$650 for DTP products), font sales ($200 per font, $1,800 for 12-font bundles), OEM and site licensing, mobile app freemium with in-app purchases, and project-based consulting. Historically significant customers include government education ministries (Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Dubai Police Academy), major Middle East daily newspapers, and technology companies (Apple, Openwave, Siemens, Sun Microsystems, Google, Yahoo) that licensed Diwan's fonts or text engines.

The business operates with a small team (1–10 employees), is privately held with no external funding rounds or parent company, and generates revenue from a diversified but episodic mix of long-tail consumer app users and project-based enterprise/government consulting. Distribution channels include the company website, Apple/Google/Microsoft app stores, and Monotype's fonts.com/MyFonts.com marketplaces, with direct enterprise sales for consulting engagements.

Name

Diwan Software

Legal name

Diwan Software Limited

Website

https://diwan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diwan Software is a UK-incorporated Arabic language computing specialist developing Arabic fonts, desktop publishing software, mobile calligraphy apps, and educational technology for Middle East publishers, government education ministries, and technology firms licensing Arabic text engines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Desktop Publishing Software Licenses: Sale of desktop publishing applications including Ready,Set,Go! and al-Nashir al-Sahafi as perpetual licenses with pricing from $250-$650 SRP
2. Arabic Fonts Sales: Sale of Arabic typeface libraries. Individual fonts at $200 each, bundles of 12 fonts at $1,800. Mishafi Gold/Silver Quranic fonts bundled with products.
3. Mobile Applications: CalliPro and Ana Khattat apps distributed through iOS App Store and Google Play Store, some features available as in-app purchases
4. Custom Solutions & Consulting: Consulting work and custom solutions in Arabization, software development, and educational technology
5. OEM and Site Licensing: OEM or site licenses for Arabic fonts offered to device manufacturers and organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Diwan Software develops and sells Arabic-language desktop publishing software (Ready,Set,Go! and al-Nashir al-Sahafi / Sahafi Yaqout), mobile calligraphy applications (CalliPro, Ana Khattat), the Oannis educational e-reader platform, and the proprietary Mishafi Arabic typeface family. The company also delivers custom software solutions and Arabization/consulting services for publishers, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CalliPro محترف الخط: Arabic calligraphy artwork creation application available for iOS, Android, and macOS
• Ana Khattat
• Oannïs
• Ready,Set,Go!
• al-Nashir al-Sahafi

Products and services

• Ready,Set,Go!

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• IntelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2011Oannis Classmate PC combines Diwan's Oannis learning software with Intel-powered classmate PC hardware - rugged laptop that converts into touch-enabled tablet.
• Orange TechnologyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2007Partnered with Orange Technology to ship high school curriculum CD to Yemeni schools using Diwan's Oannis Technology.
• Dar Al-WasilahmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Developed 'Al Mushaf Al Moallem' product for Dar Al-Wasilah including Holy Kor'an using Diwan's Mishafi Gold font with multiple recitations and explanations.
• American University in Dubai / Linotype / Stichting KhattminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 September 2005Platinum sponsor of AUD/Linotype Kitabat, Arabic Calligraphy and Typography Conference at American University in Dubai.
• Openwave Systems Inc.majorTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2002Diwan contracted to add multilingual, bi-directional text support to Openwave Mobile Browser used in over 200 million phones worldwide. Diwan licensed its text engine to Openwave for version 5 and later mobile browsers.
• Linotype Library GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2000Diwan in association with Linotype Library recreated original Arabic Linotype Library including original typography experts, re-released with all original details and features. Extended to handle complete calligraphy of Holy Kor'an.
• Sun Microsystems Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2000Cooperation to make Holy Kor'an available on Internet using Java technology. Diwan encoding of Holy Kor'an into Unicode with typeface capable of rendering all calligraphy. Diwan strategic member of Sun Developer Connection.
• W3CminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2000Working with W3C and Microsoft to add Arabic mathematical symbols to Unicode standard. Working with W3C and Google to define right-to-left language support in HTML5.
• Siemens Mobile PhonesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2000Siemens contracted Diwan to produce Arabic version of S35i and C35i Mobile Phones. Diwan produced Arabic font specially designed for mobile phone screens to be compact and highly readable, plus localization of on-screen messages.
• Apple Computer Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2000Diwan was main consultant to Apple Computer for Arabic Macintosh. Mishafi typeface built using Apple Computer Inc.'s ATSUI technology on Macintosh. Diwan developed standard Arabic fonts used by Apple Inc. in Mac OS X and iOS.
• Manhattan Graphics CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 1997Diwan worked jointly with Manhattan Graphics on Ready,Set,Go! versions 6, 7 and GX since 1986. Diwan produced the first Arabic version of RSG called al-Nashir al-Sahafi.
• EsseltecoreTechnology or Integration · 3 July 1996Diwan Software acquired Rights, Title and Interest in desktop publishing product Ready,Set,Go! (also known as DesignStudio) and related products from Esselte Limited. Deal made it possible to develop products further in many languages for Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, India and Middle East markets.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Decotype: Dutch type foundry specializing exclusively in Arabic typography, including calligraphic and Quranic styles. Direct competitor in the Arabic type design market Diwan competes in.
• Monotype: Global type foundry and font distributor that actively distributes Diwan's Arabic fonts on fonts.com and MyFonts.com. Direct peer in Arabic/Latin type design, OEM font licensing, and DTP/mobile typography solutions.
• Typotheque: Independent type foundry with one of the strongest contemporary Arabic type catalogs (Latif, Greta, Kabob). Direct peer in Arabic/Latin type design sold via foundry website.
• Linotype Library GmbH (now part of Monotype): Historic type foundry that partnered with Diwan to recreate the original Arabic Linotype Library and extend it to handle Quranic calligraphy. Direct peer in Arabic typeface publishing and editorial typography.

Emerging players

• Tarek Atrissi Design: Studio specializing in Arabic type design, editorial typography, and bilingual Latin/Arabic communication. Comparable niche consultant competing for the same Arabic typography briefs that Diwan performs.
• Google Noto Fonts: Google's free, open-source, SIL-licensed font family covering 1,000+ languages including a full Arabic range. Emerging alternative to paid Arabic fonts and a structural threat to Diwan's paid font business.

Broad incumbents

• Adobe Fonts: Adobe's font marketplace bundled with Creative Cloud. Distributes Arabic typefaces and provides Arabic typography tooling inside InDesign/Photoshop/Illustrator — the dominant DTP substitute to Diwan's al-Nashir al-Sahafi.
• Hoefler & Co. (H&Co): Premium independent type foundry serving editorial and branding use cases. Indirect peer in selling high-end fonts into publishing/editorial workflows where Arabic typography decisions are made.
• Berthold (Berthold Direct): Established German type foundry with a broad Latin catalog and presence in editorial typesetting. Comparable in foundry/editorial positioning though with less emphasis on Arabic than Diwan.
• Microsoft Typography / Segoe UI Arabic: Microsoft's built-in Arabic typography stack shipping across Windows, Office, Xbox, and HoloLens. Comparable in Arabic shaping/BiDi engine scope, and a long-standing collaborator with Diwan on Unicode/W3C standards (Arabic math symbols, HTML5 RTL).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DiwanSoftware
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/DiwanSoftwareLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/DiwanSoftware
• Instagraminstagram.com/muhtarifalkhat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Diwan Software