Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation

What Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation does

Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation is a non-profit cultural institution established in 1978 in Amman, Jordan, by Arab Bank (البنك العربي) as the bank's cultural and social responsibility arm. The foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including a six-branch public library system across Jordan, a children's library network (Darb al-Ma'rifah / درب المعرفة), a Scientific Research Fund (صندوق دعم البحث العلمي) that has disbursed over 1.8 million Jordanian dinars across 164 projects at 23 universities and research institutions in Jordan and Palestine, a Cultural Forum (منتدى عبد الحميد شومان الثقافي) hosting intellectual dialogue since 1986, multiple recurring awards for Arab researchers, children's literature, and innovation, plus cinema and musical programming.

The foundation's core technology footprint includes a digital content platform called Azraq (منصة أزرق), launched in 2025, producing Arabic audio podcasts, video content, and written materials, supported by a Google Play mobile application. The underlying library system was the first fully computerized public library in Jordan, dating back to 1986. Distribution operates through six physical branches (Jabal Amman, Ashrafieh, Muqablin, Zarqa, Al Hussein Technical University, Ma'an), digital channels, and direct community programs.

The revenue model is grant-funded rather than transactional: services to the public are provided free of charge, and operating funding flows from Arab Bank profit allocations. Pricing is therefore non-applicable at point of consumption. Customer segments are the Jordanian and Arab general public, researchers holding PhD degrees, children and youth, and cultural projects in Jordan and Palestine. The foundation is governed by a board chaired by Sabih Misri and led by President Valentina Qaisiya, with a dedicated executive team across operations, strategic planning, finance, and specialized program sections.

Name

Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation

Legal name

Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (مؤسسة عبد الحميد شومان)

Website

https://shoman.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Arab Bank Funding: The foundation is funded through allocations from Arab Bank's profits, as it serves as the cultural arm of Arab Bank for cultural and social responsibility.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation is a non-profit cultural institution established in 1978 as the cultural and social responsibility arm of Arab Bank. It provides free public library services through six branches across Jordan, funds applied scientific research at universities in Jordan and Palestine, runs a Cultural Forum for intellectual dialogue, operates multiple award programs for researchers, children's literature, and innovation, and produces Arabic digital content through its Azraq platform.

Product overview

Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation operates as a non-profit cultural institution (established 1978) acting as the Arab Bank's cultural and social responsibility arm. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of interconnected programs including public and children's library systems (6 branches), scientific research funding, cultural forums, awards programs, digital content platforms, and arts/music initiatives. Core offerings include the Azraq digital content platform, comprehensive library services with branches across Jordan, the Scientific Research Fund supporting university research, the Cultural Forum hosting intellectual discourse since 1986, multiple prestigious awards (researchers, children's literature, innovation), cinema and music programs, and cultural grants. The foundation serves as a unified cultural ecosystem connecting knowledge access, research support, creative awards, and community engagement across Jordan and Palestine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Azraq Platform (منصة أزرق): Digital content platform specializing in preparing, producing, and publishing Arabic digital content in cultural, scientific, and knowledge topics.
• Abdul Hameed Shoman Cultural Forum (منتدى عبد الحميد شومان الثقافي)
• Scientific Research Support Fund (صندوق دعم البحث العلمي)
• Darb al-Ma'rifah Children's Library (مكتبة درب المعرفة)
• Shoman Science Community (مجتمع شومان العلمي)

Products and services

• Azraq Platform for Arabic Content (منصة أزرق للمحتوى العربي) A specialized digital platform that prepares, produces, and publishes Arabic digital content in cultural, scientific, and knowledge topics, including audio podcasts and video materials accessible via YouTube and a blog. Targeted at Arabic-speaking audiences seeking knowledge and cultural content.
• Abdul Hameed Shoman Public Library (مكتبة عبد الحميد شومان العامة) Jordan's first fully computerized and equipped public library system offering free services, with six branches across Jordan including Jabal Amman, Ashrafieh, Zarqa, Muqabalin, King Hussein Technical University, and Ma'an. Services include book lending, children's activities, electronic lending, meeting room reservations, databases, and disability services, available to the general public.
• Derb Al-Ma'rifah Children's Library (مكتبة درب المعرفة للأطفال واليافعين) Specialized library for children and youth featuring a Kids Lab for innovative activities, with multiple branches operating in Jabal Amman, Ashrafieh, Zarqa, and Muqabalin locations. Designed to foster reading habits and creativity in young people.
• Scientific Research Fund (صندوق دعم البحث العلمي) Fund established in 1999 to support applied scientific research at Jordanian and Palestinian universities and research centers. Has funded over 164 research projects with more than 1.8 million Jordanian dinars across medical sciences, engineering, basic sciences, social sciences, ICT, and water/energy/food research. Available to PhD-holding Arab researchers.
• Shoman Scientific Research and Innovation Community (مجتمع شومان للبحث العلمي والابتكار)

Quantifiable outcome

• 164 research projects supported across 23 universities and institutions
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• King Hussein Foundation: A Jordan-headquartered non-profit foundation running education, leadership, and cultural programs, including the National Music Conservatory and other public-facing cultural initiatives. Highly comparable as a domestic Jordanian cultural/educational non-profit, though with a broader thematic mandate.
• Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation: Abu Dhabi's cultural and creative hub operating a public library, exhibitions, performances, and community programs under the Department of Culture and Tourism. Comparable as a regional cultural institution offering library services, cultural forums, and creative programming.
• Royal Scientific Society (Jordan): Jordan's leading applied research institution supporting scientific R&D, technology transfer, and innovation programs across universities and industry. Comparable as a Jordan-based recipient and channel for applied research funding, intersecting the Scientific Research Fund's mandate.
• Bayt Al Qur'an (Kuwait): Kuwait-based cultural institution operating a library, museum, and Islamic arts research programs in partnership with government and corporate sponsors. Comparable as a Gulf cultural foundation offering library services, research activities, and curated cultural programming funded by institutional partners.

Direct peers

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Egypt's flagship public library and cultural complex, offering library services, research support, exhibitions, digital archives, and cultural forums. Directly comparable as a large-scale Arab-world library and cultural institution operating physical branches, digital platforms, and research programs.
• Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation: Saudi-based cultural and charitable foundation funding research, cultural projects, and heritage preservation across the Arab world. Comparable as a regional private foundation providing research grants and cultural programming under a similar non-profit structure.

Broad incumbents

• King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra): Saudi Aramco's flagship cultural and creative center offering library services, exhibitions, film programs, music, and innovation programming across a much larger facility. Comparable as a Gulf corporate-backed cultural foundation with library, forum, and digital content components.
• Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development: Qatar's national non-profit running Education City, research institutes, and public cultural programs. Comparable as a large-scale, well-funded regional foundation with research funding, public programming, and library components, though with a far larger endowment.

Emerging players

• Kalimat Group (Kalimat Foundation): Sharjah-based publishing initiative (and adjacent foundation work) focused on Arabic children's literature, awards, and literacy development. Comparable as an Arabic-focused cultural entity investing in children's literature awards and content creation, overlapping with the Shoman Children's Literature Award.
• Noor Foundation for Cultural Development: A regional cultural non-profit running programs in literature, translation, and community cultural development across the Arab world. Comparable as a smaller Arab cultural foundation with similar thematic focus on literature, research support, and creative community programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShomanFDN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ShomanFDN
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShomanFDN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shomanfdn
• Instagraminstagram.com/ShomanFDN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation