What Raseef22 does

Raseef22 is an independent, non-profit Arabic-language digital media platform founded in 2012 and headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon. The organization explicitly positions itself as 'independent but not neutral,' advocating for human rights, marginalized communities, and progressive causes across the Arab world. It serves Arabic-speaking audiences across at least 11 MENA countries (Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, UAE, and broader diaspora) with content in Arabic and selected English sections. The platform reaches what it characterizes as 'millions' of readers, and has sustained operations for over 12 years in a regionally challenging media environment.

The platform's core product is its digital news website (raseef22.net), organized into four editorial sections — Hayat (Life: body, economy, technology, environment), Siyasa (Policy), Thaqafa (Culture), and Ra'y (Opinion) — plus 12 themed editorial tracks ('مسارات' / paths) covering freedom, environment, migrants, LGBTQ+, women, religious discourse, and other social issues. Supporting products include dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, a weekly email newsletter, a video production unit ('Raseef22 Studio') producing documentaries and visual reports, and dedicated WhatsApp and Telegram distribution channels. The underlying technology is described as a standard digital media stack (responsive website plus mobile app) with no disclosed proprietary technology, AI features, or patents.

The business model is donations-driven and institutional-grant-funded. Raseef22 explicitly states it does not accept corporate advertising, political funding, or sponsored content, and provides all content free to readers. Revenue is generated through (a) individual reader donations via the 'Nas Raseef' (ناس رصيف) supporter program and (b) institutional grants disclosed on a partners/supporters page. The organization is founder-led and editorially independent, with no disclosed parent company, equity investors, or venture capital backing, and no reported revenue figures or headcount beyond the 11–50 employee range.

Name

Raseef22

Legal name

Raseef22

Website

https://raseef22.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Raseef22 is an independent, non-profit Arabic-language digital media platform founded in 2012 in Beirut, Lebanon, providing free journalism on politics, culture, and progressive social issues to millions of readers across the Arab world.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Digital Media (Online Journalism)

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Syndication, Distribution & Rights Management Platforms (BPAMAJAN)

Keywords

• Independent arab media
• Digital journalism
• Nonprofit newsroom
• Arabic content platform
• Investigative reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donor Support (ناس رصيف): Individual supporters ('ناس رصيف') contribute financially to fund journalism. The platform is nonprofit and relies on public support.
2. Institutional Funding: Funding from institutional donors to support journalism operations, disclosed on their partners/supporters page.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Raseef22 is an independent, non-profit Arabic-language digital media outlet that publishes original journalism (news, opinion, analysis, investigative reports, cultural coverage) across politics, life (economy, technology, environment, health), culture, and dedicated thematic "مسارات" (paths) covering human rights, marginalized groups, women, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and religious discourse. Distribution is via a responsive website, iOS/Android mobile apps, email newsletter, and WhatsApp/Telegram channels, with revenue sustained by reader donations through the Nas Raseef program and institutional grants.

Product overview

Raseef22 is an independent Arabic-language media platform organized as a non-profit organization. The core product is its digital news website (raseef22.net) providing journalism across four main content sections: Hayat (Life covering body, economy, technology, environment), Siyada (Policy), Thaqafa (Culture), and Ra'y (Opinion including blogs). Supporting products include a mobile application for on-the-go access, the Nas Raseef membership/donation program for reader support, a weekly newsletter subscription service, and a video studio producing visual reports and documentaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Raseef22 Website Raseef22's primary digital media platform offering Arabic-language independent journalism covering politics, life, culture, and opinion content across multiple sections including environment, economy, technology, and social issues, with Arabic and English language options.
• Raseef22 Mobile Application Mobile application for Raseef22 enabling readers to access Arabic-language independent journalism on-the-go via iOS and Android devices.
• Nas Raseef (ناس رصيف) Supporter Program A supporter/membership program allowing readers to financially support Raseef22's independent journalism; contributions go directly to fund the non-profit organization's editorial operations.
• Raseef22 Newsletter (النشرات الإخبارية) Weekly newsletter subscription service delivering curated Raseef22 content to subscribers' email inboxes.
• Raseef22 Studio (الاستوديو) Video content production unit producing visual reports and short documentaries, including storytelling content with testimonies from different countries.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• World Bank (mentioned in article context)minorOthersReferenced in investigative articles about World Bank projects in Tunisia. Not a formal partnership but mentioned as a subject of journalism coverage.
• International institutions (referenced in content)minorOthersVarious international organizations and institutions are covered in journalism content. Not formal partnerships.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Daraj Media: Beirut-based independent investigative digital media outlet covering politics, social issues, and human rights across the Arab world. Closely comparable to Raseef22 in editorial positioning, geographic focus, and independent non-advertising ethos.
• The New Arab: London-based independent Arabic-English digital media covering MENA politics and society. Comparable to Raseef22 in digital-first pan-Arab editorial focus and progressive positioning.
• Mada Masr: Egyptian independent digital news outlet founded after the 2013 events, offering investigative and opinion journalism with a similar values-driven editorial line. Highly comparable as a non-aligned Arabic-language digital publisher reliant on reader/institutional support.
• Middle East Eye: Independent digital news platform covering the Middle East and North Africa, with Arabic and English editions. Directly comparable as a pan-Arab digital news outlet with similar editorial independence stance.
• 7iber (Arabl): Amman-based independent Jordanian/Arab digital media outlet producing original reporting and commentary with a values-driven editorial line. Directly comparable as a small-team, reader-supported independent Arabic digital publisher.

Others

• ProPublica: US-based investigative journalism nonprofit funded by donations and institutional support. Comparable to Raseef22 as a model analog for nonprofit, donor-supported, investigative digital journalism with public-facing editorial standards.
• The Intercept: US-based independent nonprofit digital newsroom funded primarily by reader donations. Comparable to Raseef22 as a structural analog — values-driven, donor-supported, ad-light independent digital journalism — though in English and a different market.

Broad incumbents

• Al-Quds Al-Arabi: Long-established London-based pan-Arab daily newspaper with a digital edition covering Arab world politics and society. Comparable as a pan-Arab independent-leaning publisher, though broader in scope and print-legacy in origin.
• BBC News Arabic: Major international public broadcaster's Arabic-language digital service, covering Arab world news, culture, and opinion. Comparable as a high-reach Arabic digital news destination, though editorially distinct and institutionally funded.
• Al Jazeera Arabic (Digital): Flagship pan-Arab digital news network offering politics, culture, and opinion across the Arab world. Comparable as a digital publisher to Arabic-speaking audiences, but vastly larger and funded by a state-backed parent rather than reader donations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Raseef22
• Facebookfacebook.com/Raseef22

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 Raseef22