Arab Scientific Publishers

What Arab Scientific Publishers does

Arab Scientific Publishers (الدار العربية للعلوم ناشرون), founded in 1987 in Beirut, Lebanon, is a privately held Arabic-language publishing house operating across physical books and digital/ebook formats. The company publishes original Arabic works and translated international titles across 25+ categories, including literature (Arabic and translated novels), children's and youth literature, academic and reference materials, religion, philosophy, social sciences, and self-development. Its catalog has received regional literary recognition, including the 2012 Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the 2018 Arab Booker Prize, and includes works by authors such as Ibrahim Nasrallah, Abdo Wazen, and translations of international authors including Dan Brown, Jeff Kinney, and Kristen Hannah. Books are priced on a unit basis ranging from roughly $4 for children's titles to $80-$110 for academic references.

The company's commercial model rests on a vertically integrated ecosystem of sister companies covering the full publishing value chain: Mediterranean Press (printing, est. 1973), Abjad Graphics (pre-press and design, 1979), the Arabization and Programming Center (translation and software, 1992), Neelwafurat.com (online retail and fulfillment with 300,000+ titles, 1998), and Thaqafa (Gulf-focused publishing, 2008). Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer via the aspbooks.com e-commerce platform (fulfilled through Neelwafurat.com), a network of regional bookstore and distributor partners across 16+ Arab countries including Antoine Bookstore, Virgin Megastore, Jarir Bookstore, Kinokuniya, and Ahlia Publishing, and direct engagement at major regional book fairs (Beirut, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha).

Revenue derives primarily from one-time unit book sales across consumer, student, academic, and professional segments in the Arab world. The company has no disclosed API, mobile application, AI/ML capabilities, or external institutional funding. The founder, Bassam Chebaro, serves as President and Partner. Ownership is private and independent, with no parent company, venture capital, or merger events identified in the available record.

Name

Arab Scientific Publishers

Legal name

الدار العربية للعلوم ناشرون

Website

https://aspbooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arab Scientific Publishers (الدار العربية للعلوم ناشرون) is a privately held Beirut-based Arabic publishing house, founded 1987, producing original Arabic and translated titles across 25+ categories and distributing through bookstores in 16+ Arab countries and its aspbooks.com e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732)

akta.pro primary industry

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business, Economics & Management Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAF), Reference Works & Academic Databases (Encyclopedias, Indexes, Abstracts) (MPAJABAI)

Keywords

• Arabic book publishing
• Literary translation services
• Children's book publishing
• Academic reference publishing
• Arabic literature distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Primary revenue from selling physical and digital books directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce platform and distribution network across Arab countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Arab Scientific Publishers is a Beirut-based Arabic publishing house founded in 1987 that publishes and distributes physical and digital books across 25+ categories including literature, children's books, academic references, religious studies, social sciences, and self-development. It operates its own e-commerce storefront (aspbooks.com) with fulfillment handled via sister company Neelwafurat.com, and sells through a distributor network spanning 16+ Arab countries including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The publisher also handles both original Arabic works and translations of internationally renowned authors.

Product overview

Arab Scientific Publishers operates as a traditional book publishing house offering both physical printed books and digital ebook formats. The company publishes across diverse categories including literature (both Arabic and translated novels), children's and youth books, academic and reference materials, religious studies, humanities, and specialized topics. Their product portfolio includes award-winning books and bestsellers distributed through their online store aspbooks.com. The company has converted all books to digital format for online access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mediterranean Press (مطبعة المتوسط): Commercial printing press established 1973 in Beirut
• Abjad Graphics (أبجد غرافيكس)
• Nile and Euphrates Library (مكتبة النيل والفرات)

Products and services

• Physical Books (Printed Arabic and Translated Titles) Traditional printed books covering literature, sciences, children's books, religion, academic references, social sciences, history, philosophy, economics, and self-development, sold through the company's own e-commerce platform and partner bookstores.
• Digital/Ebooks Digital format versions of published books that enable readers to access Arabic and translated literary, academic, and reference content on computers and reading tablets via the internet.
• Children's and Youth Publishing Specialized publishing line for children and youth literature covering ages from early childhood through adolescence, including age-appropriate Arabic educational and entertaining content priced typically $4-12.
• Academic and Reference Materials Reference books and academic materials across disciplines including science, social sciences, philosophy, technology, and law, priced $80-110 depending on rarity and subject matter.
• Arabic Novels and Translated Fiction Original Arabic novels from notable authors (e.g., Ibrahim Nasrallah, Leila Frayn) and translated international fiction (e.g., Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code at $15-19, Kristen Hannah's 'What We Do for Love' at $24), priced $8-24.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Jiangxi Normal University (China)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Signed a publishing agreement with Jiangxi Normal University for Chinese publications. The news section shows signing ceremony with Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press representatives.
• Neelwafurat.com (نيل وفرات)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company and primary sales partner. Neelwafurat.com is the largest Arabic online library with over 300,000 titles and handles shipping and fulfillment for Arab Scientific Publishers' online sales.
• Middle East Press (مطبعة المتوسط)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister printing company established in Beirut 1973, provides advanced printing services for commercial materials to customers in Lebanon and abroad.
• Abjad Graphics (أبجد غرافيكس)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company established 1979, specialized in pre-press services, printing, design, layout, and color separation services.
• Arabization and Programming Center (مركز التعريب والبرمجة)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company established 1992, specialized in translation, Arabization, software development, and electronic publications. Handles translations for Arab Scientific Publishers including works by Toshikazu Kaguashi.
• Antoine Bookstore (مكتبة أنطوان)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Lebanese bookstore distributor with multiple branches across Lebanon. Primary distributor in Lebanon market.
• Virgin MegastoremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational retail chain with multiple branches, distributing Arab Scientific Publishers' books across Lebanon.
• Jarir Bookstore (مكتبة جرير)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Saudi Arabian bookstore chain with branches across Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Key distribution partner for Arab Scientific Publishers in Gulf markets.
• Ahlia Publishing (الاهلية للنشر والتوزيع)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJordan-based publishing and distribution house covering Jordan and regional markets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dar Al Saqi: Long-established Beirut-based Arabic trade book publisher covering literature, politics, and translation. Directly comparable as a Lebanese publisher competing for the same Arabic trade readership and translation rights in the MENA region.
• Almutawassit (Casa Editrice il Sirente): Italy-based Arabic translation publisher specializing in bringing international literary and academic works into Arabic. Comparable as a competing Arabic translation publisher for the same international rights market.
• Dar El Shorouk: Major Egyptian Arabic publisher with a broad trade and political catalog. Comparable as a regional trade publisher competing for Arabic-language authors, translation rights, and readership across MENA.
• Hindawi Foundation: Egypt-based Arabic academic, educational, and trade publisher with a large catalog and digital footprint. Comparable as a major Arabic publisher competing for the same academic, scholarly, and trade readership across MENA.
• Kalimat Group (Kalimat Publishing): UAE-based Arabic children's and trade book publisher with strong Gulf retail and institutional presence. Comparable as a regionally focused publisher competing for the same Arabic children's and family reading segments.
• American University in Cairo Press (AUC Press): Leading Egypt-based English- and Arabic-language trade and academic publisher in the MENA region. Comparable for its bilingual Arabic/English publishing program, academic references, and award-winning literary catalog.

Others

• Neelwafurat (sister company): Sister company and the largest Arabic online library (300,000+ titles), serving as ASP's primary online sales and fulfillment channel. Included as an ecosystem peer given its structural role and shared owner group.

Emerging players

• Kotobna (Kotobna / اقرأ لي): Arabic ebook and audiobook subscription platform serving MENA readers. Comparable as a digital distribution counterpart and potential channel partner for ASP's digital catalog.

Regional players

• Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation (Qatar Foundation Publishing): Qatar-based Arabic and bilingual publisher of academic and literary titles. Comparable as a Gulf-anchored publisher with overlapping academic and literary Arabic publishing scope.

Broad incumbents

• Jarir Bookstore (Jarir Marketing): Saudi Arabia's dominant bookstore chain and a major MENA-wide bookseller with a publishing arm. Comparable as a key distribution and retail counterpart for Arabic trade books across Gulf markets where ASP also operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASPArabic
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASPArabic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arab-scientific-publishers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

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 Arab Scientific Publishers