The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has launched the “Azraq” platform for Arabic content, aiming to “bring a qualitative leap in the Arab digital cultural scene in terms of form, content, and working style,” according to a statement from the foundation.

The platform represents “an extension of the foundation’s path in digitizing knowledge and making it accessible to a wide audience through various digital media, in line with the accelerating digital transformation globally and regionally.”

Farah Abu Aisha, the foundation’s Communications and Public Relations Director, said the launch of “Azraq” comes “in response to a clear cultural and media need; it is a platform that tells stories with the highest standards and believes that Arab culture deserves a space that befits it and reveals its richness and diversity. It is a direct reflection of a shared ambition to develop the digital cultural experience.”

She pointed out that data indicates that the percentage of Arabic content available on the internet does not exceed 0.6% in 2023, while the percentage of Arabs using the internet exceeds 78%, explaining that this digital knowledge gap was a major motivation for launching the platform to be a qualitative space for contemporary Arabic content.

The “Azraq” platform covers a wide range of cultural topics including science, literature, art, music, cinema, and Arab heritage. The platform seeks to “produce Arabic content that resembles its culture, suits its audience, and is presented with high editorial, visual, and audio standards.”

To organize this work, the content produced on the platform was divided into three main axes: podcasts (audio content) providing knowledge and cultural discussion in a contemporary style; visuals, which are video productions presenting cultural stories and ideas in an attractive visual language; and written content, including articles and texts that open spaces for thinking and intellectual discussion.

During the first phase of “Azraq for Arabic Content” productions, content series were produced including: “Kitabologia,” a series discussing books worth reading from the global library; “The Poet Said,” a series presenting Arabic poetry in a contemporary way covering topics such as wisdom, Arab cities, heritage, and more; “Movie Secrets,” a drama series revealing movie secrets through the story of a cinema trainee and film critic; “Music and City,” which follows the history and musical heritage of several Arab cities; “Masirah,” a series of scientific dialogues with Arab scientists and researchers; and finally “A.B. The Story,” a series of dialogues with specialists in children’s literature including writers, critics, educators, and publishers.

Abu Aisha confirmed that “Azraq” is not just a new publishing channel but a digital cultural project committed to the highest production standards at all stages, from idea to formulation, from visual treatment to final production, aiming to provide reliable and rich Arabic content that keeps pace with changes in digital knowledge consumption patterns among audiences.

The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation considers this platform an extension of its cultural project and an opportunity to enhance impact and reach a wider audience, calling on institutions and individuals to support the platform and share its content within their digital networks. The platform can be accessed via the link: www.youtube.com/@azraqplatform