{{short description|Arabic literary social network}} {{Infobox website | name = Abjjad | logo = Logo-Abjjad.png | logocaption = | screenshot = | collapsible = | collapsetext = | caption = | url = {{URL|https://www.abjjad.com/}} | commercial = | type = Ebook platform | registration = Free | language = Arabic | content_license = | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2012|6|df=yes/no}} | revenue = | current_status = Active | footnotes = | CEO = Eman Hylooz }}
'''Abjjad''' is an Arabic reading application that was launched in June 2012 by Eman Hylooz. Abjjad offers users the ability to download and read thousands of books offline through its iOS and Android applications.<ref name="test1">{{Cite web|title=Abjjad.com embarks on crowd investing as a means to raise funds on eureeca.com.|url=http://www.mediame.com/en/news/pr-newswire/announcement/abjjadcom-embarks-crowd-investing-means-raise-funds-eureecacom|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502031827/http://mediame.com/en/news/pr-newswire/announcement/abjjadcom-embarks-crowd-investing-means-raise-funds-eureecacom|archive-date=2014-05-02|access-date=2014-05-15}}</ref><ref name="test2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF5cB9f23S8 Eman Hylooz Speech at GTF.]</ref><ref name="test3">[http://akhbar.alaan.tv/news/post/15806/city-dubai-summit-arabnet-digital-largest-professionals-businessmen آراء عدد من المشاركين في قمة عرب نت الرقمية 2013.]</ref> In December of 2020, Abjjad had more than 1.5 million registered accounts.
==About Abjjad== Abjjad was founded in June 2012 by Eman Hylooz as a reader community dedicated to Arab readers, authors, and book lovers. Abjjad developed into a smart electronic platform to provide Arabic electronic books with ease to Arab readers everywhere after discovering a large gap in the world of Arab publishing, which is the legal electronic publishing, by forming strategic partnership with Arab publishers such as Dar Al-Shorouk, Dar Al Tanweer, Dar Al Adab, and Dar Al Saqi.<ref name="test4">[http://arablit.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/abjjad-an-arabic-social-network-for-books-with-a-big-vision/ Abjjad: An Arabic Social Network for Books with a Big Vision.]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-10|title=أبجد.. منصة عربية لمحبي الكتب|url=https://al-ain.com/article/abjad-arab-readers-platform|access-date=2022-01-01|website=العين الإخبارية|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=دار الشروق تتيح إصداراتها إلكترونيا على تطبيق "أبجد" بنظام "الاشتراك الشهري" لأول مرة - دار الشروق|url=https://www.shorouk.com/news/view.aspx?id=c32be3d5-c7fd-457e-890b-493ea78a337d|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.shorouk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-24|title=تطبيق أبجد: كتب - روايات - قصص عربية|url=https://iphoneislam.com/2018/01/abjjad/64499|access-date=2022-01-01|website=اي-فون إسلام|language=ar}}</ref>
==History== alt=|thumb|200x200px|Eman Hylooz, Founder & CEO In May 2012, Oasis500 provided Abjjad with the seed funding to launch the website.<ref name="test6">[http://www.wamda.com/2014/02/how-arab-reading-social-network-abjad-exceeded-its-crowdfunding-target-on-eureeca Abjjad exceeded its goal on Eureeca by 30%; what's next for the Arabic reading social network?.]</ref> In June 2012, Abjjad was launched with a budget of 15 thousand dollars.<ref name="test6" /> Within the first three months more than 10 thousand members were registered in Abjjad.<ref name="test7">[http://www.mc-doualiya.com/programs/retweet-mcd/20130912-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%AB%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%B3%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%83 "أبجد" أول شبكة تواصل عربية للقراءة.]</ref> Abjjad has participated in different local and international forums to meet several investors and entrepreneurs. In October 2012 Abjjad participated in Global thinkers forum in Amman, Jordan where Eman Hylooz, founder & CEO, presented the concept of Abjjad, its vision and future plans<ref name="test8">[http://globalthinkers.com/gtf-2012-awards-for-excellence/ GTF 2012 awards for excellence.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032238/http://globalthinkers.com/gtf-2012-awards-for-excellence/ |date=May 2, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="test9">[http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2012/10/10/jordans-women-celebrate-success/ Jordan’s women celebrate success.]</ref> In mid-December 2012 Abjjad participated in Global Entrepreneurship in Dubai where it was presented to investors as a start-up and a new project in the Middle East.<ref name="test10">[https://www.zawya.com/story/Oasis500_Holds_8th_Angel_Network_Event_during_Global_Entrepreneurship_Summit_in_Dubai-ZAWYA20121222073709/ Oasis500 Holds 8th Angel Network Event during Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Dubai.]</ref> In February 2013 Abjjad was one of ten startups MENA apps has nominated from Jordan and Palestine to participate in startup Turkey.<ref name="test11">{{Cite web |url=http://menaapps.com/mena-apps-has-partnered-with-etohum-to-include-mena-startups-in-the-startup-turkey-event-in-antalya/ |title=MENA Startups pitch at StartupTurkey Event through MENA Apps partnership with Etohum. |access-date=2014-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104033726/http://menaapps.com/mena-apps-has-partnered-with-etohum-to-include-mena-startups-in-the-startup-turkey-event-in-antalya/ |archive-date=2014-01-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 2013 Abjjad participated in World Economic Forum in Amman, Jordan<ref name="test12">[http://www.weforum.org/news/jordan-host-world-economic-forum-middle-east-and-north-africa-2013 Jordan to Host World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa in 2013.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502000932/http://www.weforum.org/news/jordan-host-world-economic-forum-middle-east-and-north-africa-2013 |date=May 2, 2014 }}</ref> and later in June 2013 participated in Arab Net in Dubai.<ref name="test3" />
By the end of 2013, Abjjad won the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Best Arab Start-Up Business Award for 2013.<ref name="test6" /> During 29 October 2013 till January 2014 Abjjad has launched their campaign for crowd funding through Eureeca<ref name="test6" /><ref name="test14">[http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2014/03/33089-award-winning-startup-abjjad-successfully-raises-equity-eureeca/ Award Winning Startup Abjjad Successfully Raises Equity on Eureeca.]</ref> Abjjad managed to raise US$161,000 in 88 days from 43 regional donors, over US$40,000 over its initial target.<ref name="test6" /><ref name="test14" />
By the end of 2020. Abjjad had raised a $1 million investment round led by [https://issfjo.com/ Jordan Entrepreneurship Fund], [https://rimalcapital.com/ Ramal Capital Fund], and [http://jordinvest.com.jo/ JordInvest Fund]. Because the funds will be used to acquire users and e-books, Abjjad hopes to become the largest Arab electronic library as well as the largest income-generating platform for Arab authors and publishers, while also providing readers with a unique digital reading experience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abjjad raises $1 million in Series A|url=https://www.wamda.com/2020/12/abjjad-raises-1-million-series|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Wamda|language=en}}</ref>
==Features== *The ability to read an unlimited number of books from an electronic library containing thousands of Arabic and translated books. Abjjad ebook library is constantly expanding and cooperating with new publishing houses to add more books.<ref name="test1" /><ref name="test6" /><ref name="test13">{{cite web|url=https://startupdb.arabnet.me/startup/2687/ |title=ArabNet - Startup Database |accessdate=2014-05-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329040306/http://startupdb.arabnet.me/startup/2687/ |archivedate=2014-03-29 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-08 |title=تطبيق أبجد: قراءة الكتب لم تكن بهذه المتعة من قبل! |url=https://www.arageek.com/tech/abjad-app |access-date=2022-02-17 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108183112/https://www.arageek.com/tech/abjad-app |archive-date=8 November 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> *Reading offline without an internet connection. The application allows the user to download books in seconds and read them anywhere.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title=أفضل تطبيق على الموبايل لقراءة الكتب و الروايات ,,تطبيق أبجد و آلاف الكتب - STJEGYPT |url=http://www.stjegypt.com/article/1295_%D8%A3%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D9%88-%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8 |access-date=2022-02-17 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225074820/http://www.stjegypt.com/article/1295_%D8%A3%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D9%88-%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8 |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> *Intuitive feature which include the ability to flip the pages of the book, highlight the reader's favorite quotes, and add notes, in addition to night reading mode and the option to modify the style and size of the front.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-25 |title=تطبيق أبجد آلاف الكتب علي هاتفك - المتداول العربي |url=https://www.arabictrader.com/ar/analysis/economic-view/2302/%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D9%83 |access-date=2022-02-17 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125104142/https://www.arabictrader.com/ar/analysis/economic-view/2302/%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D9%83 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> *The ability to interact with other readers and read their book reviews. More than 1.5 million Arabic readers make up the Abjjad reader community, and the user can read and connect with their reviews, book ratings, and favorite quotes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=شرح تطبيق ابجد ... حيث متعة القراءة - خطوة|url=https://khtwaa.com/article/509/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=khtwaa.com}}</ref> *A virtual personal library that enables the user to rate and organize books by placing them on one of the three shelves: I will read it, currently readings, and/or read it.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=مفاجآة من تطبيق أبجد - اشتراك أبجد بلا حدود الأوّل من نوعه للكتب والروايات العربيّة! |url=https://www.arabapps.org/2018/03/%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A2%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%AD/ |access-date=2022-02-17 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301230336/https://www.arabapps.org/2018/03/%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A2%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%AD/ |archive-date=1 March 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> *Abjjad's library includes various genres and literary fields, such as: reference books, novels, stories, literature, psychological books, philosophy, biography, politics, history, religion, self-improvement and human development books, as well as international books translated into Arabic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=mlynxqualey|date=2014-03-11|title=Abjjad: An Arabic Social Network for Books with a Big Vision|url=https://arablit.org/2014/03/11/abjjad-an-arabic-social-network-for-books-with-a-big-vision/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=ARABLIT & ARABLIT QUARTERLY|language=en-US}}</ref> *The library includes the most famous works of Arab authors such as: Naguib Mahfouz, Mahmoud Darwish, Radwa Ashour, Tayeb Salih. Aside from Arabic translation of works by well-known worldwide authors including: Elif Shafak, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mark Manson, and others.<ref name=":1" />
==Statistics== In December of 2020, Abjjad had more than 1.5 million registered accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jordanian E-Book Platform Abjjad Raises $1 Million in Series-A Funding Round|url=http://thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Jordanian-E-Book-Platform-Abjad-Raises-1-Million-in-Series-A-Funding-Round|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Startupscene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223164119if_/https://thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Jordanian-E-Book-Platform-Abjad-Raises-1-Million-in-Series-A-Funding-Round|archive-date=2020-12-23}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== * '''2013''': Won the Mohammad Bin Rashid Award for Best Arabic Startup<ref name="test6" /> * '''2014''': Won the Golden Award for Jawa's "Best Online Community"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-03|title=Eman Hylooz: Founder & CEO of Abjjad - You have something in this world, so stand up!|url=https://www.riyadah.org/eman-hylooz-abjjad/|access-date=2021-12-29|website=أكاديمية سائد يونس|language=ar}}</ref> * '''2015''': Won the Business Women of the Year Award by Bank al Etihad<ref>{{Cite web|title=هاشتاق عربي - شركات ريادية (1) : " أبجد" تتفوق مرة أخرى وتحصد جائزة بنك الإتحاد لفئة "سيدة الأعمال"|date=23 November 2015 |url=https://www.hashtagarabi.com/14636/14636/|access-date=2021-12-29|language=ar}}</ref> * '''2016''': Won the Said Khoury Award for Entrepreneurs and Innovators<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Top Startups in Dubai 2020|url=https://startupsopportunity.com/list-of-top-startups-in-dubai-2020/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415005902/https://startupsopportunity.com/list-of-top-startups-in-dubai-2020/ |archive-date=2020-04-15 }}</ref> * '''2016''': Won the Best Application in the Arabic Region Award by His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah in Kuwait.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Four young Arab Entrepreneurs win the Said Khoury Award {{!}} Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal|url=https://www.iktissadevents.com/news/160516/110137|access-date=2021-12-29|website=www.iktissadevents.com|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120110703/https://www.iktissadevents.com/news/160516/110137|url-status=dead}}</ref> * '''2019''': Won the Mohammad Bin Rashid Award for Arabic Language for the best artistic, cultural or intellectual world to serve the Arabic language.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-07|title=What We Are Doing Today: Abjad|url=https://arab.news/nq9va|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Arab News|language=en}}</ref>
==Abjjad in the media== Abjjad has taken a huge interest in the Middle Eastern and western media; the author of Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East, Christopher M. Schroeder, has interviewed Eman Hylooz and wrote about her experience with Abjjad in his book.<ref name="test">[http://pando.com/2012/10/03/the-new-middle-east-women-at-the-center-of-a-startup-ecosystem-pt-4/ The New Middle East: Women at the Center of a Startup Ecosystem, Pt. 4.]</ref> In addition, France24-Monte Carlo Doualiya has interviewed Ms. Hylooz on Retweet program to discuss Abjjad idea and provide the latest statistics of the website.<ref name="test7" /> Moreover, Sky News Arabia interviewed Hylooz to relate her experience with Oasis500 and Eureeca in Abjjad's crowdinvestment campaignPage text.<ref name="test15">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz6RXtYP05w "أبجد" موقع الكتروني يجمع هواة القراءة.]</ref> furthermore, Al-Aan TV interviewed Ms.Hylooz in ArabNet in Dubai, 2013.<ref name="test3" /> Abjjad has been mentioned on Oasis500 website as one of the five startups which the company funded and gained different prizes.<ref name="testx">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oasis500.com/arabic/%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%B3-500-%D9%8A%D8%AA/#.UwCexS55Wys.twitter |title=خمس رياديات أردنيات من صندوق أويسس 500 يتفوقن في محافل عربية ودولية. |access-date=2014-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529215808/http://www.oasis500.com/arabic/%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%B3-500-%D9%8A%D8%AA/#.UwCexS55Wys.twitter |archive-date=2016-05-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wamda,<ref name="test6" /> Mediame<ref name="test1" /> and crowdfundinsider<ref name="test14" /> have discussed Abjjad's experience in the crowd investment on Eureeca. And the expert in the Arabic literature in English, M. Lynx Qualey, has interviewed Eman Hylooz in March 2013 to talk about Abjjad's story of success, how it differs from other social networks and what are its future plans.<ref name="test4" /> Abjjad was also featured in "Hashtag Arabi" website when it launched its premium subscription called "Abjjad Unlimited" in 2017 with the support of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=هاشتاق عربي - نقلة نوعية لمنصة القراءة "أبجد" ..... اطلاق اشتراك "أبجد بلا حدود" الأول من نوعه بدعم من مؤسسة عبدالحميد شومان|date=24 July 2020 |url=https://www.hashtagarabi.com/61658/%d9%86%d9%82%d9%84%d8%a9-%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%84%d9%85%d9%86%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%a1%d8%a9-%d8%a3%d8%a8%d8%ac%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b7%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/|access-date=2022-01-01|language=ar}}</ref> In her interview with the Jordan Times, Eman also discussed her background in computer science and software development, which helped her found Abjjad.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-01|title=New Ebook app for bookworms of Arab world|url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/new-ebook-app-bookworms-arab-world|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Jordan Times|language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} *{{youtube|channel=UC8zxabNuSf7J-qi2wiSZFIQ}} *[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abjjad.app&hl=en Abjjad App on Android] *[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id976628194 Abjjad App on iPhone]
Category:Social media Category:Book websites Category:Book review websites Category:Arabic-language websites