Muhammed SalahArab publishing infrastructure

Work

I lead product and run a publishing-services studio. The two jobs feed each other: client work shows me where publishers struggle, and product work gives me the tools to fix it at scale.

Roles and ventures

OrganisationRoleWhat it does, what I do
Samawy (سماوي)Digital Products ManagerSaudi-based infrastructure for Arabic digital publishing. Lines of business: print-on-demand, ebook production, audiobooks, global distribution, an AI lab and custom cultural-technology projects. I am accountable for product, metadata and data infrastructure, partnerships, bids, operations, brand and strategy.
Ishraq for Publishing and Content ServicesCEO and co-founderA publishing-services studio. Editorial, cover and interior design, translation coordination, distribution availability, author and publisher social presence, and advisory notes.
Dar Raqeem (دار رقيم)Publishing Manager (part-time)A publishing house. I run the publishing operation and its restructuring from a manual, folder-based process to a managed one.
Nohoudh CenterExternal Event CoordinatorI coordinate the centre's external events.
Hindawi FoundationStrategy and acquisition (earlier)Three years on strategy and acquisition.

What Ishraq does for publishers and authors

  • Editorial. Manuscript evaluation, rewriting from editorial notes, age-appropriate adaptation for children's titles.
  • Design and typesetting. Cover briefs and style sheets, Arabic and bilingual interiors in InDesign, print-ready files.
  • Translation coordination. Arabic editions of foreign titles, with a review step against the source.
  • Distribution availability. Metadata, formats and channel setup so a title is available where readers look.
  • Presence. Social media management and content strategy for publishers and authors.
  • Advisory. Concept notes and proposals for institutions building a publishing arm.

Work with Ishraq

Case studies

Each study follows one structure: the problem, what I did, what it produced.

CASE 06

Teaching the trade

A 16-week bilingual programme on how books are made, sold and distributed.

Training