Alnqsh — A Platform for Arabic Children's Literature

Overview

Alnqsh is a one-of-a-kind digital platform designed to help parents discover suitable Arabic books for their children. The idea began with a simple need: how can parents easily find age-appropriate Arabic books for their kids, along with reliable details about the authors, illustrators, publishers, and libraries that offer them?

We worked closely with the client to bring this idea to life — creating a responsive, multilingual platform where users can explore books, read samples, and connect directly with publishers to purchase copies.

Discovery & Planning

During our discovery phase, we found that no such centralized platform existed for Arabic children’s literature. The potential was clear — this platform could fill a critical gap and even qualify for government-level recognition.

That vision became reality. Alnqsh went on to win the support of Ma’an – The Authority of Social Contribution, through the Ma’an Social Incubator program, which supports impactful social startups in the UAE.

The platform evolved from a simple concept to a rich, inclusive ecosystem — now attracting not only parents but also authors, publishers, and illustrators who actively contribute content.

Design & User Experience

The visual design was guided by two core principles: accessibility and trust. With a clean and minimal design aesthetic, we used soft colors and clear typography to create a welcoming environment for both parents and professionals.

We also designed a distinctive logo and brand identity that reflects the warmth and creativity of children’s literature while keeping the interface friendly for all age groups.

Development & Tech Stack

We built the entire platform from scratch using modern and scalable web technologies:

• Laravel – Powerful backend framework to manage complex data relationships
• Tailwind CSS – Utility-first styling for fast, responsive layouts
• Livewire & AlpineJS – For interactive, real-time components without the complexity of a SPA
• FilamentPHP – Custom CMS built on Laravel for easy content management by admins
• Trilingual support – Arabic, English, and French

The site is fully responsive and optimized for performance across all devices.

Results & Impact

Since its launch in 2020, Alnqsh has grown into a vibrant literary hub:

• 📚 Over 4,000 books listed
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Over 2,000 registered users
• ✍️ 2,000+ book reviews
• 🏛️ Around 1,000 publishers
• 🎨 Over 3,000 contributors, including authors, illustrators, and translators

This growth highlights the community's trust in the platform and its increasing role as a cultural resource in the region.

Collaboration & Communication

We maintained continuous communication with the client throughout the journey — from ideation to launch — ensuring their vision stayed central to every decision. It was a highly collaborative project that continues to evolve with community input and publisher contributions.