The largest independent multimedia content platform in the region
We offer original videos, podcasts, and a wide range of translated books and articles. With a community of over 8.6 million followers, we lead efforts to promote liberty, critical thinking, and knowledge across the Middle East. Visit the House of Wisdom 2.0 website.
Program History
Founded in 2018, House of Wisdom 2.0 was created to counter extremism. It also addresses the lack of press freedom and unbiased information in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Inspired by Baghdad’s historic House of Wisdom, we launched the House of Wisdom 2.0 (Bayt Al-Hikma 2.0 in Arabic) as a digital education platform to revive the legacy of knowledge, translation, and idea exchange.
We share, translate, and promote ideas that advance critical thinking, human rights, free markets, and democracy. Our goal is to empower people in the MENA region with access to knowledge often censored by authoritarian regimes, which allows them to challenge the status quo. At the same time, they preserve their cultural identities. This platform lays the foundation for a modern, pluralistic Middle East shaped by its people..
MENA’s Leading Knowledge Platform
The House of Wisdom 2.0 began by translating key works like Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now. It quickly expanded into a leading producer of original and translated content. It is now the region’s largest multimedia platform of its kind.
Overcoming State Censorship Every Day
Regional authoritarians prevent people from learning what it takes to develop a modern society. This happened before Ideas Beyond Borders came on the scene. Because we are headquartered in the United States, we run beyond their reach.
A Thriving Community for Enlightenment
The House of Wisdom 2.0 is a community for people to explore Enlightenment ideals in their own languages, and ultimately bring them to life. Our 8.6 million followers are advancing freedom, human rights, and pluralism on their own terms.
Our Impact
Our Global Impact in Numbers
These numbers showcase the incredible reach and influence of our work around the world.
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8.6M
followers across platforms
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378M
views of our articles, books, videos, and podcasts
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44M
words translated by our 200 translators in 4 years
“People can’t fight for democracy and freedom if they don’t even know what it means. We are equipping people across the Middle East with the information, skills and resources for them to forge their own paths. This includes access to liberal ideas in Arabic, Pashto or Farsi —often for the first time.”
Faisal Al Mutar
President and founder of Ideas Beyond Borders
Our Content
Young people are eager for the liberal ideas we provide. We are fostering a knowledgeable, informed, and interconnected society equipped to tackle future challenges with resilience and confidence. Our coverage spans a range of topics. These include civil rights, science, free enterprise, women’s rights, pluralism, and freedom of expression.
Bel Arabi is the new, rapidly growing home for Arab liberal thinkers and advocates. Bel Arabi’s podcasts and videos provide a much-needed platform. Here, leading thinkers and activists in the Middle East can speak their minds.
We expanded to counter the Taliban’s repression of free speech. Our goal is to ensure the people of Afghanistan have an unbiased and unrestricted access to knowledge. Since October of 2021, we have published articles on critical thinking, science, and civil rights. These articles have been translated into the two widest-spoken languages of Afghanistan, Pashto and Dari.
Videos
We use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to produce videos. These videos are designed to make complex subjects understandable.
Magazine publications
We produce Periodicals that feature articles on current events, science, critical thinking, and liberal arts. Our aim is to stimulate intellectual curiosity and discussion.
Book translations
We translate notable works into Arabic. This helps fill the gap in accessible literature on topics like science, economics and critical thinking.
Wikipedia Articles
We translate and publish Wikipedia articles on liberal topics like human rights, democracy, science and free markets.
Translator Stories
Read more: “Knowledge Is the Enemy of Dictatorship”A Syrian translator living in exile in Dubai helps spread banned ideas about freedom, rights, and equality back home
Read more: A Critical Moment for Global FreedomWhile others retreat in the face of funding cuts, we press forward, ensuring that vital ideas and opportunities remain available to those who need…
Read more: How One Translator Challenged Syria’s Surveillance StateAbdulmueen Alsebai’s words became a threat to a dictatorship—and a catalyst for change
Who We Are
The People Behind the Progress
Meet our translators, activists, editors and producers pursuing freedom of information in the Middle East.
“The ripple effect of knowledge paves the way for a more open and informed society. It creates a future where critical thinking flourishes. This is the future we are committed to building, one translation at a time.”
— Habeeb Zrek, translator
“With every mind that is opened, the region takes a step closer to prosperity and stability. Providing people with a positive alternative to extremism is sometimes all it takes to spark change that spreads.”
— Diana Nous, translator
I grew up in a country where we were told how and what to think. Crossing these boundaries was not allowed. Such actions were punishable in several ways. I started Bel Arabi to create high-quality, thought-provoking content that can motivate our Middle Eastern audience to rethink these boundaries.
— Maher Gabra, Executive Producer of Bel Arabi
“Seeing the positive impact of our work in Iraq and Afghanistan, where translated materials have sparked critical thinking and empowered individuals, reinforces my belief in the transformative power of information access.”
— Ali Younis, translator
Your Donation Shapes the Future of the Middle East
Your support helps us expand our growing digital library, reach more communities, and empower individuals with the critical thinking tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.