Book layout · Arabic & English
Your book, print-ready in 3 days.
A fixed-price production department for publishers. Arabic and English. One monthly price, 3 working days from approval of the first pages.
- 3 working days
- Print PDF + ePub
- Arabic & English
- 2 revision rounds included
Run by Somar Kawkabi — designing books for publishers since 2012, eight of those years as art director at Dar Al Saqi.
Spreads
Selected layouts
Interiors in Arabic, English, French and Turkish for Saqi Books, Dar al-Saqi, the Centre for Arab Unity Studies and Dar Abaad. Open any spread to see it full size.
Palestine in White and Black, Mohammad Sabaaneh Saqi Books, London 190 × 190 mm 
Al-Khat al-Fasil, Manal al-Rubaie Dar Abaad, Beirut 140 × 210 mm 
Harb al-Tahrir al-Qawmiyya, Inaam Raad Dar Abaad, Beirut 140 × 210 mm 
Türkiye’de Çalışma Rehberi (Work Guide in Turkey) Spark, Gaziantep 210 × 297 mm 
Al-Khalij wal-Islah al-Iqtisadi fi Zaman al-Azma al-Naftiyya Centre for Arab Unity Studies, Beirut 170 × 240 mm 
La Résurrection d’une Renaissance Student edition, Beirut 140 × 210 mm 
Syria Speaks, Arabic edition Dar al-Saqi, Beirut 170 × 240 mm
How it works
Manuscript to print in three steps.
- 01
Send the manuscript
A Word file with the final text. Add images, your house style, or a book you’d like us to match.
- 02
Approve the first 10 pages
We design the opening pages and send them over. Nothing else is set until you approve the look.
- 03
Get the full book
Print PDF and ePub in 3 working days after approval. 2 revision rounds included.
Pricing
One monthly price for text-based books.
Pick your region and plan. Yearly plans save 20%.
MENA prices apply to publishers based in the Middle East and North Africa.
| What’s included | One book No plan $180 per book$350 per bookSend one book | Starter $379 /mo billed monthly$3,638 /yr $303/mo, billed yearly$799 /mo billed monthly$7,670 /yr $639/mo, billed yearlyChoose | Most chosenPublisher $849 /mo billed monthly$8,150 /yr $679/mo, billed yearly$1,799 /mo billed monthly$17,270 /yr $1,439/mo, billed yearlyChoose | House $1,499 /mo billed monthly$14,390 /yr $1,199/mo, billed yearly$2,999 /mo billed monthly$28,790 /yr $2,399/mo, billed yearlyChoose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books per month | 1 book | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| Pages per book | Up to 300 | Up to 300 | Up to 300 | Up to 300 |
| Interior layout | ||||
| Print PDF + ePub | ||||
| Revision rounds per book | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Turnaround | 3 days | 3 days | 3 days | 48 h |
| Manuscript cleanup | – | – | ||
| Cover adaptation Fitting your existing cover to spine, back and print specs | – | – | ||
| 48h rush | – | – | 1 free a month | Every book |
| Series templates | – | – | – | |
| Support | Dedicated WhatsApp line |
Add-ons: Cover design: +$150 per cover. 2 concepts, 2 revision rounds, front + spine + back, print and web files. Extra concepts $50. Cover design: +$300 per cover. 2 concepts, 2 revision rounds, front + spine + back, print and web files. Extra concepts $50.
- Unused books carry over for 3 months, so you can save up for fair season.
- Books beyond your plan: $180 (MENA) / $350 (International) each.
- Up to 300 pages per book; pages over 300 at $0.30. Heavy manuscript cleanup is quoted separately.
- 2 revision rounds per book. Manuscript must be editorially final.
- Monthly plans pause anytime; yearly plans need 1 month notice.
- First payment before the first book.
- Illustrated and textbook titles are quoted per project.
Publishing more? Let’s talk. More than 12 books a month.
Book a callBeyond text
Custom and illustrated books
Textbooks, children’s books and heavily illustrated titles are designed page by page and quoted per project, typically $1,500–$2,500. Not included in subscriptions.
Qalam 4: Arabic for Kids and Teens Akdem Publishing, Istanbul 220 × 280 mm 
Testlerle Arapça 5 (Arabic Through Tests) Akdem Publishing, Istanbul 195 × 275 mm
First book free on any yearly plan.
Choose a yearly plan and your first manuscript is laid out at no charge.
About
Somar Kawkabi
- Designing covers and interiors for publishers since 2012, and still today — Lebanon, the Gulf, Türkiye.
- Art director at Dar Al Saqi in Beirut from 2013 to 2021: eight years of covers and interiors.
- Regional art director at Oriflame since 2021.
- Based in Istanbul, working in Arabic and English.
Send a manuscript
Start with one book.
Tell me about the book and attach the manuscript. I reply within one working day.
Thank you. It’s in.
I’ll read it and reply within one working day with the next steps.
FAQ
Questions publishers ask.
What formats do you accept?
Word (.docx or .doc) for the text. PDF works as a reference, or if it’s all you have. Send images as separate files (JPG, PNG, TIFF or PSD) at 300 dpi for print. If the book is part of a series, send an earlier title as PDF or InDesign and we’ll match it.
What does “final manuscript” mean?
The text has been edited and proofread, and the chapter order, headings, notes and captions won’t change. Small corrections are what the revision rounds are for. A rewrite counts as a new manuscript.
How do revisions work?
Every book includes 2 revision rounds. Send each round in one go: comments on the PDF, or a list with page numbers. Corrections are applied to both the print PDF and the ePub.
How do you handle Arabic typography?
By rules we check by hand, not software defaults. Kashida is used sparingly and evenly to justify lines, never to fill gaps. Arabic punctuation (، ؛ ؟ « ») gets the right spacing and direction. Numerals follow your house style, Arabic-Indic (١٢٣) or Western (123), consistently across page numbers, notes and tables. Lines that mix Arabic and Latin keep their order, and harakat stay where the text needs them.
How do I pay?
Bank transfer, Wise or card. Publishers in Lebanon can also pay through OMT or Whish. Prices are in US dollars.
What if the 3-day turnaround slips?
Then that book is free. The clock starts when you approve the first 10 pages: 3 working days, or 48 hours on House and rush jobs.