A new digital library: Zendy launches in Saudi Arabia
Feb 7, 2021 |
6 Mins Read
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7th February, 2021: Zendy, the first subscription-based library for scholarly literature in MENA, has launched in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi 2030 vision aims to move towards a culture of research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Zendy plans to support this vision by providing researchers, students, and other knowledge enthusiasts access to thousands of articles, e-books and scholarly resources.
Zendy’s mission is to break down barriers to scholarly discovery by providing individuals world-wide affordable access to the world’s latest research and literature. Traditionally academic literature is hidden behind expensive paywalls or restricted to those who are affiliated with a larger organisation.
Kamran R. Kardan, Founder and CEO of Knowledge E, says, “We are extremely excited to launch Zendy in Saudi Arabia, to increase the visibility of research in the Kingdom and promote education for all. Saudi Arabia is striving towards becoming a knowledge-based economy and, by expanding Zendy’s presence to the country, we aim to drive this shift forward.”
Zendy first launched in Jordan in late 2019, and the online library has since accumulated thousands of users across North Africa and the Middle East. It hosts over 120,000 publications including more than 30,000 journals and 30,000 e-books. Zendy also allows users to save searches, export citations and navigate easily according to material type, subject, publication title, language and more.
To celebrate Zendy’s launch, all Saudi Arabia users will receive a 50% discount on the yearly plan by using the discount code SAUDILAUNCH50 when subscribing.
Click here to start your scholarly journey with Zendy.
About Zendy
Zendy was created to facilitate access to academic literature. By addressing the key challenges that we face with traditional ways of finding relevant, high-quality, academic content, Zendy strives to provide peace of mind to all students, researchers, professionals and knowledge enthusiasts.
Zendy is developed by Knowledge E in a growing collaboration with researchers, students, institutions and publishers. Zendy democratises access to content by making it more affordable and accessible. There are no limitations on reading, just simple access to scholarly resources.
About Knowledge E
Established in 2012, Knowledge E’s name was fast to become synonymous with collaboration, professionalism and innovation. Head-quartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and supported by a team of over 40 highly engaged professionals, Knowledge E works closely with over 200 clients world-wide from various types of organisations and government entities within the research and education sector to support their continued innovation and development. This is achieved by providing leading expertise, information resources and software solutions. Since its inception, Knowledge E has prudently expanded its expertise, services and technology in line with its vision of developing ‘a more knowledgeable world’.
Knowledge E’s three core offerings are the 3D’s; ‘Discover’, ‘Develop’ and ‘Disseminate’. ‘Discover’ powered by Zendy, through the KnE Digital Library Solutions for research literature discovery, as well as tailored content packages; ‘Develop’ through the KnE Training Programmes, supporting capacity building and skills development within academia as well as the KnE Consulting Projects, serving universities on their mission to become ‘world-class universities’; and ‘Disseminate’ through the KnE Publishing Services and the platform for Open Access publishing of regional journals and conference proceedings.
For any and all press inquiries please contact press@zendy.io.
Zendy Signs First US University Press Partnership with the University of Georgia Press
Oxford, UK – Nov, 2025 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library serving more than 800,000 readers globally, has entered into a new partnership with the University of Georgia Press (UGA Press) to broaden the international reach of its publications. This marks Zendy’s first partnership with a university press in the United States, further expanding the reach of UGA Press’s titles to a global audience. Founded in 1938, UGA Press publishes 70 new titles annually, with recognised strengths in literary studies, history, environmental studies, sociology, geography, Atlantic world studies, and regional scholarship. Through this agreement, a selection of its catalogue will become available to researchers, students, librarians and professionals across Zendy’s international markets. This partnership reflects a growing confidence among academic publishers in Zendy’s model of widening access, increasing visibility, and ensuring that scholarly work finds engaged global readers. Zendy currently works with several major UK university presses, including Oxford University Press, Bristol University Press, and Liverpool University Press, which also distributes British Academy content. These collaborations have shown that academic presses benefit from Zendy’s reach, predictable revenue model, and strong content discovery tools designed for both specialist and interdisciplinary research. The agreement with UGA Press also includes the option to integrate AI-supported discovery features that help researchers navigate publications more effectively. These capabilities range from enhanced metadata enrichment to responsible, context-aware summarisation and multilingual discovery. Recent commitments from Bristol University Press and Liverpool University Press to adopt elements of this approach reflect a wider trend across scholarly publishing: a growing demand for AI tools that improve discoverability and user experience while preserving the integrity and rights of academic content. “The UGA Press is excited to partner with Zendy on bringing our scholarship to a broader global audience with enhanced discovery tools. We especially value Zendy’s focus on reducing inequality in access to scholarship and development of ethical and transparent AI strategy.”—Lisa Bayer, Director, UGA Press With over 2,200 titles in print, the University of Georgia Press publishes innovative scholarship and compelling stories that inspire and inform the people of Georgia and the world. Learn more at ugapress.org. Zendy’s mission is rooted in supporting not-for-profit academic publishers by expanding the reach of their content and helping them connect with new international audiences. As academic presses continue to navigate changing reading habits, new technologies, and limited distribution channels outside their home markets, Zendy offers a sustainable and reader-centric way forward. For media inquiries, please contact:Lisette van KesselHead of MarketingEmail: l.vankessel@knowledgee.com
Zendy AI Assistant, ZAIA, Now Speaks Your Language
We’re excited to share a major milestone! As we grow, we want to make research easier for everyone. That’s why Zendy AI Assistant, ZAIA, now comes with a new multilingual feature: you can search and receive answers in your own language. Whether you’re exploring research in Arabic, English, French, or any other language, ZAIA understands you and delivers accurate, clear answers. This update is more than a feature, it’s part of our mission. At Zendy, we aim to make knowledge accessible and inclusive for all librarians, researchers, students, and academics, reaching users in ways that feel natural to them. By breaking language barriers, ZAIA helps more people discover, understand, and use research effectively. This is just one step in making ZAIA your personal research assistant, helping you discover knowledge in the language that feels natural to you.Try ZAIA now! .wp-block-video video { max-width: 65% !important; display: block !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; height: auto !important; }
Kamran Kardan, Co-Founder of Zendy, to Speak at QS Eurasia Forum 2025 in Tashkent
We are proud to announce that our Co-Founder, Kamran Kardan, will be a featured speaker at the QS Eurasia Forum 2025, taking place on 25–26 November at Central Asian University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This inaugural summit brings together university leaders, policymakers, and education experts from across the Eurasia region to explore collaboration, innovation, and the future of higher education. The forum’s theme, “Broadening Horizons: Building Global Bridges in Higher Education,” focuses on strengthening international partnerships, advancing research excellence, enhancing academic mobility, and shaping future-ready learning ecosystems. Kamran will join a distinguished panel in a session titled: “Building a Globally Recognised University from the Region: Strategies and Success Stories” During the session, Kamran will share insights and strategies on how universities in the region can achieve global recognition, highlighting practical approaches, real-world success stories, and lessons from Zendy’s journey supporting academic research and collaboration. Date & Time: Tuesday, 25 November at 13:30 UZT The QS Eurasia Forum 2025 promises a comprehensive program including keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, and extensive networking opportunities. It serves as a pivotal platform for uniting East and West, showcasing best practices, and fostering strategic relationships that will shape the future of higher education in the region. Participation is open via the official QS Eurasia Forum website. We look forward to contributing to this landmark forum, sharing knowledge, and engaging with leaders committed to advancing higher education across Eurasia. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 75% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
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