Edraak, the MOOC platform for the Arabic-speaking world, now has over 2 million users and more than 4 million course enrollments.  Launched in 2014 by the Queen Rania Foundation, the platform has grown from 10 to 104 courses, with a majority of course offerings in STEM and business-related fields.

Edraak is one of a number of regional MOOC platforms which sprung up following the success of global MOOC providers such as Coursera and edX. These platforms offer instruction in languages other than English and courses targeted towards more specialized demographics.

Edraak creates courses for Arabic speakers. From its offices in Jordan, Edraak serves learners across the Middle East and North Africa, with users logging in from Egypt (40% of users), Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

While the global platforms mostly attract college graduates ages 25 to 45, Edraak’s users tend to be younger (19-28). Like the global platforms, Edraak initially targeted university graduates looking for jobs. However, as enrollments grew, it became clear that many people using the platform had not attended university. Still, these users were interested in increasing their employability by developing skills and earning certificates. Another surprise: stay at home moms were taking classes on the platform. Now, Edraak caters to the needs of both of these groups of users, offering courses on personal development and employability, as well as parenting.