The Publisher
As the Chief Executive Officer of Dar Assayad Group, Bassam Said Freiha devotes much of his time to managing the operations of the group’s eleven renowned publications.
Thanks to his interest in adopting state-of-the-art technologies and methods, Bassam Said Freiha has grown Dar Assayad into the leading publisher of specialised publications in the Middle East.
Despite travelling widely throughout the year, he remains a hands-on and active leader of his publishing house. He consistently stays on top of every latest development and trend in the traditional and digital publishing industries, and he is the perfect example of a successful International Corporate Manager.
The origins of Dar Assayad
The original Dar Assayad building was built in the Hazmieh district of Beirut in 1945, and it was mainly financed through the sales of the late Said Freiha’s book Al-Ju’ba (the Quiver).
Several Lebanese and Arab friends of Said Freiha also made financial contributions as a way of expressing their appreciation for the founder’s strong morals, and his efforts to defend just causes.
From a tiny office, Dar Assayad has evolved over seven decades into a leading publishing house and social establishment.
Growth
Growing Dar Assayad
Backed by the unwavering support of his loyal team, he led the way by modernising Dar Assayad, and introducing no few than nine successful new titles between 1961 and 1985.
In addition to Assayad, the iconic flagship news weekly, Bassam Said Freiha oversees 11 publications that cover a diverse mix of news and special interest titles.
His approach to the company is best summed up in his own words: “My formula for success, growth, expansion and progress comes from my deep affection and love of my work, and the people on my team. I view my company as one big family. Every employee is a dear and valued member.”
Dar Assayad today
From its early days as a tiny office, the past seven decades have seen Dar Assayad transform into a leading publishing house and social establishment. Widely regarded as a public enterprise, rather than a private one, the growth and development of Dar Assayad has benefited the community of the Middle East as whole.
Widely hailed to be a vital movement within Lebanon and the Arab world, Dar Assayad marked its Golden Jubilee in 1993 by revealing a new logo that reflected its commitment to moving with the times. In 2023, Dar Assayad then celebrated 80 years of operations. To this day, it continues to encourage and nurture further progress, development, and prosperity across the entire Arab world.
With “From One Generation to Another” as its timeless motto, the self-reliant publishing house remains the inspiring leader of the publishing industry, and it continues to innovate and expand into new areas.
