I came across the Noon Culture Coffee while scrolling on social media. I was delighted to see a space dedicated to Arab culture, which combines a bookstore and a coffee shop. It is pretty rare to find this mix, especially abroad. I knew I wanted to know more and got to connect with one of the founders, Mr. Sbohi Khatib. In this article, I am happy to share the story that inspired Sobhi to start this coffee shop.

After settling in the Netherlands, Sobhi Khatib has realised that there are no spaces that focus on his own culture and identity. In the diaspora, many people from different backgrounds and cultures recognize the importance of their identity. They would ensure they do not lose it along the way. Sobhi wanted to read more in Arabic. Especially about his roots, culture, and traditions, which he takes so much pride in. After a while, one seeks to return to one’s identity and culture. From that point, he began looking for Arabic books, focusing on the Levant and those from his home country, Palestine. After the business overview, he realised that starting a library solely for Arabic books is not as easy as it seems.

During the Conversation with Sobhi,

I noticed how versatile his background is. For instance, he studied physics and computer science during high school. Then he earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in human rights. Over his 20-year career, he worked in communications and marketing. Throughout it, he had never considered opening a coffee shop before. For him, identity and culture became extremely vital, especially after his daughter, Layla, was born. He wanted her to remain exposed to Arabic and connected to her roots. At this realisation, he couldn’t find a place that would give her the exposure and experience in Arabic he was hoping for.

‘If you cannot find it, found it’

Sobhi Khatib

The Birth of Noon Coffee Culture

Before launching Noon, Sobhi experimented with numerous ideas, including founding a card game in Arabic called BeSaraha, and it took about a year to develop. Later, Noon Coffee Culture coffee came out during a dinner conversation with his friend about a year ago. He had no experience in the coffee shop industry, but he had experience in the culinary field, which he wanted to apply to Noon Coffee Culture. He founded The Hummus Academy, which is a think tank that aims to decolonise indigenous cuisines. Sobhi then thought of having a partner to start the business. Through his wife’s friend’s husband at a coffee meeting, they became partners and started Noon.

From that point, he started a cultural coffee shop, which they soft-launched in July 2025. Throughout the preparation process, he and his partner worked in parallel, curating books, selecting coffee, preparing furniture, organizing events, and preparing the space itself, all at once. The book selection is another crucial step, and Sobhi was very particular about the process. The books you will find at Noon have undergone a detailed vetting process—specifically, non-fiction books, to ensure credibility and truthfulness.

A Space Full of Surprises

It is nice and refreshing to find Arabic books abroad. It is essential to understand that shipping books from Egypt and Lebanon is not easy and requires many procedures. For instance, shipping books from Egypt to the Netherlands is costly, which makes the profit margins very small for everyone involved, including the author, the publishing house, the distributor, and the bookshop. Whereas books in English and Dutch are easily accessible directly from the publisher at affordable prices.

In addition to books, Noon Coffee Culture also curates cultural and social events. They develop comprehensive programs for diverse audiences. It is another aspect that requires a lot to make the coffee shop unique, as it is at its core. Sobhi highlighted that they want to create a series from everything they develop, at least twice a month, with planning through June of 2026. They aim to host at least one event each week. For instance, in November alone, they held 9 events. There are different formats, from book launches to movie screenings, lectures, and workshops, but the focus will be on the Levant and aim to move beyond it.

Noon Coffee Culture, More than Just Coffee

Mr. Sobhi underscored the importance of values. Through this space, he aims to introduce foreigners to the Levant and Arabic cuisine through Noon Coffee Culture. Food connects people regardless of background, and many can learn a lot from it. When you visit Noon Coffee Culture, you will find food from the Arab World but with a twist, such as Zaatar croissants. Additionally, they offer Palestinian Cola as they want to stress the boycotting of products that support the Israeli occupation. Sobhi emphasized the importance of providing alternatives to products that support the occupation. At Noon, you will find both sweet and savory dishes, and, of course, options that suit the general public.

At Noon, you will notice the Palestinian culture and identity in every corner. Palestine has been, for ages, limited to a very “sensitive” and even “too complicated” subject to describe and talk about. However, at Noon, it aims to show people that Palestine is not a sensitive topic; it is a country rich in history, culture, beauty, and traditions.

You can follow this amazing space via Instagram: Instagram, and if you are ever in Amsterdam or live there, don’t forget to visit Noon.