diff --git a/.github/scripts/build_release_nightly.py b/.github/scripts/build_release_nightly.py
index b7cce37..0afd08c 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/build_release_nightly.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/build_release_nightly.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from common import (
     OS_NAME,
     PLATFORM_TARGET,
     DESKTOP,
+    notarize_macos_build,
 )
 
 from upload_to_bintray import upload_from_json
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ for target in TARGETS:
     else:
         if PLATFORM_TARGET == "native_mixed" and OS_NAME == "osx":
             fix_macos_rpath(target)
+            notarize_macos_build(target)
         archive = make_archive(target, make_release=RELEASE)
     if archive:
         upload_archive(archive, target, make_release=RELEASE)
diff --git a/.github/scripts/common.py b/.github/scripts/common.py
index f8307d7..9f90572 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/common.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/common.py
@@ -437,3 +437,49 @@ def trigger_docker_publish(target):
     except Exception as exc:
         print_message("Error triggering workflow: {exc}", exc=exc)
         raise exc
+
+
+def notarize_macos_build(project):
+    """ sign and notarize files for macOS
+
+        Expects the following environment:
+        - Imported Mac/Apple Distribution certificate (with private key) in Keychain
+        - `SIGNING_IDENTITY` environ with Certificate name/identity
+        - `ALTOOL_USERNAME` with Apple ID of an account with perms on the certificate
+        - Keychain entry `ALTOOL_PASSWORD` with an app-specific password for the account
+        - `ASC_PROVIDER` environ with Team ID
+        """
+    if project != "libzim":
+        return
+
+    # currently only supports libzim use case: sign every dylib
+    base_dir, export_files = EXPORT_FILES[project]
+    filepaths = [base_dir.joinpath(file)
+                 for file in filter(lambda f: f.endswith(".dylib"), export_files)
+                 if not base_dir.joinpath(file).is_symlink()]
+
+    if not filepaths:
+        return
+
+    for filepath in filepaths:
+        subprocess.check_call(["/usr/bin/codesign", "--force", "--sign",
+                               os.getenv("SIGNING_IDENTITY", "no-signing-ident"),
+                               str(filepath), "--deep", "--timestamp"], env=os.environ)
+
+    # create a zip of the dylibs and upload for notarization
+    zip_name = "{}.zip".format(project)
+    subprocess.check_call(
+        ["/usr/bin/ditto", "-c", "-k", "--keepParent"]
+        + [str(f) for f in filepaths] + [zip_name],
+        env=os.environ)
+
+    subprocess.check_call(["/usr/bin/xcrun", "altool", "--notarize-app",
+                           "--file", str(zip_name),
+                           "--primary-bundle-id", "org.kiwix.build.{}".format(project),
+                           "--username", os.getenv("ALTOOL_USERNAME", "missing"),
+                           "--password", "@keychain:ALTOOL_PASSWORD",
+                           "--asc-provider", os.getenv("ASC_PROVIDER")], env=os.environ)
+
+    # check notarization of a file (should be in-progress atm and this != 0)
+    subprocess.call(["/usr/sbin/spctl", "-a", "-v", "-t", "install",
+                    filepaths[-1]], env=os.environ)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/releaseNigthly.yml b/.github/workflows/releaseNigthly.yml
index 59194f6..5de5c82 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/releaseNigthly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/releaseNigthly.yml
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ jobs:
     env:
       SSH_KEY: /tmp/id_rsa
       OS_NAME: osx
+      CERTIFICATE: /tmp/wmch-devid.p12
+      SIGNING_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY }}
+      ALTOOL_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_ALTOOL_USERNAME }}
+      ASC_PROVIDER: ${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_TEAM }}
     steps:
     - name: Checkout code
       uses: actions/checkout@v1
@@ -151,6 +155,19 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         echo "${{secrets.ssh_key}}" > $SSH_KEY
         chmod 600 $SSH_KEY
+    - name: install Apple certificate
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        echo "${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_CERTIFICATE }}" | base64 --decode -o $CERTIFICATE
+        security create-keychain -p mysecretpassword build.keychain
+        security default-keychain -s build.keychain
+        security unlock-keychain -p mysecretpassword build.keychain
+        security import $CERTIFICATE -k build.keychain -P "${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_P12_PASSWORD }}" -A
+        rm $CERTIFICATE
+        "security set-key-partition-list -S apple-tool:,apple: -s -k mysecretpassword build.keychain"
+        security find-identity -v
+        sntp -sS time.apple.com
+        xcrun altool --store-password-in-keychain-item "ALTOOL_PASSWORD" -u "$ALTOOL_USERNAME" -p "${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_ALTOOL_PASSWORD }}"
     - name: Ensure base deps
       shell: bash
       run: |