Arabic music catalogs and entertainment intellectual property across the Middle East and North Africa are the focus of a newly launched United Arab Emirates investment platform called IPNation, which has set a target investment size of 100 million U.S. dollars according to Music Business Worldwide. The enterprise went live on a Wednesday with an initial commitment from New York-based rights company Influence Media Partners, which is supported by strategic partnerships with funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.
Founded by Eddy Maroun and José Maria Dot, IPNation describes itself as the first investment platform dedicated exclusively to Arabic music catalogs and entertainment intellectual property. Maroun previously co-founded the MENA streaming service Anghami, while Dot served as the chief investment officer of the Abu Dhabi-listed Multiply Group, which has since been renamed Two Point Zero Group following its merger with 2PointZero and Ghitha Holding. Within the new platform, Maroun holds the roles of chairman and chief innovation officer, with Dot operating as chief executive officer.
Industry leaders behind the venture emphasize that while regional music has long driven massive cultural engagement, it has historically failed to yield sustainable long-term ownership value for the region itself. According to Maroun, the platform aims to shift that paradigm by transforming regional intellectual property into global entertainment franchises spanning live experiences, storytelling, gaming, and artificial intelligence.
Investment Strategy and Expanding Intellectual Property Horizons
Headquartered in the UAE, IPNation plans to acquire music masters, publishing rights, artist brands, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) assets, and broader entertainment intellectual property originating throughout the Arab world according to reporting by The Geneva Times. Beyond traditional catalog acquisitions, leadership states the company will scale these assets into multi-format franchises covering immersive events, films, documentaries, merchandise, licensing, and fan engagement initiatives.
Dot noted that regional music and entertainment assets represent some of the most undervalued cultural classes globally, positioning IPNation as a vehicle to institutionalize investment in predictable, income-generating intellectual property. While the exact financial figures of Influence Media’s initial commitment remain undisclosed, the backing comes alongside a broader pattern of international investment in high-end music rights.
Influence Media Partners, established in 2019 and led by founder and co-managing partner Lylette Pizarro McLean, maintains an extensive global portfolio. The company previously formed a 750 million dollar fund with BlackRock Alternative Investors and Warner Music Group in 2022, securing rights from major international acts including DJ Khaled, Future, and Enrique Iglesias. More recently on July 29, Influence Media reached an agreement to acquire substantially all assets of Anthem Entertainment for more than 600 million dollars in collaboration with BlackRock-managed funds as reported by Music Business Worldwide.
Regional Market Growth and Existing Industry Precedents
The launch of IPNation coincides with a period of rapid financial expansion across the Middle East and North Africa recorded music sector. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Music Report 2026, MENA recorded music revenues increased by 15.2 percent year-over-year in 2025, tying with Sub-Saharan Africa as the second-fastest-growing music market globally. Streaming accounted for 97.5 percent of the region’s recorded music revenues last year based on wholesale figures.
Market observers note that while music catalogs have emerged as fast-growing alternative asset classes worldwide, Arabic entertainment intellectual property has historically seen limited institutional investment. While IPNation structures itself as a dedicated acquisition fund, other entities have previously targeted regional rights. Reservoir Media and its Abu Dhabi-based partner PopArabie have operated a joint venture acquiring Arabic music rights since 2020, focusing primarily on publishing, label services, and distribution. PopArabie also acquired the regional label and distributor Viral Wave, bringing its administered catalog close to 100,000 Arabic songs.
Meanwhile, co-founder Maroun continues to navigate parallel developments in the streaming sector. Maroun previously served as CEO of Anghami until the streaming platform finalized a merger with television and film subscription service OSN+ in April 2024, at which point Elie Habib assumed the role of CEO. Nasdaq-listed Anghami confirmed on June 30 that it received a non-binding preliminary proposal from majority shareholder OSN Streaming Limited to take the company private at 3.39 U.S. dollars per share in cash, prompting the formation of a special committee of independent directors to evaluate the transaction.
IPNation enters this evolving corporate landscape with active evaluations underway for existing music catalogs, publishing assets, artist domains, and culturally significant intellectual property across the MENA region.
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