Sony Music Publishing moves into MENA region with new Dubai office

Sony Music Publishing has opened a new office in Dubai, expanding its presence in the Middle East and North Africa, under the management of Dounia Chaaban.

With a new office in Dubai, Sony Music Publishing is extending its reach throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Managing director Dounia Chaaban will oversee the region and report to SMP senior vice president of international Dan Nelson.

Chaaban started her work with Anghami, the top Middle Eastern music streaming platform. Chaaban was the lead for the Arabic indie community there for seven years before moving on to Believe Music as an artist relations manager. The announcement of the news comes just one day after Universal Music Group revealed plans to construct a new Capitol Studios branch in the United Arab Emirates in partnership with DGMC, a regional music group. The two said they would collaborate to create a "Music City" that will act as a hub for MENA recording artists and composers, both domestic and international.

In the past year, more music companies have also increased their investments in the MENA region. In the last year, Reservoir Media has acquired Lebanese music company Voice of Beirut, Egyptian label 100COPIES, and Saudi Arabian label Mashrex in partnership with PopArabia; in May, BMI partnered with Music Nation, a UAE-based music rights management company; and in October, Warner Music announced its investment in Dubai-based talent agency HuManagement. Billboard Arabia was introduced in June as part of Billboard's own regional expansion.