Warner Music Group (WMG) has invested in the Middle East's largest record label Rotana Music, which is owned by Saudi Arabia's billionaire businessman Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, Warner said.
The transaction will see ADA Worldwide, WMG's label services division, distribute Rotana releases globally outside of the Middle East and North Africa and through YouTube for the entire world, Warner said in a statement on Wednesday.
The companies did not disclose the size of the deal.
Salem Al Hendi, chief executive of Rotana Music Holding, said the deal will “facilitate Warner Music’s reach into the Mena music industry and fan communities, just as it will benefit Rotana in our global expansion objective”. It will also help support and promote local artists on the global stage, he added.
Rotana has signed on some of the Arab world's biggest music artists including Egyptian mega-star Amr Diab, Saudi Arabia's Mohamad Abdo and Lebanon's Elissa.
In 2018, Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding Company and Rotana Group invested $266.7 million in music streaming service Deezer in a private placement that valued the company at around $1.10 billion, analysts said at the time. Alongside the deal, Rotana and Deezer also signed an exclusive long-term agreement to distribute the music company's Arabic digital audio and video content across the region.
"The Middle East and North Africa region is among the most culturally dynamic places in the world today, with burgeoning musical scenes and dramatic consumption growth," Simon Robson, WMG’s president of international and recorded music, said. "We’re especially excited about the opportunity to both expand our profile in the region and to bring these amazing artists to audiences across the globe.”
Kacy Grine & Co advised Rotana Music in the transaction with Warner.
WMG launched Warner Music Middle East in 2018, covering 17 markets across Mena.
With a population nearing half a billion people, the Mena music market is anticipated to "grow exponentially" as the region continues to improve internet speeds and smartphone penetration, which has doubled in the last five years alone, according to the statement.
Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
Oppenheimer
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More from Janine di Giovanni
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
65
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Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
