Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun launches IPNation to invest $100 million in Arabic music and entertainment IP

Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun has launched IPNation, a UAE-based investment platform focused exclusively on Arabic music catalogues and entertainment IP, with plans to invest up to $100 million across the MENA region.

The platform went live today (August 12) with an initial investment from New York-based Influence Media Partners, a music rights company backed through strategic partnerships with funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. IPNation will focus on acquiring, developing and growing music and entertainment IP across the Middle East and North Africa, including music masters, publishing rights, artist brands and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights.

IPNation was founded by Eddy Maroun (pictured), co-founder and former CEO of MENA streaming platform Anghami, and Jose Maria Dot, the former Chief Investment Officer of Abu Dhabi-listed Multiply Group, now part of 2PointZero. Maroun serves as Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer, while Dot is CEO.

“For decades, Arabic music created massive cultural impact but very little long-term ownership value for the region itself. IPNation changes that. We are not only acquiring catalogs; we are building a platform that transforms Arabic IP into global entertainment franchises across music, live experiences, storytelling, gaming, AI, and beyond,” said Eddy Maroun.

“Arabic music and entertainment IP represent one of the most undervalued cultural asset classes globally today.IPNation was created to institutionalize investment into iconic and predictable income-generating IP while generating upside through our IPNation Value Creation Playbook, bringing our music to larger audiences efficiently. We believe the Middle East is entering a new era where culture itself becomes a scalable financial asset,” said Jose Maria Dot.

Beyond acquiring rights, IPNation plans to develop its portfolio into what it describes as multi-format entertainment franchises. Its proposed areas include immersive experiences, live shows, film and documentaries, merchandise, gaming, licensing, AI-powered derivatives and fan engagement.

[via Business Wire]