Warner Music Group has promoted Ahmed Nureni to Managing Director of Warner Music MENA, its Middle East and North Africa business.
WMG has also hired Ahmad Alghawanmeh from Sony Music Entertainment as General Manager, MENA, according to a press release issued on Tuesday (October 6).
Nureni says that, with Alghawanmeh on board, Warner Music MENA is now positioned to become the first choice for artists in the region.
Nureni reports to Guillermo Gonzalez, President, Warner Music EMEA.
Alghawanmeh reports directly to Nureni.
In his new role, Nureni will oversee Warner Music MENA’s “overarching vision, corporate development, strategic joint ventures, and catalog expansion across all markets,” according to WMG.
Alghawanmeh will lead the region’s commercial growth, business development, and market expansion, as well as what WMG calls “multi-territory operational delivery.”
Warner Music MENA has operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco.
WMG says the appointments follow the full integration of Qanawat Music into ADA, its independent distribution and label services division.
According to WMG, that integration “established a premier distribution engine for the region.”
“I’m excited to be stepping into this new role at Warner Music MENA,” said Nureni. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the region over the last few years, but know there is so much more opportunity for growth and development.
“With Ahmad joining our team, we are now in the best position to capitalize on these opportunities and become the number one destination for artists across the Arab world.”
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the region over the last few years, but know there is so much more opportunity for growth and development.”
Ahmed Nureni, Warner Music MENA
“I’m delighted to join Ahmed and the talented teams across the region at such a pivotal moment for Warner Music and the industry,” said Alghawanmeh. “The Arab world has a rich and dynamic creative culture.
“By combining WMG‘s global resources with our local expertise, we’re well positioned to be an empowering home for Arab artists and a strong partner in driving their commercial and creative growth.”
“By combining WMG‘s global resources with our local expertise, we’re well positioned to be an empowering home for Arab artists and a strong partner in driving their commercial and creative growth.”
Ahmad Alghawanmeh, Warner Music MENA
“MENA continues to be one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, and Warner Music is committed to staying at the forefront of that momentum,” said Gonzalez. “Ahmed has done an outstanding job building our presence in the region over the last several years, and will develop this further in his new role, while in Ahmad we are adding an executive with sharp commercial instincts, deep regional relationships, and a proven track record in digital strategy.
“And with ADA x Qanawat giving us an unrivaled label and services offering, we are in prime position for our next era of growth.”
Nureni was named General Manager of Warner Music Middle East in October 2022, as Moe Hamzeh stepped down as Managing Director.
“MENA continues to be one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, and Warner Music is committed to staying at the forefront of that momentum.”
Guillermo Gonzalez, Warner Music EMEA
Nureni also remained General Manager of Qanawat Music, the MENA distributor that WMG acquired earlier in 2022.
WMG says that, since then, Nureni has expanded its presence in the region through a joint venture with Riyadh-based Merwas to launch a Saudi and Gulf record label.
The Merwas partnership was announced in October 2025.
WMG also points to its 2023 strategic investment in HuManagement, a talent agency based in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, and to artist signings including Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny.
Alghawanmeh joined Universal Music Group in 2013 as a Digital Account Manager.
He later became Senior Digital Partnership Manager at UMG, before joining Sony Music Entertainment in 2018 as Associate Director, Digital Sales and Revenue.
At Sony, he was promoted to Director of Digital Business and Partner Growth, and then to Vice President, Revenue & Growth Strategy.
The appointments come three months after WMG announced it would fold Qanawat Music into ADA, as part of an expansion led by Howard Corner, who was named to the newly created role of Head of ADA, EMEA.
Qanawat Music was to be renamed ADA x Qanawat Music, with WMG’s Africa-focused distributor Africori becoming ADA x Africori.
Gonzalez‘s promotion to President, Warner Music EMEA, was announced on September 25, as part of a reshuffle of WMG’s global leadership team.
He previously led Warner Music Iberia for six years.
The same announcement confirmed that Simon Robson, who held the title of President, EMEA, Recorded Music, will leave WMG in December after nearly 30 years with the company.
Alejandro Duque, meanwhile, was elevated to President, Warner Music International, adding the APAC and EMEA regions to his remit.
Recorded music revenues in MENA grew 15.2% YoY in 2025, according to IFPI‘s Global Music Report 2026.
That made MENA the joint second-fastest-growing region globally, alongside Sub-Saharan Africa, behind Latin America (+17.1%).
In 2024, MENA was the world’s fastest-growing region, with recorded music revenues up 22.8% YoY, according to IFPI.
Streaming accounted for 97.5% of MENA’s recorded music revenues in 2025.Music Business Worldwide
