The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has expanded its regional music charts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by introducing new charts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and North Africa. These charts aim to provide official rankings of the top streaming tracks in each country. The charts incorporate music streaming data from major digital service providers in the region and are compiled by BMAT. The launch of these charts marks the first time official rankings are being made available in each respective country. IFPI will release each market chart on a weekly basis, while the Official MENA Chart will continue to be published every Tuesday.
The introduction of the new charts follows the debut of the inaugural official regional chart for MENA in 2022, which covered 13 markets and over 300 million people. The expansion of these charts highlights the sustained growth of the region’s music industry, with a 23.8% increase in recorded music revenues in 2022. IFPI CEO Frances Moore stated that the charts are a platform to celebrate and showcase the unique music heritage and diverse talent in each country. The current No. 1 hits in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and North Africa include tracks by Nawal, Majid Almohandis, and Shilpa Rao, among others.
This development follows IFPI’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy in 2022 to support the growth of the UAE’s recorded music business. MENA was previously the fastest-growing music market in 2021 and had the third-highest growth rate in 2022. It also represented the highest share for streaming among all regions globally. The expansion of the charts further establishes MENA as a thriving and diverse music market.