Meet the top business minds behind the online and offline success of the region’s most famous faces.
- 12 talent managers represent 10 leading agencies.
- Eight are based in the UAE, three in Egypt, and one in Lebanon.
Dubai, November 19, 2024: Forbes Middle East has revealed its list of the Top 10 Talent Managers Making Moves in the Middle East, honoring leaders who strategically manage the public image and brand partnerships of prominent Arab and international talent. The ranking spotlights 12 leaders overseeing 10 agencies that drive the success of the region’s most influential singers, actors, and internet personalities.
Forbes Middle East created this list by evaluating the number of celebrities and influencers managed by each agency, the level of fame of their clients, the campaigns they have executed, and their total social media reach throughout 2024. Agencies considered for this list had to be directly involved in managing celebrities or specific campaigns, social media, or other representation activities. Agencies with two managers were counted as a single entry. The focus was on agencies primarily representing celebrities and influencers, not those solely focused on PR or bookings.
Leading the ranking is Hady Hajjar, cofounder and CEO of UAE-based HuManagement, which works with regional and global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Naomi Campbell, Huda Kattan, and Neymar. In 2023, Warner Music Group announced a strategic investment in HuManagement. Egypt-based Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, cofounders of MAD Solutions, and UAE-based Gosia Golda, Founder and CEO of The MMG round up the top three. Of the 12 talent managers featured, eight are based in the UAE, three in Egypt, and one in Lebanon. Golda is the only non-Arab talent manager included in the ranking.
Lebanon-based Music Is My Life, led by Ghassan Chartouni, is the longest-standing agency on the list, established in 2000. Today, the agency represents artists such as Nassif Zeytoun, YARA, Rahma Riad, Al Shami, and Sarah Farah. In contrast, Omar Hmaidat’s digital media firm XPOZED, founded in 2024, is the newest agency featured and manages a roster that includes Wessam Qutob, Raghda, Ghaliaa, and Abdullah Tahhan.
Click here to view the Top 10 Talent Managers Making Moves in the Middle East list for 2024.
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About Forbes Middle East
Forbes Middle East is a licensed edition of Forbes for the Arab world, championing inspiring business journalism and entrepreneurial capitalism. Its online and social platforms break news covering billionaires, business, investment, technology, economy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and luxury lifestyles. The monthly magazine, featuring in-depth interviews with the Middle East’s most influential and innovative leaders, is published in print in English and Arabic, with digital versions available to both regional and global audiences online. Forbes Middle East extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world, conducting its own comprehensive research to publish original lists that adhere to strict methodologies. Its content attracts business leaders, investors, active and potential entrepreneurs, and a wide audience of ambitious and influential executives.Media contact: Basma Aly Sadek – [email protected]