The 25-year-old has become a streaming star without releasing a full album. He just wrapped his first shows in the United States, and hopes to take his music even further.
An Egyptian businessman, he built an empire of trophy properties in London, Paris and elsewhere, but it was overshadowed by a fatal car crash that stunned the world.
Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Indonesia and Egypt are among the potential candidates to expand the five-nation bloc, many of them seeking stronger ties with non-Western powers. Iran is also interested.