UAE Introduces New Licensing Fees for Businesses Playing Music Commercially

Dubai: The UAE's Ministry of Economy and Tourism has introduced new licensing fees for businesses that play music commercially, with collections set to begin in December 2026, under a new guide regulating the collective management of music rights.

The 'Collective Management in Music Guide', issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, sets uniform licensing standards and lays out the procedures for collecting and distributing payments tied to music copyright and related rights. Fee collection will begin at the start of December 2026.

The framework applies to a wide range of establishments, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, fitness centres, airlines, radio stations, television channels, and concerts and similar events, given the link between music use in these venues and copyright protections.

Licences issued to establishments will be valid for one year and are renewable. Fees will vary according to the nature of the music use and the size of the economic activity, with live music or DJ performances generally attracting higher charges than recorded music.

The fees will be collected by two Ministry-licensed bodies, the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation, which manage the rights of composers, songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, record producers and music publishers. Both organisations have received permits from the Ministry to conduct collective management activities, including the collection and distribution of payments to creators and rights holders in the UAE.

Educational and academic institutions, government entities, national events, and personal, non-commercial celebrations will be exempt from the fees, along with any other categories the Ministry may later decide to exclude.

The guide also establishes a Cultural Support Fund for Music, which will receive 10 percent of the total fees collected. The fund is intended to provide financial, technical and artistic support for musicians at all stages of production, backing music composition, production, distribution and live performances, while helping emerging talent and the wider UAE music industry.

The Ministry said it will monitor licensed collective management entities for compliance with the UAE's Copyright and Neighbouring Rights law, including through field inspections and reviews of financial and technical records. It will also handle complaints from rights holders and other stakeholders over alleged violations, seeking to resolve disputes amicably or take regulatory action where necessary.

Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said the UAE is placing greater emphasis on strengthening the competitiveness of its music and creative industries as part of efforts to diversify the national economy, describing the guide as an important step towards establishing an integrated framework for managing copyright and related rights in the country.