UAE Introduces Music Licensing Fees for Commercial Use
From 1 December 2026, businesses in the UAE that play music commercially will be required to obtain an annual music licence under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s new Collective Management in Music Guide.
The initiative represents an important development in the UAE’s copyright framework. Copyright grants creators and other rights holders exclusive rights over certain uses of their musical works and sound recordings, including their performance or communication to the public.
Playing protected music in a commercial setting may therefore require separate permission from the relevant copyright holders. The new framework covers restaurants, cafés, hotels and floating hotels, shopping centres, gyms, airlines, radio and television broadcasters, concerts, and similar events. Licensing fees will vary according to the type and size of the business and how the music is used, with live performances generally attracting higher fees than recorded or background music.
Fees will be collected by two Ministry-licensed collective management organisations: Music Nation and the Emirates Music Rights Association. Collective management allows music rights to be licensed centrally and royalties to be distributed to eligible composers, performers, producers, publishers, and other rights holders. Licences will be valid for one year and may be renewed.
Ten per cent of the fees collected will be allocated to a Cultural Support Fund for Musicians, supporting artists across different stages of music creation and production.
Exemptions apply to government entities, educational and academic institutions, national occasions, and private, non-commercial celebrations.
Importantly, the charge is a copyright licensing fee rather than a tax. A personal streaming subscription does not generally include the public-performance rights required to play music commercially.
The detailed fee schedule and coordination arrangements between the two collecting entities have not yet been published. Businesses should review how they use music and monitor further official guidance ahead of implementation.
Sources: UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism announcement, as reported by Sharjah24, Khaleej Times, and Gulf News.
