Restaurants, cafes, hotels and malls across the UAE will need a licence to play music from December, under a new copyright framework from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The Collective Management in Music Guide, issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, sets annual fees for establishments that play music commercially. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, fitness centres, airlines, radio stations, television channels, floating hotels and concert venues are all in scope. Fee brackets depend on the nature of the music use and the size of the business; the Ministry has not published individual amounts.
Collections will be handled 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. Licences are valid for one year and renewable.
Educational and academic institutions, government entities, national events and personal celebrations of a non-commercial nature are exempt. The Ministry can add further categories through subsequent decisions.
Ten per cent of collected fees goes to a new Cultural Support Fund in the Field of Music, covering composition, production, distribution and live performance, plus emerging talent and the promotion of Emirati music abroad. It will be run through a joint committee of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture.
“The UAE places great importance on enhancing the competitiveness of the music and creative industries … we continue our efforts to provide an enabling environment for talented individuals and innovators, protect their rights, and advance the legislative and regulatory framework for the creative economy to higher levels.”
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism
The Ministry will monitor the licensed bodies through field inspections and reviews of financial and technical records, and will handle complaints from rights holders. For UAE businesses, the practical change lands at the start of December: if the venue plays music to customers, the playlist now comes with paperwork. The guide follows a year in which Spotify Premium prices rose for UAE subscribers and Spotify won a $322m copyright case against Anna’s Archive.
Who has to pay the UAE music licensing fees?
Any business that plays music commercially: restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, fitness centres, airlines, radio stations, television channels, floating hotels and concert venues. Fee brackets depend on the type of music use and the size of the business.
When do the UAE music licensing fees start?
Collection begins in December 2026. Licences are issued for one year and are renewable, under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026.
Who is exempt from UAE music licensing fees?
Educational and academic institutions, government entities, national events and personal celebrations of a non-commercial nature. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism may add further exemptions.
