Restaurants, hotels and airlines face new UAE music licensing fees from December
Annual permits will vary according to business size and how music is used
DUBAI – Restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls and other businesses across the UAE will face new licensing fees for commercial music use from December this year.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has launched its Collective Management in Music Guide, setting out a framework for licensing, collecting and distributing payments linked to music copyright and related rights. The rules are aimed at bringing greater consistency to how music is used commercially while strengthening protection for creators and rights holders.
The framework covers a broad range of establishments and activities, including fitness centres, airlines, floating hotels, radio stations, television channels, concerts and similar events. Fee brackets will depend on the nature of music use and the size of the business, although the Ministry has not announced individual fee amounts.
Fees begin December
Implementation is scheduled to begin at the start of December, with the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation responsible for collecting the fees and managing associated rights. Both organisations have been licensed by the Ministry to carry out collective management activities covering composers, songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, record producers and music publishers.
Licences issued to establishments will be valid for one year and can be renewed under the applicable rules and conditions. The framework was issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026.
The Ministry said the system is intended to standardise licensing criteria and payment mechanisms while helping businesses comply with copyright requirements and reducing violations.
Exempt categories
Not every use of music will attract a fee. Educational and academic institutions, government entities, national occasions and personal celebrations or other non-commercial events will be exempt under the framework.
The Ministry may also introduce additional exemptions through subsequent decisions.
Economy and Tourism Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said the UAE is placing strong emphasis on strengthening the competitiveness of its music and creative industries as part of wider economic diversification efforts. He described the guide as part of developing an integrated system for governing copyright and related rights in line with the objectives of UAE Vision 2031.
Supporting musicians
The framework also establishes a Cultural Support Fund in the Field of Music, with 10 percent of total fees collected allocated to the fund.
It will provide financial, technical and artistic support for music composition, production, distribution and live performances. The fund will also support emerging talent, including children, young people and people of determination, while promoting Emirati music internationally through export initiatives, cultural exchanges and participation in global festivals.
The fund will be overseen by a joint committee involving the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture. The collecting organisations will maintain a separate bank account for its allocations.
The Ministry will monitor licensed collective management entities through field inspections and reviews of financial and technical records. It will also handle complaints from rights holders and other stakeholders, with disputes potentially resolved through amicable measures or regulatory action where necessary.