On 11 August 2026, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced a new framework regulating the public performance of copyrighted music, issued under Ministerial Resolution No. (136) of 2026 and its accompanying “Collective Management in Music” guide. Collection of the fees will begin on 1 December 2026.
The reform introduces a simple and clear path to compliance for businesses that play copyrighted music on their premises and is part of the country’s wider effort to align its intellectual property regime with international standards, in line with UAE Vision 2031.
The framework applies to commercial establishments that play copyrighted music on their premises, including restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls and centres, retail shops, fitness centres, airlines, radio stations, television channels and concert venues. Fees are structured in brackets determined by the nature of the use and the size of the business, with higher charges applying to live performances and DJ sets than to recorded music. Licences are valid for one year and are renewable.
Reported fees include the following:
– Restaurants and cafés: from AED 1,500 (up to 50 seats), rising with capacity; higher brackets apply where a DJ or entertainment is offered.
– Retail shops and commercial complexes: from AED 1,700, scaling by floor area.
– Shopping centres: calculated on common areas, up to a maximum of AED 50,000.
– Hotels: AED 50 to AED 150 per room, capped at AED 25,000.
– Fitness centres: from AED 1,700.
– Airlines: AED 5,000 to AED 45,000, based on seat capacity.
– Radio and television: a percentage of annual income, subject to a minimum of AED 1,700.
Two licensed collective management organisations, the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation, are authorised to collect the fees and distribute royalties to composers, songwriters, performers, producers and publishers. Schools and educational institutions, government entities, national events and private non-commercial celebrations are exempt, and the Ministry reserves the right to exclude further categories. Notably, ten per cent of the fees collected will be directed to a Cultural Support Fund for Music, established to provide financial, technical and artistic support to musicians and to promote Emirati music internationally.
In practice, many businesses across the UAE already play copyrighted music, but usually without paying licencing fees. Establishments that play music on their premises should ensure the appropriate licence is obtained ahead of the December start date, as early compliance will reduce exposure to enforcement action once the framework takes effect.