Cafes, hotels, malls must pay music licensing fees from December 2026

The UAE's Ministry of Economy and Tourism has launched a new guide regulating the collective management of music rights, introducing licensing fees for businesses that play music commercially, with collection to begin in December 2026.

The 'Collective Management in Music Guide' sets out fees for 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.

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. Licences granted to establishments will be valid for one year and renewable, with fee brackets determined by the nature of use and the size of the business.

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 later decides to exclude.

The framework is intended to reduce copyright violations, standardise licensing fees and mechanisms, and allow licensees to monitor compliance according to international best practice. The guide also establishes a "Cultural Support Fund in the Field of Music", with 10 per cent of total fees collected going toward the fund.