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UAE Introduces a Music Licensing Fee for Businesses: Rates and Deadlines From 1 December 2026
Co-Founder & CEO movingo
Editor
Author
Iakov Kukushkin
Copywriter, Journalist
𖡡 Dubai
⏱ 5 min read
Aug 24, 2026
In brief:
From 1 December 2026, restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls, fitness clubs, airlines, radio stations and TV channels in the UAE must hold an annual licence for the commercial use of music and pay a fee to rights holders. The rules were approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. The fee is administered by the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation.
From 1 December 2026, restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls, fitness clubs, airlines, radio stations and TV channels in the UAE must hold an annual licence for the commercial use of music and pay a fee to rights holders. The rules were approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. The fee is administered by the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation.
- What Is Changing in UAE Music Licensing?
- Who is exempt from the UAE music licensing fees?
- Which UAE businesses need to check their music licence?
- How much Is the UAE music licensing fee?
- What should UAE businesses do before 1 December 2026?
- Can businesses arrange a music licence before December 2026?
- Why is the UAE introducing music licensing fees?
- FAQ
What Is Changing in UAE Music Licensing?
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has published the Collective Management in Music Guide, introducing a unified licensing system for the commercial use of music. The Guide was approved under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. The rules take effect on 1 December 2026.
The rules apply to venues where music is played as part of a commercial activity: restaurants, cafés, hotels (including floating hotels), shopping malls, fitness clubs, airlines, radio stations, TV channels, and concerts and similar events.
Two organisations authorised by the Ministry to carry out collective rights management will collect and distribute the fee: the Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA) and Music Nation. 10 % of the funds collected will go to the Cultural Support Fund for Music, which supports musicians at every stage of creating and promoting music.
The licence is issued for one year and is renewable.
The rules apply to venues where music is played as part of a commercial activity: restaurants, cafés, hotels (including floating hotels), shopping malls, fitness clubs, airlines, radio stations, TV channels, and concerts and similar events.
Two organisations authorised by the Ministry to carry out collective rights management will collect and distribute the fee: the Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA) and Music Nation. 10 % of the funds collected will go to the Cultural Support Fund for Music, which supports musicians at every stage of creating and promoting music.
The licence is issued for one year and is renewable.
Who is exempt from the UAE music licensing fees?
The following are exempt from the fee:
-
government entities
-
educational and training institutions
-
national holidays and state events
-
non-commercial private celebrations and events
The Ministry has reserved the right to exempt further categories of users by separate decision. Where a venue's activity does not clearly fall under commercial use or the exemptions listed above, businesses should confirm their status directly with EMRA or Music Nation.
Which UAE businesses need to check their music licence?
Any business where music is played as part of a commercial activity should check whether a licence is required, including:
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restaurants and cafés (including those with a DJ or an entertainment programme);
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shops and commercial complexes;
-
large shopping malls;
-
fitness clubs;
-
hotels and floating hotels;
-
airlines with in-flight entertainment content;
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radio stations and TV channels;
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organisers of concerts and similar events.
How much Is the UAE music licensing fee?
The fee schedule is approved by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and cannot be changed unilaterally by a CMO (collective management organisation). The final annual fee depends on the business category, floor area or capacity, and, for some categories, on revenue.
Restaurants and cafés (without live music or a DJ)
Restaurants and cafes with a DJ, shows or an entertainment programme (nightclubs and entertainment venues)
Shops and commercial complexes (the fee is calculated by floor area, not capacity)
Large shopping malls (the fee is calculated by the floor area of common areas)
AED 625 for the first 100 m² of common areas, plus AED 50 for each additional 25 m². The maximum fee is AED 50,000 per year.
Fitness clubs
Up to 300 m² — AED 1,700 per year, plus AED 5 per additional m², up to a maximum of AED 6,000.
Hotels and floating hotels (the fee is calculated per room, according to star rating)
From AED 50 per room (1–2 stars) to AED 150 per room (4–5 stars), up to a maximum of AED 25,000 per year for the largest room-count category.
Radio stations and TV channels
Radio stations: 1 % to 3 % of annual revenue, depending on the share of music content broadcast. TV channels: 0.25 % to 1 % of annual revenue. Both categories are subject to a minimum fee of AED 1,700.
Airlines
The fee for airlines with in-flight entertainment content is calculated on a sliding scale based on the number of passenger seats, up to a maximum of AED 45,000 per year.
What should UAE businesses do before 1 December 2026?
- determine whether the business's activity falls under the licensing requirement, and which category it belongs to;
- calculate the estimated annual fee for the relevant category using the tables above;
- budget for this expense from December 2026;
- prepare data on floor area, capacity, or the number of rooms or seats — this will be needed to calculate the fee;
- monitor official guidance from EMRA and Music Nation on the licence application procedure.
Can businesses arrange a music licence before December 2026?
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has announced that fee collection starts on 1 December 2026 but has not published a separate timetable for licence applications before that date. EMRA and Music Nation, as the authorised CMOs, are expected to announce the application procedure and deadlines. Until this information is available, businesses should prepare their internal data — category, floor area, capacity, and expected fee — so they can apply as soon as applications open.
Why is the UAE introducing music licensing fees?
The new fee brings the commercial use of music under the collective rights management framework set out in Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Related Rights, which protects musical works among other categories of copyright. Under the previous approach, there was no single national mechanism for licensing background and performed music across commercial venues, which made it difficult for rights holders to be compensated for the use of their work. Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 addresses this by setting one licensing system, administered by EMRA and Music Nation, with part of the proceeds — 10 % — allocated to the Cultural Support Fund for Music to support musicians directly.
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FAQ
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 is a decision by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism that approves the Collective Management in Music Guide — a guide setting the rates and procedure for licensing the commercial use of music in the UAE.
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 implements collective rights management for music under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Related Rights, which is the UAE's primary copyright legislation.
Yes. The rules apply to any commercial use of music, including background music played in restaurants, shops, hotels and other commercial premises.
The Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA) and Music Nation collect the fee. Both organisations are authorised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism to carry out collective management of music rights.
A UAE music licence is issued for one year and is renewable.
Yes. Restaurants and cafés are one of the main categories covered by the fee. The rate depends on seating capacity and whether the venue has a DJ or an entertainment programme.
Yes. The fee for hotels and floating hotels is calculated per room, according to star rating.
Yes. Fitness clubs are included among the categories where the fee is calculated by floor area.
The annual fee depends on the business category and its size: from AED 1,500 for small cafés to AED 50,000 for large shopping malls. The full fee schedule is set out in the section above.
From 1 December 2026, when the rules under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 take effect and fee collection begins for the commercial use of music.
Restaurants, cafés, shops and shopping malls, fitness clubs, hotels, airlines, radio stations, TV channels, and organisers of concerts — any business using music for commercial purposes.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please verify current requirements or book a consultation with a movingo expert.
Sources
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism UAE. Ministry of Economy and Tourism launches 'Collective Management in Music Guide' setting fees for music use in cafés, restaurants, hotels, radio stations, TV channels, malls and airlines, 11 August 2026. — https://www.moet.gov.ae/en/-/ministry-of-economy-and-tourism-launches-collective-management-in-music-guide-setting-fees-for-music-use-in-cafés-restaurants-hotels-radio-stations-tv-channels-malls-and-airlines
- Khaleej Times. New UAE music fees: Businesses to pay from Dh1,500 to Dh50,000 a year, 13 August 2026. — https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/new-uae-music-fees-businesses-to-pay-from-dh1500-to-dh50000-a-year
- UAE Legislation (official UAE legislation portal). Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Related Rights. — https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1534
