Announcements
UAE announces new music fees for businesses: Who will have to pay from December
Businesses across the UAE that play music for commercial purposes will face a new licensing system from December 2026, under rules announced by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The new framework introduces licensing fees for a wide range of businesses and organisations that use music commercially, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, gyms and airlines.
Radio and television broadcasters, as well as concert organisers, will also fall under the new system.
The changes are outlined in the ministry’s new Collective Management in Music Guide, which sets out how music copyright and related rights will be managed across the UAE.
Which businesses will have to pay?
The new licensing requirements will apply to venues and businesses that commercially use music.
This includes:
Restaurants
Cafes
Hotels
Shopping malls
Gyms
Airlines
Radio stations
Television channels
Concerts and other commercial music events
The amount businesses pay will not be the same across the board. Instead, fees will be calculated using a sliding-scale system, taking into account factors such as the type of music use and the size or nature of the business.
When do the new UAE music fees start?
The new licensing fees are scheduled to come into effect in December 2026.
Businesses that require a licence will receive a renewable one-year licence. The fees will be collected through the organisations responsible for managing music rights, including the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation.
These organisations represent rights holders across the music industry, including composers, songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, record producers and music publishers.
Why is the UAE introducing the new system?
The government says the new framework is designed to create a more structured system for managing copyright and related rights in the UAE.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, standardising licensing requirements and fees should help reduce copyright violations while bringing the UAE’s approach more closely in line with international practices.
For businesses, that means music used as part of the customer experience, whether in a restaurant, hotel, gym or another commercial setting, will be subject to clearer licensing requirements.
Who is exempt from the music licensing fees?
Not every organisation or event will be covered by the new commercial licensing requirements.
The guide identifies exemptions that include:
Schools and academic institutions
Non-commercial celebrations
National events
This means the new fees are primarily focused on the commercial use of music rather than private or educational settings.
New fund will support UAE music talent
The new framework also includes a support mechanism for the country’s music industry.
A Cultural Support Fund in the Field of Music will be established to provide financial assistance and technical support to artists, performers and producers.
Under the new system, 10 per cent of the fees collected will be directed towards the fund.
The money will be used to support emerging musical talent and help promote Emirati music internationally.
What does this mean for UAE businesses?
For businesses that regularly play music for customers, the biggest change will be the introduction of a formal licensing requirement and associated annual fees.
The exact amount will depend on how the music is being used and the characteristics of the business, rather than being a single flat charge for every venue.
Businesses that rely on music as part of their atmosphere or entertainment offering will therefore need to factor the new licensing requirements into their operations from December 2026.
At the same time, the government says the system is intended to ensure creators and other rights holders receive appropriate recognition and compensation when their work is used commercially.
Music licensing rules:
Start date: December 2026
Licence period: One year, renewable
Applies to: Commercial users of music
Examples: Restaurants, cafes, hotels, malls, gyms and airlines
Also covered: Radio, television and concerts
Fee structure: Sliding scale based on use and business characteristics
Exemptions: Schools, academic institutions, non-commercial celebrations and national events
Music support fund: 10% of collected fees
For UAE businesses, the new rules mark a significant change in how commercial music use will be licensed, while the accompanying support fund is designed to put part of those revenues back into the country’s developing music sector.
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