Businesses in the UAE will start paying licensing fees for playing music from December 2026. The new regulation affects cafes, hotels, malls, and fitness centers. Entrepreneurs need to prepare for these new costs to comply with copyright laws.
Our retelling · details in the original publication
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has released a new guide regulating the collective management of music rights. This move aims to standardize how businesses compensate creators. Establishments that play music commercially are now required to obtain licenses. Fee collection is scheduled to begin in December 2026, giving business owners time to adjust their budgets and operations.
The regulation covers a wide range of venues. This includes restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping malls, and fitness centers. Airlines, radio stations, television channels, and concert organizers are also affected. If you use music to enhance the customer experience or atmosphere in your business, you fall under these new rules and must secure the proper permissions.
Two Ministry-licensed bodies, the Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation, will handle the collection process. They manage rights for composers, songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, record producers, and publishers. This centralized system simplifies the process for businesses, allowing them to pay a fee to one entity rather than negotiating with individual copyright holders.
For entrepreneurs, this means a new operational cost to consider. It is crucial to review current financial plans and allocate funds for music licensing. Ignoring these regulations could lead to legal disputes or fines for copyright infringement. Business owners should stay informed about official announcements and prepare to register with the authorized collecting societies.
Read the full details in the original publication.
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