UAE introduces music licensing fee framework for restaurants and cafes
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism will issue one-year music management licences.
Restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls, fitness centres, and airlines across the UAE will come under a new music licensing fee framework from December 2026, following the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s launch of the “Collective Management in Music Guide".
The Guide sets rules for the commercial use of music and establishes a framework for collectively managing the rights of authors, creators and music production companies; composers and songwriters; singers and musicians; sound recording producers; and music publishers.
Issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, the Guide sets out fees for licences required to conduct collective management activities in the music sector.
The Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation will collect the fees and manage the relevant rights, including the collection and distribution of payments to music creators and rights holders in the UAE.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism will grant licences for collective management activities in music for a one-year period, renewable under the applicable rules and conditions.
