UAE Music Licensing Fees: What Businesses Need to Know from December 2026
Businesses that use copyrighted music in commercial settings across the UAE will become subject to a new licensing fee framework from 1 December 2026.
The requirements apply to a broad range of establishments and activities, including restaurants, cafés, retail premises, shopping malls, fitness centres, hotels, airlines, broadcasters, concerts and similar events.
Introduced through the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Collective Management in Music Guide, the framework establishes standardised annual tariffs for the commercial use of protected music. The applicable amount will depend on factors such as the type of establishment, its seating capacity, floor area, room count or method of music use.
For businesses, the introduction of the framework means that music used as part of a customer experience, entertainment offering or commercial service must be considered a formal copyright compliance matter.
This guide explains which businesses are affected, how the annual fees are calculated, the available exemptions and the practical steps organisations should take before the new collection system becomes effective.
What Is the UAE Collective Management in Music Guide?
The Collective Management in Music Guide was adopted under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 as part of the UAE’s framework for protecting copyright and related rights. It operates alongside Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights and Cabinet Resolution No. 47 of 2022 concerning its Executive Regulations.
The Guide establishes a structured system through which authorised collective management organisations can license the commercial use of protected music and collect fees on behalf of composers, songwriters, performers, sound-recording producers and music publishers. It also standardises the tariff categories and licensing mechanisms that apply to businesses and other organisations using music.
The Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation have been authorised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism to collect the applicable fees and manage the distribution of royalties to eligible rights holders. The Ministry retains responsibility for supervising licensed collective management organisations, reviewing their records and systems, conducting inspections and addressing complaints relating to their regulatory obligations.
For businesses, the Guide converts the use of copyrighted music from an informal operational practice into a defined licensing and compliance requirement. The obligation is determined by how music is used in the commercial environment and by the type and scale of the establishment.
Which Businesses Are Subject to UAE Music Licensing Fees?
The new framework applies to businesses and organisations that use protected music as part of their commercial activities, customer experience, entertainment offering or public communications. The requirement is not limited to businesses operating directly within the music industry. It extends to establishments that use music as background entertainment or as part of the services provided to customers. The principal categories covered by the Guide include:
Restaurants and cafés
Restaurants, cafés and entertainment venues offering DJs or live entertainment
Retail shops and commercial complexes
Shopping malls and shared mall areas
Fitness centres and gyms
Hotels and floating hotels
Premium-class airlines providing in-flight entertainment
Radio stations
Television channels
Concerts and similar events
Digital music applications and platforms where protected music is commercially used
The licensing requirement may therefore apply whether music is central to the business model or simply forms part of the environment in which customers receive goods or services. A restaurant using background music, a retailer operating an in-store playlist and a gym playing music during exercise sessions may all fall within the framework, although their respective fees are calculated differently.
Businesses should assess how music is used across each location, customer area, event or service rather than assuming that one licence will automatically cover every activity or commercial premises operated by the organisation.
How Are the UAE Music Licensing Fees Calculated?
The Guide does not impose a single flat fee on every business. Instead, annual charges are calculated according to the type of establishment, the scale of its operations and the way in which protected music is used. Depending on the business category, the calculation may be based on:
Seating capacity
Total floor area or customer-accessible area
Hotel classification and number of rooms
Passenger seating capacity
Annual income from broadcasting activities
Whether music is used as background entertainment or forms a principal part of the business offering
Whether the establishment provides DJs, live entertainment or nightclub services
The annual fees reported for restaurants, cafés, retail premises, fitness centres, hotels, malls and airlines range from AED 1,500 to a maximum of AED 50,000, depending on the applicable category and calculation method. Broadcasters are subject to percentage-based charges, with minimum annual amounts established under the tariff schedule.
Licences are issued for a one-year period and are renewable in accordance with the applicable conditions. The authorised collecting organisations cannot independently change the approved tariff structure without the prior written approval of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
Businesses should therefore identify the correct classification before estimating their annual cost. Applying the tariff for a standard restaurant to an establishment offering DJs or other entertainment, for example, could result in an inaccurate assessment of the licensing obligation.
Music Licensing Fees for Restaurants and Cafés
Restaurants and cafés are subject to annual fees calculated according to their seating capacity. A separate, higher tariff applies where the establishment offers DJs, organised entertainment or operates as an entertainment venue or nightclub.
Restaurants and Cafés Using Background Music
Seating capacity | Annual fee |
Up to 50 seats | AED 1,500 |
51 to 100 seats | AED 2,700 |
101 to 200 seats | AED 4,800 |
Above 200 seats | AED 20 for each additional seat |
Maximum annual fee | AED 6,000 |
Restaurants, Cafés and Venues with DJs or Entertainment
Seating capacity | Annual fee |
Up to 50 seats | AED 2,500 |
51 to 100 seats | AED 3,500 |
101 to 200 seats | AED 6,500 |
Above 200 seats | AED 20 for each additional seat |
Maximum annual fee | AED 8,000 |
The distinction between the two categories is important. An establishment that occasionally hosts DJs, live performances or organised entertainment should not automatically assume that it qualifies for the standard background-music tariff. The actual nature and frequency of the music use should be assessed against the applicable licence category.
Restaurant and café operators with multiple branches should also determine whether each location requires a separate licence and calculate the fee according to the seating capacity and entertainment activity of each premises.
Music Licensing Fees for Shops and Shopping Malls
Retail businesses and commercial complexes that play background music are charged according to the floor area of the premises. Shopping malls are assessed separately, with the calculation applied to shared or common areas rather than to each individual retail unit.
Shops and Commercial Complexes
Floor area | Annual fee |
Up to 300 square metres | AED 1,700 |
301 to 700 square metres | AED 3,400 |
Above 700 square metres | AED 60 for each additional 25 square metres |
Maximum annual fee | AED 20,000 |
Shopping-Mall Common Areas
Common-area measurement | Annual fee |
First 100 square metres | AED 625 |
Each additional 25 square metres | AED 50 |
Maximum annual fee | AED 50,000 |
A music licence obtained for a shopping mall’s common areas should not automatically be treated as covering the individual shops operating within the development. Retail tenants that play music inside their own premises may have a separate licensing obligation based on the size of their respective units.
Businesses operating several shops should review each location separately, particularly where premises vary in floor area or where music is controlled independently at branch level. Mall operators should similarly identify which corridors, entrances, atriums, food courts and other shared spaces are included in the relevant common-area calculation.
Music Licensing Fees for Fitness Centres and Gyms
Fitness centres and gyms are subject to annual music licensing fees calculated according to the floor area of the establishment.
Floor area | Annual fee |
Up to 300 square metres | AED 1,700 |
Above 300 square metres | AED 1,700 plus AED 5 for each additional square metre |
Maximum annual fee | AED 6,000 |
Music is often an integral part of fitness operations, including group classes, personal training areas, exercise floors and general background entertainment. The tariff therefore applies to establishments using protected music as part of the customer experience, even where access to music is included within the overall membership fee rather than charged separately.
Operators should determine which areas of the premises form part of the licensing calculation and whether independently managed studios, branches or concession areas create separate obligations. Businesses operating multiple fitness locations should not assume that a licence for one branch automatically extends to the others.
Music Licensing Fees for Hotels and Floating Hotels
Hotels and floating hotels are charged according to their official classification and number of rooms. The tariff combines per-room calculations for smaller properties with fixed annual amounts for larger establishments.
One-Star and Two-Star Hotels
Number of rooms | Annual fee |
1 to 50 rooms | AED 50 per room |
51 to 100 rooms | AED 5,000 |
101 rooms or more | AED 8,000 |
Three-Star Hotels
Number of rooms | Annual fee |
1 to 50 rooms | AED 120 per room |
51 to 100 rooms | AED 12,000 |
101 rooms or more | AED 18,000 |
Four-Star and Five-Star Hotels
Number of rooms | Annual fee |
1 to 50 rooms | AED 150 per room |
51 to 100 rooms | AED 15,000 |
101 to 200 rooms | AED 18,000 |
201 rooms or more | AED 25,000 |
The room-based hotel tariff should not automatically be treated as covering every commercial activity operated within the property. Restaurants, cafés, entertainment venues, retail premises, gyms, spas, event spaces and other facilities using music may need to be reviewed separately according to the nature of their activities and the applicable tariff category.
Hotel operators should therefore map music use throughout the entire property, including guest rooms, lobbies, restaurants, lounges, pool areas, fitness facilities, spas, events and entertainment spaces. Existing arrangements with DJs, event organisers, broadcasters, background-music providers and hotel management companies should also be reviewed to determine which party is responsible for obtaining the necessary rights.
Music Licensing Fees for Broadcasters and Airlines
Radio stations and television channels are charged according to a percentage of their annual income, while airlines offering premium in-flight entertainment are assessed according to the number of passenger seats covered by the service.
Radio Stations
Type of station | Annual fee |
General-programming station | 1% of annual income |
Music and song station | 3% of annual income |
Minimum annual fee | AED 1,700 |
Television Channels
Type of channel | Annual fee |
General-programming channel | 1% of annual income |
News channel | 0.25% of annual income |
Minimum annual fee | AED 1,700 |
Broadcasters should confirm the income figure used for the calculation and maintain sufficient accounting records to support the amount declared. Organisations operating multiple stations, channels or content formats should also determine whether each service is assessed separately.
Airlines Offering Premium In-Flight Entertainment
Passenger seating capacity | Annual fee |
1 to 50 seats | AED 5,000 |
51 to 300 seats | AED 10,000 |
301 to 500 seats | AED 30,000 |
Above 500 seats | AED 30,000 plus AED 75 for each additional seat |
Maximum annual fee | AED 45,000 |
Airlines should identify which aircraft, cabins and entertainment systems fall within the relevant category. Agreements with content distributors or in-flight entertainment providers should also be reviewed to establish whether commercial music rights are already addressed and whether any additional UAE licensing obligation remains.
Which Music Uses Are Exempt from the Fees?
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has identified several categories and uses that are exempt from the music licensing fees. These currently include:
Government entities
Educational and academic institutions
Music used during national occasions
Private celebrations and events that are non-commercial
Any additional categories or uses that the Ministry may exempt through a subsequent resolution
The exemption for private celebrations is linked to the non-commercial nature of the event. A commercially organised event, ticketed function, branded activation or entertainment service should not automatically be treated as exempt merely because attendance is restricted or the event is described as private.
Businesses should also avoid assuming that the status of a venue determines the treatment of every activity conducted there. A commercial event hosted within an educational institution, government facility or other normally exempt location may require a separate assessment if protected music is being used for commercial purposes.
Where an exemption may apply, the organisation should obtain confirmation from the relevant authorised collecting body and retain supporting documentation describing the event, venue, organiser, audience and nature of the music use.
Does a Spotify or Apple Music Subscription Cover Commercial Music Use?
A personal subscription to a music-streaming platform does not generally grant a business the right to play that music publicly or commercially. Spotify states that its service is intended for personal, non-commercial use and cannot be played publicly in businesses such as restaurants, shops, salons, dance studios or similar premises. Apple’s media-service terms likewise restrict its services and content to personal, non-commercial purposes unless otherwise specified.
Paying for a personal or family subscription therefore addresses access to the platform. It does not, by itself, provide the commercial music rights required when protected works are played for customers, guests or the public.
Businesses using a specialist commercial background-music provider should review the relevant agreement to determine:
Which music and recording rights are included
Whether the service is authorised for public and commercial use
Which countries and business locations are covered
Whether the agreement covers only the music supply service or also local collective-management fees
Whether DJs, live performances, events or independently selected music fall outside the contract
Which party is responsible for obtaining and renewing the UAE licence
A commercial music-provider agreement may form part of the business’s compliance arrangements, but it should not automatically be assumed to replace the licence required under the UAE framework. Written confirmation should be obtained from the provider and, where necessary, from the relevant authorised collective management organisation.
Who Is Authorised to Collect the UAE Music Licensing Fees?
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has authorised two organisations to conduct the collective management of music rights under the new framework:
Emirates Music Rights Association
Music Nation
These organisations are responsible for collecting the applicable fees and managing the distribution of royalties to composers, songwriters, performers, sound-recording producers, music publishers and other eligible rights holders.
Before responding to a payment request, a business should verify:
The identity and current authorisation of the collecting organisation
The establishment, branch or activity covered by the request
The music use on which the licensing requirement is based
The tariff category applied to the business
The seating capacity, floor area, room count, revenue or passenger capacity used in the calculation
The licence period and renewal date
Whether the amount includes more than one venue, activity or branch
The process for correcting an inaccurate classification or calculation
Businesses should retain the licence, invoice, payment confirmation, correspondence and calculation details within their compliance records. Where several parties are involved, such as landlords, hotel operators, franchisees, event organisers or outsourced music providers, responsibility for the licence should be established in writing.
Any payment request received from an organisation other than an authorised collective management body should be independently verified before payment or disclosure of business information.
What Should Businesses Do Before 1 December 2026?
Businesses within the affected sectors should complete a structured review of their music use before fee collection begins. The assessment should extend beyond the main customer area and include every branch, department, event and service in which protected music may be played, broadcast or performed.
A practical compliance review should include the following:
Map all music use
Identify where and how music is used, including background playlists, televisions, radios, digital platforms, DJs, live performances, fitness classes, events, in-room entertainment and promotional content.
Identify each responsible establishment
Separate the locations, branches, venues and commercial activities operated by the business. A group licence or head-office arrangement should not be assumed to cover every site without written confirmation.
Determine the correct tariff category
Record the relevant seating capacity, floor area, room count, classification, annual income or passenger capacity required for the applicable calculation.
Review existing agreements
Examine contracts with landlords, franchise owners, hotel operators, event organisers, DJs, background-music suppliers, broadcasters and other service providers to establish which party is responsible for music licensing.
Check the source of the music
Confirm that the platform or supplier permits commercial use. Consumer streaming subscriptions should not be treated as commercial-use licences.
Estimate and budget for the annual fee
Calculate the expected charge for each establishment or activity and include the cost within the relevant operational or compliance budget.
Verify the collecting organisation
Confirm that any licensing request comes from an organisation authorised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and check the basis of the proposed calculation.
Maintain supporting records
Retain licences, invoices, receipts, contracts, calculations, correspondence and evidence relating to any exemption or third-party licensing arrangement.
Establish a renewal process
Record the licence expiry date and assign responsibility for annual review and renewal, particularly where the size, classification or activities of the business may change.
The review should be repeated whenever the business opens a new branch, expands its premises, increases seating capacity, introduces DJs or live entertainment, changes its music provider or adds a new customer-facing service.
What Are the Consequences of Non-Compliance?
The Collective Management in Music Guide does not establish a separate public penalty table specifically for late or unpaid annual licensing fees. However, using protected music commercially without the necessary authorisation may amount to an infringement of copyright or neighbouring rights under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021.
Article 39 of the Decree-Law provides that infringement of an author’s or neighbouring-rights holder’s moral or economic rights without written permission may be punishable by imprisonment for at least two months, a fine ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 100,000, or either penalty. For a repeated offence, the law provides for imprisonment of at least six months and a fine ranging from AED 100,000 to AED 500,000.
Depending on the circumstances and the applicable enforcement process, additional consequences may include:
A demand to stop the unauthorised public performance or use of the music
Provisional measures relating to the performance, recording or resulting revenue
A civil claim for compensation by the relevant rights holder
Investigation of the business’s music sources, contracts and licensing records
Operational disruption while the licensing position is corrected
Reputational and contractual consequences, particularly for hospitality, retail, entertainment and franchise businesses
The existence of a paid streaming subscription or an informal arrangement with a supplier does not remove the underlying risk if the business cannot demonstrate that the required commercial rights and UAE licence are in place.
The legal consequences of any particular case will depend on the facts, the rights involved and the enforcement action taken. Businesses receiving an infringement notice or disputed licensing demand should obtain qualified legal advice before responding.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the UAE music licensing fees take effect?
Collection under the new tariff schedule will begin on 1 December 2026. Businesses within the affected categories should review their music use and licensing arrangements before that date.
Do the fees apply throughout the UAE?
Yes. The framework was issued at federal level and applies to relevant businesses and music uses across the UAE, including mainland and free-zone establishments.
Does every UAE business have to obtain a music licence?
No. The requirement concerns businesses and organisations that use protected music commercially or publicly. A business that does not play, broadcast or perform protected music may not fall within the music-use tariff. The actual position should be assessed according to the activities conducted at each premises.
Is the licence valid indefinitely?
No. Licences are issued for one year and must be renewed in accordance with the applicable requirements.
Does one licence cover every branch?
Businesses should not assume that one licence covers several branches or separately operated premises. The coverage of the licence should be confirmed in writing, particularly where different locations have different sizes, capacities or music uses.
Does a paid Spotify or Apple Music account satisfy the requirement?
No. Standard consumer subscriptions are provided for personal, non-commercial use. They do not automatically grant the public-performance or commercial-use rights required by a business.
Who collects the fees?
The Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation have been authorised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism to collect fees and manage music rights under the framework.
Are private events exempt?
Private celebrations and events may be exempt where they are genuinely non-commercial. Ticketed events, branded functions, commercially organised celebrations and activities connected with a business should be assessed separately.
Can the authorised organisations change the tariffs?
The approved pricing matrix cannot be changed by a collecting organisation without the prior approval of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
What should a business do if the fee calculation appears incorrect?
The business should request a written breakdown showing the tariff category and the seating capacity, floor area, room count, revenue or other data used. Any error should be raised with the authorised collecting organisation before payment, with supporting records where available.
How NUR Advisors Group Can Help
The introduction of formal music licensing fees adds another compliance requirement for businesses operating in the UAE’s hospitality, retail, fitness, entertainment, media and aviation sectors. Determining the applicable obligation requires more than identifying whether music is played. The business must also consider the nature of the activity, the size and classification of each establishment, the contractual allocation of responsibility and the rights already covered by existing suppliers.
NUR Advisors Group can assist businesses with:
Reviewing music use across branches, venues and commercial activities
Identifying the tariff categories that may apply
Organising the operational information required for fee calculations
Reviewing responsibilities under supplier, landlord, franchise and management agreements
Coordinating enquiries with authorised collective management organisations
Establishing internal licensing records and annual renewal controls
Referring matters requiring legal interpretation or dispute advice to appropriately qualified legal professionals
Businesses affected by the new framework should complete their assessment before fee collection begins on 1 December 2026.
Contact NUR Advisors Group to arrange a review of your UAE business compliance requirements.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is provided by NUR Advisors Group for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, immigration, employment or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
Although reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the information is accurate at the date of publication, laws, regulations, procedures, fees and government requirements may change without notice. NUR Advisors Group makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness, accuracy or continued validity of the information and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, accepts no liability for any action taken or decision made in reliance upon it.
Readers should obtain advice from appropriately qualified professionals and confirm current requirements with the relevant government or regulatory authority before taking action. Links to external sources are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement or guarantee of their content.
