UAE Mandates Commercial Music Licenses for Hotels, Gyms, and Cafes by December 2026

From 1 December 2026, new regulations will come into effect that will mandate businesses throughout the UAE to perform music in entertainment venues. With the exception of freelance musicians, all hotels, restaurants, cafés, shopping malls, gyms, airlines and event venues, if using copyrighted music for customers or visitors, will have to obtain an official music license.

The new system aims to enhance copyright provisions, harmonise the collection of royalties and ensure the proper remuneration of the musicians, composers, performers and publishers where their work is commercially utilized.

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What Does the New UAE Music Licensing Rule Mean?

With the new collective management system, companies will no longer be able to use the standard, “consumer music-streaming subscription” to cover background music in commercial spaces.

However, copyrighted music will require an appropriate public performance license for the establishments using it. The aim of the licensing system is to make it easier for businesses and provide more control to copyright owners over commercial use of their work.

Which Businesses Will Need a License?

The regulation applies to many business-aspects. Hotels and restaurants, cafés, shopping centres, fitness clubs, wellness facilities, airlines and entertainment venues are some of the businesses expected to be compliant.

The requirements may also apply to restaurants where music is introduced via DJs, live performances, recorded playlists, computer-generated playlists and/or background music. Rather, it is recommended that businesses evaluate the use of music all over their facility and not assume that background music will always be exempt.

Who Will Issue the Licenses?

To handle the administration of commercial music rights, the UAE framework provides for two Collective Music Rights Organisations, otherwise known as CMOs, namely Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation.

They are tasked with licensing establishments, collecting relevant royalties, ensuring compliance, and distributing royalties to relevant rights holders.

How Will Licensing Fees Be Calculated?

The fee for licensing will not be the same from one location to another, but will vary according to several factors. The amount that applies can take into account the type of business, venue size/capacity and the use of the music.

A café with ambient background music would be a different licence to use than one with DJs or live music. For that reason, businesses should always have an evaluation run prior to whatever budget is allocated for compliance, that is, a category-specific evaluation.

Are Any Businesses Exempt?

There are several uses which are not covered by the commercial licensing framework. These are held at schools and academic institutions, National Celebrations or personal or non-commercial festivities depending on the rules.

Certain recordings may not be covered by the exemption or the intention.Not all music use will be exempted or intended use for businesses. Commercial venues have until December 2026 to establish their unique situation.

What Should UAE Businesses Do Now?

This is a time for key players in the hotel, café, gym, retail and other business sectors to be looking at how their music is set up at the time of the enforcement date. Commercial public performance is not allowed with consumer streaming accounts; enterprises should verify if they are allowed for commercial uses.

Running a shuttle is also determined by the type of license an operator will require, they should also review contracts and agreements with DJ’s and entertainment establishments, and should estimate any annual license fees. Preparing in advance can minimise disruption at the time of enforcement.

Why Do the New Rules Matter?

The UAE’s licensing regime is also a swing of measures taken in the development of a more organized creative economy. This linking enables the commercial use to generate more revenue for local and global creators by providing royalty payments.

The use of copyrighted music is now becoming regulated as a commercial activity. Planning ahead will save operators time facing compliance challenges and will have the benefit of providing support to the creators of the music that operators use.

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