UAE – Music Royalty Collection to Start December 1, 2026

Overview – The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has issued Ministerial Resolution No. (136) of 2026, approving the “Collective Management in Music Guide” (the Guide). The Resolution was issued on 29 June 2026 with tariffs and collection taking effect from 1 December 2026.

Purpose and Legal Basis – The Guide implements Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights and Cabinet Resolution No. (47) of 2022 on its Executive Regulations. It sets out a governance framework for collective management organisations (CMOs) licensed to manage musical rights on behalf of authors, performers, producers of sound recordings, and music publishers, aiming to balance rights-holder protection with fair, transparent access for users. For more information on CMOs and how it works, please refer to our detailed article here.

Who Is Affected – The Guide applies to: (i) licensed CMOs operating in the UAE; (ii) rights holders wishing to join a CMO; and (iii) businesses and platforms that use protected musical works and require licences, including restaurants, cafes, retail outlets, shopping centres and malls, gyms, hotels, premium airlines, radio and television broadcasters, and digital music applications/platforms.

Key Provisions

• Tariff and collection mechanism: Fees are calculated under a Ministry-approved pricing matrix (annexed to the Guide) based on factors such as seating capacity, floor area, room count, or a percentage of annual revenue, depending on the sector. The pricing matrix cannot be changed without prior Ministry approval, and no fees may be charged before the matrix is approved.
• Exemptions: Educational and academic institutions, government entities, national occasions, and private non-commercial celebrations are excluded from collection, along with any other categories the Ministry may exempt.
• Cultural Fund: A Cultural Support Fund for music is established to support national musical production, talent development, and cultural sustainability, funded by 10% of collected amounts (forming part of the existing 25% allocation under the Executive Regulations), governed by a dedicated committee (chaired by a Ministry of Culture representative) with independence and conflict-of-interest safeguards.

Tariffs – The annexed pricing matrix sets annual fees by sector, for example: restaurants/cafes from AED 1,500 (up to 50 seats) up to a cap of AED 6,000 per year (or AED 8,000 for venues with a DJ or similar entertainment); retail shops and complexes from AED 1,700 up to a cap of AED 20,000; major shopping centres up to a cap of AED 50,000; gyms up to a cap of AED 6,000; hotels tiered by star rating and room count up to a cap of AED 25,000; radio and television broadcasters at 0.25%-3% of annual revenue (minimum AED 1,700); and premium-class airlines from AED 5,000 to AED 45,000 depending on flight seating capacity.

Effective Dates – The Resolution is effective from 6 July 2026. However, the collection under the annexed tariff schedule applies from 1 December 2026.

Recommended Next Steps – Clients operating in the affected sectors (hospitality, retail, broadcasting, aviation, digital platforms, etc.) should review their current music licensing arrangements, budget for the applicable tariffs ahead of the 1 December 2026 collection date and confirm the licensing status of any CMO from which they receive collection notices. We are available to advise on sector-specific exposure, contract implications, and engagement with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism or CMOs as needed.