Music Licensing in the UAE: The Complete Guide for Businesses
Music licensing in the UAE changed fundamentally with the approval of two collective management organisations, EMRA and Music Nation, and the introduction of Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. Any business playing music commercially — in a lobby, a dining room, a retail floor or a gym — now sits inside a defined music licensing framework with enforcement from 1 December 2026. This guide explains what the framework covers, where EMRA and Music Nation licences fall short, and how MUSICVYBE closes the gap with a single, fully managed, fully licensed subscription.
The five commercial music rights
Every business needs all five, not just public performance
Commercial music use requires coverage of public performance of composition, public performance of sound recording, reproduction of sound recording, recording (master) rights, and publishing rights. EMRA and Music Nation, UAE’s two licensed collective management organisations, address only the first two — and only for repertoire voluntarily assigned to each.
| Licence / Right | Managing it yourself (EMRA + Music Nation) | Using MUSICVYBE |
|---|---|---|
| Public performance of composition | Covered, for repertoire assigned to EMRA and/or Music Nation | Covered |
| Public performance of sound recording | Covered, for repertoire assigned to EMRA and/or Music Nation | Covered |
| Reproduction of sound recording | Not covered by either CMO | Covered |
| Recording (master) rights | Not covered by either CMO | Covered |
| Publishing rights | Not covered by either CMO | Covered |
EMRA and Music Nation: a repertoire split, not a rights split
Why some businesses need both licences
Read our dedicated explainer on EMRA vs Music Nation, our guide to the EMRA licence, and our guide to the Music Nation licence. Both bodies were approved by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism during 2025, and administrative deductions from collections are capped at 25% under Ministry oversight, with 10% of all collections allocated to a Cultural Support Fund for Music supporting emerging UAE artists.
Regulatory foundations
The framework rests on UAE Copyright Law for Businesses (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 and its 2022 implementing regulations), and is operationalised through Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, the Collective Management in Music Guide. Exemptions apply to government entities, educational institutions, national occasions, personal celebrations and certain non-commercial charitable events.
Related reading
EMRA Licence UAE
How the Emirates Music Rights Association licence works.
Music Nation UAE
How the Music Nation for Rights Management licence works.
EMRA vs Music Nation
The repertoire split explained, and why some businesses need both.
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026
The Collective Management in Music Guide, explained in plain language.
Is Spotify Illegal for UAE Businesses?
Why consumer streaming apps do not meet commercial licensing requirements.
Music Licence Cost UAE
What determines licensing fees, and how to budget for compliance.
UAE Copyright Law for Businesses
Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 and what it means for commercial premises.
Frequently asked questions
What does UAE music licensing cover?+
It covers the right to publicly perform a musical composition and a sound recording, and separately the rights to reproduce a recording, use the master recording, and use the underlying publishing rights — five rights in total.
Who needs a music licence in the UAE?+
Any business playing music commercially, including restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls, gyms, fitness centres, airlines, floating hotels, broadcasters and event operators.
What is Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026?+
It is the Collective Management in Music Guide, the operative regulatory framework governing how EMRA and Music Nation licence and collect fees, with enforcement from 1 December 2026.
Can I use Spotify or Apple Music in my business?+
No — see our dedicated page on why Spotify is not licensed for UAE businesses.
Does an EMRA licence cover reproduction rights?+
No. EMRA and Music Nation both cover public performance only, for their respective repertoires. Reproduction, master and publishing rights sit outside either organisation’s scope.
How much will UAE music licensing cost my business?+
Fees vary by business type, venue size and manner of use, with higher rates for live and DJ performances. See music licence cost in the UAE and the current rate card at emraorg.ae.
How does MUSICVYBE simplify UAE music licensing?+
MUSICVYBE licenses its library directly from rights holders across all five rights, so businesses avoid managing separate EMRA and Music Nation applications and still-unresolved reproduction, master and publishing exposure.
Get compliant, fully managed background music
Speak to MUSICVYBE about your UAE licensing position.
Book a free consultation or email [email protected].