UAE Copyright Law for Businesses: What It Means for Background Music
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, playing recorded music in a UAE hotel, restaurant, shop, gym or office is a public performance that requires the rights holders’ permission. The Decree-Law sets out who owns those rights; Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 sets out how they are licensed in practice, with enforcement beginning on 1 December 2026.
This guide explains what the law protects, why background music in a commercial venue falls within it, which rights a business actually needs, and where responsibility sits. It is general information for business owners and operators, not legal advice.
What the Decree-Law covers
Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 replaced Federal Law No. 7 of 2002 and is the foundation of every music right in the UAE, alongside its 2022 implementing regulations. It protects two layers of rights in any piece of recorded music.
Copyright in the musical work. The composition and lyrics belong to songwriters and their music publishers. Their economic rights include reproduction, distribution, public performance and communication to the public.
Neighbouring rights in the recording. Performers, producers of sound recordings (typically record labels) and broadcasters hold separate rights in the recorded performance itself. A single track playing in your lobby therefore carries rights owned by several different parties.
The law defines public performance broadly, as communicating a work to the public by any means. Music played to customers, guests, members or staff in commercial premises is not private or domestic listening, so it falls inside that definition.
The five rights a UAE business needs
Background music in a commercial venue engages five distinct rights. Each must be covered by someone.
| Right | What it covers | Through EMRA or Music Nation? |
|---|---|---|
| Public performance of the composition | Playing the song and lyrics to the public | Yes, for repertoire each body represents |
| Public performance of the sound recording | Playing the specific recorded version to the public | Yes, for repertoire each body represents |
| Reproduction of the sound recording | Copies held on a player, server or device | No |
| Recording (master) rights | Authorised commercial use of the master recording | No |
| Publishing rights | Authorised commercial use of the underlying work | No |
The UAE splits collective licensing by repertoire rather than by type of right, so many venues with mixed local and international playlists need licences from both bodies. See EMRA vs Music Nation for how the split works.
Who is liable
Responsibility sits with the business operating the premises where the music is heard, not with the staff member who pressed play or the app that supplied the stream. Consumer streaming services are licensed for personal use only; their terms do not extend to commercial premises, which is why playing Spotify in a UAE business leaves the venue exposed.
For multi-site operators, liability applies at each location. A hotel group, retail chain or F&B operator needs a defensible licence position at every venue, not just the flagship.
Penalties for infringement
The 2021 Decree-Law increased penalties compared with the law it replaced. Criminal infringement can attract fines of AED 10,000 to AED 100,000 for a first offence, with heavier fines, possible imprisonment and potential closure of the business for repeat offences. Rights holders can also pursue civil claims for damages.
From 1 December 2026, the licensing framework under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 gives EMRA and Music Nation a clear basis to check that commercial premises hold the licences they need. Businesses should treat the period before that date as a compliance window. For fee guidance, see UAE music licence costs.
How MUSICVYBE covers the law
MUSICVYBE holds direct licences from rights owners covering all five rights, so the music it supplies is cleared for commercial use in one subscription, with no separate EMRA or Music Nation fees for MUSICVYBE-supplied content. Programming, scheduling, deployment and support are fully managed by our specialists, so there is no dashboard for staff to operate and no licence paperwork for your team to track. See background music for UAE businesses.
Listen: fully licensed music for UAE venues
Sample tracks from MUSICVYBE programming, cleared for commercial use across all five rights.
UAE music licensing guides
UAE Music Licensing
The full licensing framework for UAE businesses in one place.
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026
The Collective Management in Music Guide, explained in plain language.
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.
Music Licence Cost UAE
What determines licensing fees, and how to budget for compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Which law governs music copyright in the UAE?+
Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, together with its 2022 implementing regulations. Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 sets out how music rights are collectively licensed.
Is playing background music in my business a public performance?+
Yes. The law treats communicating a work to the public by any means as a public performance, and music played to customers or guests in commercial premises falls within that.
Do I need a licence if I only play the radio or a streaming app?+
Yes. Consumer streaming services are licensed for personal use only, and playing radio or streamed music in commercial premises still requires public performance licensing.
Does an EMRA or Music Nation licence cover everything?+
No. Both cover public performance for the repertoire they represent. Reproduction, master and publishing rights require separate arrangements.
What are the penalties for using music without a licence?+
Criminal infringement can attract fines of AED 10,000 to AED 100,000 for a first offence, with heavier penalties for repeat offences, alongside civil claims for damages.
When does enforcement begin?+
Enforcement under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 begins on 1 December 2026.