Now, the way businesses use music in the UAE is changing.
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has introduced the Collective Management in Music Guide, establishing a new framework for the commercial use of copyrighted music across the country. The framework was issued pursuant to Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, with fee collection set to begin from 1 December 2026.
For businesses across hospitality, retail, leisure and entertainment, it is an important development — and one worth understanding ahead of December.
What is changing?
Under the new framework, businesses that commercially use copyrighted music will be required to obtain the appropriate music license and pay annual royalty fees.
The framework covers a wide range of commercial environments, including:
Restaurants and cafés
Hotels
Shopping malls
Fitness centres and gyms
Airlines
Radio and television
Concerts and similar events
Licenses will generally be valid for one year and renewable, while the applicable fees will vary depending on factors such as the nature of the music use and the scale of the business.
Importantly, playing music through a personal streaming subscription does not necessarily provide the rights required to play that music publicly in a commercial environment. The rights associated with personal listening are different from those associated with public or commercial use.
Why is the UAE introducing the framework?
The initiative is designed to strengthen the protection of copyright and related rights while creating a clearer and more transparent system for the commercial use of music.
Two Ministry-licensed collective management organizations — Music Nation and the Emirates Music Rights Association — have been authorized to manage music rights and royalty collection under the UAE framework.
The framework also establishes a Cultural Support Fund for Music, which will receive 10% of collected fees and support areas including music composition, production, distribution, live performance, emerging talent and the promotion of Emirati music.
For the UAE's growing hospitality and entertainment sectors, this isn't simply another operational consideration. It represents a wider shift towards recognizing music as intellectual property and ensuring that the people behind it are compensated when their work contributes to a commercial experience.
What does this mean for businesses?
If music forms part of your customer experience, now is the time to start asking questions.
What license applies to your venue? How are fees calculated? Does the requirement change depending on whether you use background music, DJs or live performances? What happens if you operate multiple venues? And how should music technology and content strategy fit into the new environment?
These are exactly the conversations businesses should be having before the framework comes into effect.
And at NMK Electronics, we want to help bring those conversations together.
Technology Meets Music: Introducing Playback Prodigy
Alongside the regulatory changes taking place in the UAE, NMK is preparing to introduce something exciting for businesses looking to rethink how music is delivered across their spaces.
Playback Prodigy is a professional music programming platform designed specifically for commercial environments.
Unlike a conventional playlist or consumer streaming service, Playback Prodigy combines hardware, software, professional DJ technology and human music curation into an integrated platform for businesses.
Its team develops customized music profiles based on a venue's identity, audience, atmosphere and operating schedule. Professional curators build and manage the soundtrack, while dedicated music players deliver scheduled channels directly into the venue's existing audio system.
