Coffee shops and restaurants are among establishments that will have to pay royalties to play copyrighted music from December. Photo: NewscomShow caption: Coffee shops and restaurants are among establishments that w…The permit covers commercial entities including cafes, restaurants, airlines, shopping malls and fitness centresThe NationalAugust 11, 2026
UAE restaurants, cafes, hotels and airlines must pay annual royalty fees to play copyrighted music commercially from December 1, 2026.
Two authorised bodies — Music Nation and the Emirates Music Rights Association — will manage royalty collections across the country's music sector.
Fees will be scaled by business size and music type, with live performances and DJ sets attracting higher charges than recorded music.
Non-commercial settings, including government entities, schools and charity events, are exempt from the licensing requirement.
