UAE Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 — Collective Management in Music Guide Explained in Plain English | Music Licensing, EMRA, Music Nation, Restaurants, Cafés, Hotels, Gyms, Shops & December 2026
Last updated: 26 August 2026
If you run a business in the UAE and play music for customers, you may have heard about:
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026
The name sounds technical.
But the practical message is much simpler:
The UAE has introduced a formal framework for collective management of music rights and commercial music licensing, with the new fee-collection regime starting in December 2026.
The Resolution adopts the UAE's Collective Management in Music Guide, which sets out the licensing framework, covered business categories, fee structure, exemptions, oversight and the role of authorised collective-management organisations.
This page explains Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 in plain English.
What Is Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026?
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 is the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism decision that adopts the:
Collective Management in Music Guide
The Ministry announced the Guide on 11 August 2026.
The Guide establishes a framework for collective management of music rights in the UAE and sets out fees for relevant categories of music users.
The Ministry specifically says the Guide is intended to regulate the local music market, protect creators and rights holders, standardise licensing mechanisms and support the development of the UAE's music and creative industries. (moet.gov.ae)
In One Sentence
If you want the simplest explanation of Resolution 136:
It creates the UAE's formal framework for licensing and collectively managing relevant music rights used commercially, with applicable fees beginning in December 2026.
Who Issued Resolution 136?
The Resolution was issued by the:
UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism
The Ministry is responsible for the regulatory framework governing collective management of music rights.
It is important to understand that:
The Ministry
sets and oversees the regulatory framework.
EMRA and Music Nation
are authorised collective-management organisations operating within that framework.
They are not government ministries.
What Does Resolution 136 Actually Adopt?
The Resolution adopts the:
Collective Management in Music Guide
The Guide deals with:
Collective management of music rights
Music licensing
Commercial music use
Applicable fees
Licensing categories
Exemptions
Rights management
Collection and distribution
Oversight
Complaints
Cultural support for the music industry
The Ministry describes the Guide as an integrated framework for managing copyright and neighbouring rights in music. (moet.gov.ae)
Why Was Resolution 136 Introduced?
The Ministry says the framework is designed to:
Regulate the UAE's music market
Raise awareness of copyright protection
Protect authors and creators
Protect composers and songwriters
Protect singers and musicians
Protect sound-recording producers
Protect music publishers
Reduce infringement risks
Standardise fees
Standardise licensing mechanisms
Improve transparency
Support creative industries
Encourage innovation.
In other words:
The UAE wants music rights to be managed in a more structured and professional way. (moet.gov.ae)
Is Resolution 136 a New Copyright Law?
No.
This is an important distinction.
Resolution 136 is a Ministerial Resolution adopting the Collective Management in Music Guide.
It operates within the UAE's broader copyright and related-rights framework.
The Guide is therefore not replacing UAE copyright law.
Instead, it provides a more specific framework for collective management of music rights and licensing.
The Ministry says its collective-management framework operates in accordance with the relevant copyright and neighbouring-rights legislation and implementing regulations. (moet.gov.ae)
What Is the Underlying UAE Copyright Law?
The broader framework is based on the UAE's:
Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
The 2026 Ministerial Resolution should therefore be understood as part of a wider legal and regulatory system.
Think of it this way:
Federal copyright legislation
↓
Executive regulations
↓
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026
↓
Collective Management in Music Guide
↓
Music licensing and rights administration
When Does Resolution 136 Take Effect?
The Ministry announced that the applicable music-use fees will begin being collected:
December 2026
The Ministry's announcement says the fees will take effect at the start of December 2026. (moet.gov.ae)
Aletihad likewise reports 1 December 2026 as the fee-collection date. (en.aletihad.ae)
Practical message for businesses:
Do not wait until December to start preparing.
The regulatory start date may be December, but businesses can review their music use, rights and licensing arrangements beforehand.
What Businesses Are Covered?
The Ministry specifically identifies:
Restaurants
Cafés
Shopping malls
Fitness centres
Hotels
Floating hotels
Airlines
Radio stations
Television channels
Concerts
Similar events
These are covered because commercial music use can involve copyright and neighbouring rights. (moet.gov.ae)
Does Resolution 136 Apply Across the UAE?
Yes.
This is a federal Ministry framework.
It is not a Dubai-only music licensing rule.
The framework concerns music use in the UAE and applies to the relevant categories of businesses and establishments across the country.
That means businesses in:
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Sharjah
Ajman
Ras Al Khaimah
Fujairah
Umm Al Quwain
should assess their position if they commercially use music.
Do Restaurants Need to Pay a Music Licence Fee?
Restaurants are explicitly included in the framework.
If a restaurant uses music commercially, it should understand the applicable licensing requirements and tariff.
Reported tariffs for recorded background music begin at:
AED 1,500 per year
for restaurants/cafés with up to 50 seats.
The exact applicable category should be confirmed against the official Guide and licensing organisation.
Do Cafés Need a Music Licence?
Yes, cafés are explicitly included in the Guide.
The reported recorded-background-music tariff starts at:
AED 1,500/year
for up to 50 seats.
Higher seating capacities have higher reported fees.
Restaurants and cafés using DJs or entertainment have a different, higher reported tariff structure.
Do Gyms Need a Music Licence?
Fitness centres are explicitly covered.
The reported tariff starts at:
AED 1,700/year
for fitness premises up to 300 m².
The reported tariff increases with floor area, subject to the applicable maximum.
Do Hotels Need a Music Licence?
Hotels are explicitly covered.
The reported hotel tariff is based on:
Hotel classification + number of rooms
with the reported tariff structure ranging from lower per-room rates for lower classifications to higher per-room rates for 4- and 5-star hotels, subject to applicable caps.
Do Shops Need a Music Licence?
The Ministry's announcement specifically identifies shopping malls and the wider framework applies to relevant commercial music uses.
EMRA's current licensing system also specifically lists:
Store
Supermarket
Department Store
as music-user categories. (moet.gov.ae)
Retail businesses should therefore review their specific music-use position rather than assuming that playing background music is automatically outside the framework.
What About Salons and Spas?
EMRA's current music-user licensing system includes:
Beauty Salon
Spa
as business categories.
A salon or spa that plays music should therefore review the applicable music-rights requirements.
What About Events?
Concerts and similar events are explicitly included in the Ministry's framework.
This is important because:
Background music
and:
Live entertainment
may have different licensing considerations.
A restaurant with ordinary background music should not automatically assume it has the same obligations as a venue hosting a DJ or concert.
What About DJs?
DJs and entertainment can involve a different tariff category.
The reported restaurant/café tariff for venues with DJs or entertainment is higher than the ordinary recorded-background-music tariff.
EMRA's current pre-application also asks businesses specifically about:
DJs
Number of DJ areas
Average daily hours
Frequency
Show timings. (moet.gov.ae)
This demonstrates that the nature of music use matters.
What About Live Music?
Live music is also separately relevant.
A business may have:
Singer
Band
Pianist
Guitarist
DJ
Live performer
These uses should not automatically be treated as identical to playing recorded background music.
Businesses should confirm the applicable licensing category.
Does Resolution 136 Cover Spotify?
The Resolution is not a regulation of Spotify as a consumer service.
However, commercial businesses using streaming platforms need to understand their music-rights position.
EMRA's current business-user pre-application specifically asks businesses whether they use:
Spotify
YouTube
SoundCloud
and asks about the number of music areas and average daily hours. (moet.gov.ae)
Does Spotify Premium Give a Business Commercial Music Rights?
Do not assume so.
A consumer streaming subscription and a commercial public-performance licence are different concepts.
A business may be able to access music through a platform.
That does not automatically answer whether it has all necessary rights to play that music for customers in a commercial environment.
A business should therefore review:
Streaming terms
Commercial-use permissions
Music rights
UAE licensing requirements.
What About YouTube?
The same principle applies.
A song being available on YouTube does not automatically mean a business has obtained all necessary commercial music rights.
What About SoundCloud?
Again, platform access does not automatically equal a commercial public-use licence.
SoundCloud is a platform.
Collective-management licensing is a rights-management issue.
What About Royalty-Free Music?
"Royalty-free" does not automatically mean:
"No licence required."
Royalty-free music can still be licensed music.
The business should check whether its licence permits:
Commercial use
Public performance
Business premises
UAE use
Multiple locations
Events
Duration of use.
What About AI-Generated Music?
This is particularly important in 2026.
A business may use AI-generated music because it wants:
Original background music
Instrumental playlists
Custom ambience
Brand-specific sound
Lower-cost music
Music without mainstream commercial recordings
But:
AI-generated does not automatically mean licence-free.
Businesses should ask:
Which AI system generated the track?
Which plan was used?
Did the plan permit commercial use?
What do the platform's terms say?
Who controls the output?
Was third-party material involved?
What rights are being licensed?
Is the provenance documented?
At the time of publication, we have not identified an official UAE government statement creating a blanket exemption for AI-generated music from collective-management fees.
What About Independently Licensed Music?
A business can obtain music directly from an independent music provider.
For example:
Music provider
↓
Controlled catalogue
↓
Commercial licence
↓
Business
This may provide a clear direct contractual relationship.
But businesses should ask:
Who controls the rights?
What rights are included?
Does the licence permit commercial public use?
Does it cover the UAE?
Does it cover all branches?
Does the catalogue contain third-party music?
Is any collective-management repertoire involved?
Does Resolution 136 Say Independent Music Is Exempt?
We should not make that assumption.
This is one of the most important unresolved questions for modern commercial music services.
Resolution 136 establishes the collective-management framework.
It does not, in the Ministry's public announcement, provide a blanket statement saying:
"All independently licensed music is exempt."
Nor does the announcement establish a blanket:
"AI-generated music exemption."
Therefore, businesses should assess the actual rights associated with their music.
Who Collects the Fees?
The Ministry identifies two authorised organisations:
Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA)
and
Music Nation
The Ministry says both have been authorised to conduct collective management of music rights and will be responsible for collecting applicable fees and managing relevant rights. (moet.gov.ae)
Is EMRA a Government Department?
No.
EMRA is an authorised collective-management organisation.
The Ministry is the government regulator.
This distinction is important.
Ministry
Regulates and oversees the framework.
EMRA
Collective-management organisation.
Music Nation
Collective-management organisation.
Is Music Nation a Government Department?
No.
Music Nation is also an authorised collective-management organisation.
The Ministry granted Music Nation its collective music-management licence in 2025.
Do Businesses Need to Pay Both EMRA and Music Nation?
Do not automatically assume that.
The Ministry identifies both organisations as authorised entities for collection and rights management.
But music catalogues, rights, mandates and representation arrangements matter.
The practical question is:
Which organisation administers the relevant rights applicable to the music being used?
Businesses should seek confirmation rather than assuming that every song requires two separate payments.
What Does "Collective Management" Mean?
In simple terms:
Imagine a restaurant plays thousands of songs.
It would be extremely difficult for the restaurant to negotiate separately with every:
Composer
Songwriter
Publisher
Singer
Musician
Producer
Rights holder
A collective-management organisation can administer relevant rights on behalf of participating rights holders.
So:
Creators / rights holders
↓
Collective-management organisation
↓
Business
↓
Licence
↓
Fee
↓
Distribution to relevant rights holders
That is the basic idea behind collective management.
What Rights Are We Talking About?
Music can involve different layers of rights.
Copyright
May cover:
Musical compositions
Lyrics
Creative works
Neighbouring / Related Rights
Can involve:
Performers
Musicians
Singers
Sound-recording producers
The UAE framework expressly addresses copyright and neighbouring rights. (moet.gov.ae)
Why Does the UAE Need This?
The Ministry says the framework is designed to strengthen:
Copyright protection
Neighbouring-rights protection
Rights management
Transparency
Fair distribution
Music-industry development
Creative industries
Intellectual-property protection
It also aligns with the UAE's broader objective of developing the creative economy.
What Happens to the Licence Fees?
The fees collected are intended to support rights management and payments to relevant creators and rights holders.
The framework also creates:
Cultural Support Fund for Music
The Ministry says the Fund will support:
Music composition
Production
Distribution
Live performance
Emerging talent
Training
Workshops
Residencies
Artistic grants
Cultural exchange
International festival participation
Export of Emirati music.
How Much Goes to the Cultural Support Fund?
The Ministry states that:
10% of the total amount collected
will be allocated to the Cultural Support Fund for Music.
The Fund will be supervised by the Ministry of Economy & Tourism and managed through a joint committee involving the Ministry of Culture. (moet.gov.ae)
How Long Is the Licence?
The Ministry says collective-management activity licences under the Guide are issued for:
One year
and are:
Renewable
according to applicable rules and conditions. (moet.gov.ae)
For businesses, this means music licensing should be treated as an annual compliance and budgeting consideration.
How Are the Fees Determined?
There isn't one universal UAE music licence fee.
The Ministry says the fee categories are determined according to:
Nature of music use
and:
Scale of economic activity
This is why different businesses can have very different tariffs.
For example:
| Business | Main reported basis |
|---|---|
| Restaurant / Café | Seating capacity |
| Fitness centre | Floor area |
| Hotel | Star classification + room count |
| Retail | Premises size |
| Mall | Applicable commercial/common-area category |
| Radio/TV | Applicable broadcasting model |
| Events | Nature of event/use |
Reported 2026 Music Licensing Fees
For reference, currently reported figures include:
| Business | Reported starting fee |
|---|---|
| Café / Restaurant | AED 1,500/year |
| Fitness Centre | AED 1,700/year |
| Retail | AED 1,700/year |
| Hotel | Based on classification and rooms |
Important: The Ministry's official 11 August announcement confirms the framework and says fees are categorised according to the nature and scale of use, but it does not reproduce the entire numerical tariff table in the announcement. Detailed tariff figures reported by secondary sources should therefore be confirmed against the applicable Guide and authorised licensing organisation before payment or publication as definitive. (moet.gov.ae)
What Businesses Are Exempt?
The Ministry expressly identifies exemptions including:
Educational and academic institutions
Government entities
Uses during national occasions
Non-commercial personal celebrations and events
The Ministry may also create additional exemptions through subsequent decisions. (moet.gov.ae)
Is a Private Birthday Party Covered?
The Ministry specifically identifies non-commercial personal celebrations and events as exempt.
So a genuinely private, non-commercial birthday celebration is different from a commercial music event.
Are Schools Exempt?
The Ministry expressly identifies educational and academic institutions as exempt from the fees under the Guide.
Are Government Entities Exempt?
Yes, government entities are expressly identified among the exempt categories.
Are National Occasions Exempt?
The Ministry identifies uses occurring during national occasions as exempt.
Can More Exemptions Be Added?
Yes.
The Ministry says additional uses or categories may be exempted through a subsequent Ministry resolution. (moet.gov.ae)
What Powers Does the Ministry Have?
The Ministry says it will oversee authorised collective-management organisations.
This includes:
Monitoring compliance
Field inspections
Reviewing records
Reviewing documents
Reviewing technical systems
Reviewing financial systems
Receiving complaints
Examining complaints
Seeking amicable settlements
Taking regulatory action where necessary.
This is an important point:
Collective music management operates within a regulated framework.
It is not simply a private commercial arrangement.
Can the Ministry Change the Rules?
The Ministry says it may, when regulatory necessity or public interest requires, amend:
Conditions
Controls
Obligations
associated with collective-management licences during their validity period.
Licensed entities must implement approved changes. (moet.gov.ae)
This means businesses should monitor official updates rather than treating today's information as permanently fixed.
What Does Resolution 136 Mean for a Small Café?
Let's make it practical.
Imagine:
50-seat café
Recorded background music
The reported starting tariff is:
AED 1,500/year
The café should:
Identify its music sources.
Check its commercial rights.
Determine the applicable licensing organisation.
Confirm the applicable tariff.
Obtain the appropriate licence.
Keep documentation.
Renew when required.
What Does Resolution 136 Mean for a Gym?
Imagine:
250 m² fitness centre
The reported starting tariff category is:
AED 1,700/year
The gym should also consider:
Group classes
Multiple music areas
DJs
Events
Streaming services
Branches.
What Does Resolution 136 Mean for a Hotel?
A hotel should consider every area in which music is used:
Lobby
Restaurants
Bars/lounges where applicable
Spa
Gym
Pool
Event spaces
The reported hotel tariff structure uses hotel classification and room count.
What Does Resolution 136 Mean for a Retail Store?
A retail business should identify:
Store size
Number of locations
Music areas
Music source
Hours of use
Existing agreements
and determine the applicable licensing category.
Does the Resolution Affect Mall Tenants?
Businesses inside shopping malls should not automatically assume that the mall's music arrangements cover music played inside their individual premises.
For example:
Mall common-area music
may be one matter.
Music inside a fashion store
may be another.
The store should establish its own music-use position.
Does the Resolution Affect Hotel Restaurants?
A hotel restaurant may need to consider its music use separately from:
Hotel lobby
Hotel gym
Spa
Event area
The business should confirm how the applicable licence covers the relevant uses.
Does Resolution 136 Affect Streaming Platforms?
The Resolution does not turn Spotify, YouTube or SoundCloud into licensing authorities.
Instead, it addresses the rights associated with commercial music use.
Businesses using streaming platforms should therefore distinguish:
Music access
from:
Commercial music rights.
Does Resolution 136 Ban Spotify?
No.
The Resolution does not ban Spotify.
It does not ban YouTube.
It does not ban SoundCloud.
The issue is whether a business has the necessary rights to use music commercially.
Does Resolution 136 Ban AI Music?
No.
It does not ban AI-generated music.
But it also does not establish a blanket exemption for AI-generated music.
The rights and licence terms still matter.
What Does Resolution 136 Mean for VENUORA?
This is particularly relevant.
VENUORA is being developed as a commercial background-music service for UAE businesses.
The VENUORA model is:
Controlled catalogue
Documented provenance
Commercial licence
Business use
For eligible VENUORA catalogue music, the customer receives the rights expressly granted under the VENUORA commercial licence.
Does Resolution 136 Make VENUORA Unnecessary?
No.
In fact, a formalised music-rights environment can make clear commercial music licensing more valuable.
A business increasingly wants to know:
Where did this music come from?
Who controls it?
What am I allowed to do with it?
Do I have documentation?
How long is my licence valid?
That is exactly the type of information a professional commercial-music provider should make clear.
Does VENUORA Replace Resolution 136?
No.
VENUORA cannot replace a UAE Ministry resolution.
Nor does VENUORA claim to replace EMRA or Music Nation.
VENUORA provides a commercial licence for eligible VENUORA catalogue music.
The customer's overall UAE music-rights position depends on the music it uses and the rights associated with that music.
Does VENUORA Automatically Exempt a Café From EMRA or Music Nation?
No blanket claim.
This is deliberately important.
We do not want businesses to interpret a VENUORA licence as:
"I no longer need to comply with UAE music licensing."
Instead, the correct statement is:
"VENUORA grants a defined commercial licence for eligible VENUORA catalogue music."
The business should continue to assess its overall UAE obligations.
Why Businesses Should Prepare Now
December 2026 may seem far away.
But businesses should use the months before implementation to:
Audit
What music do we use?
Identify
Where does it come from?
Verify
What rights do we have?
Organise
What documentation do we have?
Standardise
Can we simplify our music sources?
License
What commercial licensing arrangement applies?
A Simple Music Compliance Checklist
Business
☐ Trade licence identified
☐ Number of branches identified
☐ Emirates identified
Music
☐ All music sources identified
☐ Background music identified
☐ Streaming identified
☐ DJ use identified
☐ Live music identified
☐ Events identified
Rights
☐ Commercial-use permissions checked
☐ Existing licences located
☐ Music-provider contracts reviewed
☐ Catalogue provenance checked
UAE Licensing
☐ Business category identified
☐ Applicable tariff identified
☐ Relevant authorised organisation identified
☐ Licence application prepared
☐ Licence documentation stored
☐ Renewal date recorded
The Five Questions Every UAE Business Should Answer
Before December 2026, ask:
1. What music are we playing?
2. Where did it come from?
3. Who controls the relevant rights?
4. What commercial licence do we have?
5. What does UAE law require for our particular use?
If you can answer all five, you are in a much stronger position.
Ministerial Resolution 136 — Common Misunderstandings
"It is a new copyright law."
No. It adopts a collective-management guide within the existing UAE copyright framework.
"Every business must pay."
No. The Guide identifies specific covered categories and exemptions.
"Every business must pay both EMRA and Music Nation."
Do not assume this. Repertoire and rights arrangements matter.
"Spotify Premium is enough."
Do not assume so.
"Royalty-free means no licence."
No.
"AI-generated means no copyright."
Do not assume so.
"VENUORA automatically replaces EMRA."
No blanket claim should be made.
"I can wait until December."
You can prepare now. That is the sensible approach.
Why This Is Good for the UAE Music Industry
The Resolution is not simply about businesses paying fees.
It creates a more structured ecosystem.
Creators
Can have rights administered.
Rights holders
Can receive distributions.
Businesses
Have clearer licensing mechanisms.
Government
Has greater oversight.
Creative industries
Receive additional support.
The Cultural Support Fund adds another dimension, with 10% of collected amounts allocated to music-sector development. (moet.gov.ae)
Why This Is Good for UAE Businesses
A professional music-rights environment can provide:
Greater clarity
Businesses know where to start.
Standardisation
Fee structures are organised by category.
Documentation
Licences provide evidence of the business's arrangement.
Predictability
Annual licensing can be budgeted.
Professionalism
Music becomes part of normal business compliance.
Why We Recommend Respecting the UAE Framework
For a UAE business, compliance should not be treated as something to avoid.
The better attitude is:
Understand the rules. Respect intellectual property. Respect creators. Use music responsibly. Keep proper documentation.
The UAE is positioning itself as a global centre for:
Intellectual property
Creative industries
Innovation
Cultural development
A professional music licensing ecosystem supports that ambition.
Official Position in Simple English
If you remember nothing else about Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, remember this:
The UAE has formalised collective music-rights management.
Commercial music users in specified categories will be subject to applicable licensing fees.
Collection begins in December 2026.
EMRA and Music Nation are the two authorised organisations identified by the Ministry for collection and relevant rights management.
Licences are annual and renewable.
Some categories and uses are expressly exempt.
The Ministry oversees the system.
Businesses should review their music use before December.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026?
It is the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism resolution adopting the Collective Management in Music Guide.
When was it announced?
The Ministry announced the Guide on 11 August 2026.
What does Resolution 136 regulate?
It establishes the framework for collective management of music rights, licensing categories, fees, exemptions, collection, distribution and regulatory oversight.
When do the fees start?
The Ministry says collection begins in December 2026.
Is the licence annual?
Yes. The Ministry states that licences are issued for one year and renewable according to the applicable rules and conditions.
Who collects the fees?
The Ministry identifies EMRA and Music Nation.
Who is covered?
The framework specifically covers restaurants, cafés, shopping malls, fitness centres, hotels, floating hotels, airlines, radio, television, concerts and similar events.
Are schools exempt?
Yes, educational and academic institutions are expressly identified as exempt.
Are government entities exempt?
Yes.
Are personal celebrations exempt?
Non-commercial personal celebrations and events are expressly identified as exempt.
Are national occasions exempt?
Yes, uses occurring during national occasions are identified as exempt.
Is Spotify banned?
No.
Is YouTube banned?
No.
Is AI music banned?
No.
Is AI music automatically exempt?
No blanket exemption has been identified.
Does royalty-free music automatically avoid the framework?
No.
Does a direct music licence automatically replace EMRA or Music Nation?
No blanket exemption should be assumed.
Does VENUORA replace the UAE licensing framework?
No. VENUORA provides a commercial licence for eligible VENUORA catalogue music under its licence terms.
Does Resolution 136 apply only to Dubai?
No. It is a federal UAE framework.
What Should You Do Today?
If you operate a UAE:
Restaurant
Café
Gym
Hotel
Shop
Retail business
Mall
Event venue
or another commercial establishment using music:
Don't wait for December.
Start with a simple music audit.
Make a list of your music sources.
Check your commercial rights.
Identify your music areas.
Identify your branches.
Review your existing agreements.
Understand the applicable tariff.
Contact the relevant authorised organisation where necessary.
Keep your documentation.
VENUORA — Commercial Background Music for UAE Businesses
VENUORA supports the UAE's move toward:
Better music rights management
Greater transparency
Respect for creators
Professional commercial licensing
A stronger creative economy
Our approach is:
Curated catalogue
Documented provenance
Commercial licence
Business-focused background music
For eligible VENUORA catalogue music, businesses receive a defined commercial licence under VENUORA's terms.
VENUORA does not claim that its licence automatically replaces EMRA, Music Nation or any other applicable UAE requirement.
Instead, we believe businesses should have something very simple:
Music they understand. Rights they can document. A licence they can keep.
Final Takeaway
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 is an important development in the UAE's music and intellectual-property landscape.
It adopts the Collective Management in Music Guide, creating a more formal framework for commercial music licensing and collective management of music rights.
The Ministry says the framework:
Protects creators
Protects rights holders
Standardises licensing
Establishes fee categories
Improves transparency
Supports the music industry
Strengthens the UAE creative economy.
The new fee-collection regime begins:
December 2026
And the organisations identified by the Ministry for collection and management of relevant rights are:
EMRA + Music Nation
For UAE businesses, the best strategy is straightforward:
Don't ignore the new framework.
Don't panic about it either.
Understand it.
Prepare early.
Use properly licensed music.
Keep your documentation.
Important Licensing Disclaimer
This page is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, the Collective Management in Music Guide, UAE copyright legislation, implementing regulations, applicable tariffs, exemptions, repertoire and licensing arrangements should be reviewed in their current official form.
The Ministry's public announcement confirms the framework and its principal features, but businesses should confirm the precise tariff, repertoire, licensing process and applicable obligations for their particular music use with the relevant authorised organisation.
No blanket exemption has been established on this page for independently licensed, royalty-free, AI-generated or VENUORA music.
VENUORA does not claim that purchasing a VENUORA licence automatically exempts a business from EMRA, Music Nation, copyright, neighbouring-rights or other applicable UAE requirements.
A VENUORA licence applies to eligible VENUORA catalogue music and the rights expressly granted under the VENUORA commercial licence.
Official Sources
UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism — Collective Management in Music Guide
The Ministry's official announcement is the primary source for Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, the Guide, covered categories, December 2026 implementation, exemptions, annual licensing, EMRA/Music Nation roles and the Cultural Support Fund. (moet.gov.ae)
UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism — Collective Management in Music Guide
WAM — UAE Government News Agency
WAM's report confirms that the Guide was issued pursuant to Ministerial Decision No. 136 of 2026 and summarises the covered establishments, December 2026 commencement, licensing structure, exemptions, Cultural Support Fund and Ministry oversight. (wam.ae)
WAM — Collective Management in Music Guide
Aletihad News Center
Aletihad reports that the framework applies from 1 December 2026, covers restaurants, hotels, malls, fitness centres, airlines and other commercial uses, and identifies EMRA and Music Nation as the two administering organisations. (en.aletihad.ae)
Aletihad — UAE Music Licensing Framework
Related UAE Music Licensing Guides
UAE Music Licensing Guide 2026 — Complete Guide
Everything businesses need to know about the new UAE music licensing framework.
UAE Music Licensing Fees 2026
Café, restaurant, gym, hotel, retail, mall, airline, radio and television tariffs.
Do Cafés & Restaurants Need a Music Licence in UAE?
A simple guide for UAE F&B businesses.
UAE Music Licence for Restaurants & Cafés
Restaurant and café licensing explained.
UAE Music Licence for Gyms & Fitness Centres
Fitness-centre music licensing explained.
UAE Music Licence for Hotels
Hotel music licensing and tariffs explained.
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The Simple Answer
If a UAE business owner asks:
"What does Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 mean for my business?"
The simplest answer is:
If your business commercially uses music and falls within a covered category, you should understand your music-rights obligations now and prepare for the applicable licensing fees beginning in December 2026.
Know your music.
Know your rights.
Know your licence.
Prepare before December.
VENUORA — Commercial Background Music for UAE Businesses
Last reviewed: 26 August 2026
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