Ras Al Khaimah Music Licence 2026 | Music Licensing RAK | EMRA Music Licence Ras Al Khaimah | RAK Restaurant Music Licence | RAK Café Music Licence | Background Music Licence RAK | Commercial Music Licence Ras Al Khaimah | RAK Music Licence Cost
Last updated: 3 September 2026
If you operate a restaurant, café, hotel, gym, fitness centre, shop, salon, spa or another customer-facing business in Ras Al Khaimah, you may be wondering whether you need a music licence when playing music for customers.
You may also be searching for:
- Music licence Ras Al Khaimah
- RAK music licence cost 2026
- EMRA music licence Ras Al Khaimah
- Restaurant music licence RAK
- Café music licence RAK
- Background music licence Ras Al Khaimah
- Commercial music licence RAK
- Do I need a music licence in Ras Al Khaimah?
The answer is increasingly important because the UAE has introduced a nationwide framework for collective management of music rights.
The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism launched the Collective Management in Music Guide on 11 August 2026, under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. The Ministry says applicable fees will begin being collected from December 2026.
This page explains what the new framework means for businesses in Ras Al Khaimah.
Quick Answer: Do Ras Al Khaimah Businesses Need a Music Licence?
If your business uses protected music commercially, you should determine whether you require a licence under the UAE's collective-management framework.
The framework applies nationwide and specifically identifies commercial categories including:
- Restaurants
- Cafés
- Hotels
- Fitness centres
- Gyms
- Shopping centres
- Airlines
- Radio
- Television
- Concerts and similar events.
So:
Ras Al Khaimah businesses are not outside the UAE music licensing framework simply because they are located outside Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Is There a Separate RAK Music Licensing System?
The collective-management framework is UAE-wide.
It is not simply a Dubai or Abu Dhabi programme.
EMRA's current music-user pre-application specifically includes Ras Al Khaimah as an emirate that businesses can select when providing their licensing information.
This is an important distinction:
Your business may have RAK business/trade licensing requirements, while music rights are addressed under the UAE's music-rights framework.
These are separate issues.
Who Handles Music Licensing in Ras Al Khaimah?
The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism has authorised two collective-management organisations:
EMRA
Emirates Music Rights Association
Music Nation
Both operate within the UAE's collective-management framework.
The Ministry says the two authorised organisations will collect applicable fees and manage relevant rights.
Is EMRA a Ras Al Khaimah Government Department?
No.
EMRA is a collective-management organisation rather than the RAK government department responsible for issuing your ordinary business licence.
This distinction matters.
RAK business licence
Concerns your authority to conduct your commercial activity.
Music rights licence
Concerns applicable rights associated with music used commercially.
They should not be confused.
When Does RAK Music Licensing Start?
The Ministry announced that applicable fees will begin being collected from:
December 2026
Current reporting identifies the implementation date as:
1 December 2026
The Ministry states that the relevant licences are issued for:
One year
and are renewable according to applicable rules and conditions.
RAK Music Licence Cost 2026
There isn't one universal:
"Ras Al Khaimah music licence fee."
The tariff depends on the relevant business category, size and nature of music use.
Reported examples include:
| Business category | Reported starting annual tariff |
|---|---|
| Café / restaurant — recorded background music | AED 1,500 |
| Café / restaurant — DJ/entertainment | AED 2,500 |
| Fitness centre | AED 1,700 |
| Retail shop | AED 1,700 |
| Hotel | Classification + room count |
| Shopping centre | Area-based |
| Major shopping centre | Reported up to AED 50,000 |
These are reported figures from coverage of the Ministry's tariff schedule and should be confirmed for the specific business.
RAK Café Music Licence
If you operate a café in Ras Al Khaimah, the reported tariff for recorded background music is:
| Seating capacity | Reported annual tariff |
|---|---|
| 1–50 seats | AED 1,500 |
| 51–100 seats | AED 2,700 |
| 101–200 seats | AED 4,800 |
| Above 200 | AED 4,800 + AED 20/additional seat |
| Reported maximum | AED 6,000 |
Example
A:
40-seat RAK café
using recorded background music would fall within the reported first tariff band:
AED 1,500/year
The actual applicable tariff should be confirmed through the relevant licensing process.
RAK Restaurant Music Licence
For a restaurant using recorded background music, the reported tariff is also based on seating capacity.
50-seat restaurant
Reported tariff:
AED 1,500/year
100-seat restaurant
Reported tariff:
AED 2,700/year
150-seat restaurant
Reported tariff:
AED 4,800/year
RAK Restaurant With a DJ
If your restaurant has a DJ or similar entertainment, the reported tariff is higher.
| Seating | Reported annual tariff |
|---|---|
| 1–50 | AED 2,500 |
| 51–100 | AED 3,500 |
| 101–200 | AED 6,500 |
| Above 200 | AED 6,500 + AED 20/additional seat |
| Reported maximum | AED 8,000 |
Therefore:
Background music and DJ entertainment should not automatically be treated as the same use.
Do RAK Gyms Need a Music Licence?
Fitness centres and gyms are included among the commercial categories covered by the UAE framework.
The reported fitness-centre tariff is based on floor area:
| Floor area | Reported annual tariff |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 m² | AED 1,700 |
| Above 300 m² | AED 1,700 + AED 5/additional m² |
| Reported maximum | AED 6,000 |
So a:
250 m² RAK gym
would fall within the reported first category.
Do RAK Hotels Need a Music Licence?
Hotels are specifically covered by the UAE framework.
The reported hotel tariff is based on factors including:
- Hotel classification
- Number of rooms.
Reported rates include:
1–2 star: AED 50/room
3 star: AED 120/room
4–5 star: AED 150/room
with category-specific annual limits.
A hotel should therefore not calculate its music licence using the café tariff.
Do RAK Shops Need a Music Licence?
Retail businesses are included in EMRA's current music-user application.
The listed categories include:
- Store
- Supermarket
- Department store.
The reported retail tariff is:
| Floor area | Reported annual tariff |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 m² | AED 1,700 |
| 301–700 m² | AED 3,400 |
| Above 700 m² | AED 3,400 + AED 60/additional 25 m² |
| Reported maximum | AED 20,000 |
RAK Shopping Centre Music Licence
Shopping centres are included in the framework.
The reported tariff is based on common/shared areas, with a reported maximum of:
AED 50,000/year
An individual retailer inside a shopping centre should not automatically assume that the shopping centre's common-area arrangement covers its own music use.
RAK Salon & Spa Music Licence
EMRA's current music-user application includes:
- Beauty salons
- Spas.
So a salon or spa in Ras Al Khaimah using music should assess its applicable music-rights position.
The fact that the music is:
"relaxing background music"
does not automatically establish an exemption.
RAK Background Music Licence
Background music can include music played in:
- Restaurants
- Cafés
- Hotels
- Gyms
- Shops
- Salons
- Spas.
EMRA's current pre-application specifically asks whether an outlet plays background music, how many music areas are involved and average daily hours.
Does Background Music Need a Licence in RAK?
Don't assume:
Background music = no licence.
Commercial use of protected music is specifically addressed by the new UAE framework.
The Ministry identifies restaurants, cafés, hotels, fitness centres and other commercial establishments among the affected categories.
RAK Music Licence and Spotify
A common scenario:
"I have Spotify Premium on my café's tablet."
Does that automatically give the café commercial public-playback rights?
Don't assume so.
EMRA's current pre-application specifically asks businesses whether they use streaming services such as:
- Spotify
- YouTube
- SoundCloud.
Streaming access and commercial music rights should not automatically be treated as identical.
RAK Music Licence and YouTube
The same principle applies to YouTube.
A song being available to stream does not automatically establish that your commercial premises have every relevant right needed for public playback.
RAK Music Licence and SoundCloud
SoundCloud is also specifically listed in EMRA's music-use questionnaire.
If your business uses SoundCloud, include it when describing your music environment.
Is Royalty-Free Music Exempt in RAK?
Not automatically.
"Royalty-free" does not necessarily mean:
Licence-free.
Check:
- Commercial use
- Public playback
- Territory
- Duration
- Restrictions.
Is AI-Generated Music Exempt in RAK?
There is currently no blanket UAE exemption identified for all AI-generated music.
If your RAK business uses AI-generated music, consider:
- AI platform
- Subscription plan
- Terms
- Commercial rights
- Output rights
- Third-party content
- Provenance.
The same principle applies whether the business is in RAK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another emirate.
What If I Created the Music Myself?
If you genuinely control the relevant rights, document them.
Keep records covering:
- Composition
- Recording
- Ownership
- Contributors
- Commercial permissions.
What If I Use Public-Domain Music?
Be careful.
A public-domain composition does not necessarily mean the particular recording is also free of rights.
Therefore:
Public-domain composition ≠ automatically public-domain recording.
What If an Independent Artist Gives My Business Permission?
Get the permission in writing.
The agreement should establish, where applicable:
- Recording ownership
- Composition ownership
- Commercial-use rights
- Public-playback rights
- UAE territory
- Duration.
How Does EMRA Determine My Music Use?
EMRA's current music-user pre-application collects detailed information about the business and its music use.
It asks about:
Background music
Streaming services
DJs/events
Live music
Number of music areas
Average daily hours
Existing music-rights agreements.
This makes it important to provide accurate information.
How to Get a Music Licence in Ras Al Khaimah
The process can be approached in ten steps.
Step 1 — Identify your business
Café, restaurant, hotel, gym, shop, salon, spa, etc.
Step 2 — Identify your music use
Background, streaming, DJ, live performance or events.
Step 3 — Identify your locations
List your RAK premises and other UAE branches.
Step 4 — Gather your business details
Trade licence, company information and other requested documents.
Step 5 — Audit your music
Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, downloaded tracks, commercial providers, AI-generated music, etc.
Step 6 — Check existing agreements
Identify existing music licences or rights agreements.
Step 7 — Submit the relevant information
Use the applicable authorised process.
Step 8 — Determine the tariff
Your category and scale determine the applicable amount.
Step 9 — Complete licensing/payment
Review the relevant agreement and payment requirements.
Step 10 — Keep records
Store the licence, agreement and payment evidence.
EMRA currently provides an online music licensing application.
EMRA — Music Licensing Application
What Information Does a RAK Business Need?
EMRA's current pre-application requests information such as:
- Company legal name
- Trade licence number
- VAT registration number
- Main address
- Total locations
- Business type
- Emirate.
Select:
Ras Al Khaimah
when identifying the emirate.
What Music Information Should You Prepare?
Prepare information about:
Background music
Number of areas + daily hours.
Streaming
Service + areas + daily hours.
DJ
Areas + hours + frequency + timings.
Live music
Areas + hours + frequency.
Existing agreements
Existing music-rights organisations or providers.
What If My RAK Business Has Multiple Branches?
List them.
For example:
Ras Al Khaimah — 3 branches
Dubai — 2 branches
EMRA's current application asks for the total number of locations and emirates.
What If One Branch Has a DJ?
Identify the branch and the DJ use.
For example:
Branch 1
Background music only.
Branch 2
Background music + DJ.
The licensing treatment may differ.
What If My Restaurant Has Live Music?
Declare it.
Live music is separately addressed in EMRA's current music-user process.
What If I Play Music Only Occasionally?
Provide accurate information about your actual use.
The current EMRA process asks about daily hours and frequency for relevant uses.
Don't deliberately understate usage.
What If I Already Have a Music Licence?
Don't automatically cancel it.
Review:
- Issuer
- Catalogue
- Rights
- Premises
- Territory
- Duration
- Permitted use.
EMRA's current application specifically asks about existing agreements with music-rights organisations.
Do I Have to Pay Both EMRA and Music Nation?
Don't automatically assume so.
The Ministry has authorised both EMRA and Music Nation within the collective-management framework.
The relevant rights, repertoire and representation can matter.
A business should provide its actual information and confirm the applicable arrangement.
Is There a RAK Small-Business Exemption?
There is no general:
"Small RAK business = exempt"
rule identified in the Ministry's framework announcement.
The Ministry identifies specific exemptions, including certain educational, government, national-occasion and non-commercial personal-event uses.
Does My RAK Trade Licence Cover Music Rights?
Not automatically.
A business licence and a music-rights licence address different issues.
Your RAK business licence concerns the operation of your commercial activity.
Music licensing concerns the applicable rights associated with music use.
What About Hotels and Resorts in RAK?
This is especially relevant to Ras Al Khaimah because of its growing hospitality sector.
Hotels are specifically covered by the UAE framework.
A resort may also have several different music environments:
- Lobby
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Pool
- Spa
- Gym
- Events
- Entertainment areas.
The business should understand which uses apply to its premises.
RAK Resort With a Restaurant and DJ
Don't assume the entire property has one simple music-use category.
For example:
Hotel lobby: background music
Restaurant: background music
Beach venue: DJ
Event hall: live performance
Those uses should be accurately disclosed and assessed.
What About RAK Tourism Businesses?
Tourism businesses should pay particular attention because music may be part of the customer experience.
Hotels, restaurants, resorts, entertainment venues and events can all have different music uses.
The Ministry framework specifically includes several of these categories.
RAK Music Licensing Checklist
Before contacting the relevant organisation:
Business
☐ Company legal name
☐ Trade licence
☐ VAT information
☐ Business category
☐ RAK location
☐ Number of branches
Music
☐ Background music
☐ Spotify
☐ YouTube
☐ SoundCloud
☐ Downloaded music
☐ Commercial music provider
Entertainment
☐ DJ
☐ Live music
☐ Events
Usage
☐ Music areas
☐ Daily hours
☐ DJ frequency
☐ Live-event frequency
Rights
☐ Existing licence
☐ Provider agreement
☐ Catalogue information
☐ Commercial-use permission.
Common Music Licensing Mistakes in Ras Al Khaimah
"We're in RAK, not Dubai."
The framework is UAE-wide.
"We're a small business."
Small size does not automatically create an exemption.
"It's only background music."
Background music can still involve commercial music rights.
"We have Spotify Premium."
A consumer streaming subscription should not automatically be treated as a commercial public-playback licence.
"It's royalty-free."
Check the licence.
"It's AI-generated."
AI-generated does not automatically mean licence-free.
"We have a RAK trade licence."
That is not automatically a music-rights licence.
"The hotel has a licence."
Don't assume every restaurant, event space or third-party operator is automatically covered.
"Everyone plays music."
That doesn't establish your rights.
What About VENUORA in Ras Al Khaimah?
VENUORA is being developed as:
Commercial Background Music for UAE Businesses
The service is designed around:
Controlled catalogue
Documented provenance
Defined commercial licence
Business-focused background music.
This can be particularly useful for SMEs that want a simple, structured music solution.
Does VENUORA Replace EMRA in RAK?
VENUORA does not make that blanket claim.
A VENUORA licence is intended to cover:
Eligible VENUORA catalogue music and the rights expressly granted under the VENUORA commercial licence.
It does not automatically cover:
- Spotify
- YouTube
- SoundCloud
- DJ repertoire
- Live performances
- Other catalogues.
Nor does VENUORA currently claim that its licence automatically eliminates any applicable EMRA or Music Nation obligation.
Why VENUORA's Rights-First Model Matters
A business can easily have music from multiple sources.
That makes rights management complicated.
VENUORA's intended approach is:
Known source
↓
Rights/provenance review
↓
Controlled catalogue
↓
Commercial licence
↓
Business playback
↓
Documentation
The goal is to make the music environment easier for a business to understand.
Should RAK Businesses Prepare Now?
Yes.
The new framework is scheduled to begin collecting applicable fees in:
December 2026
But businesses do not need to wait until December to start preparing.
EMRA already has an active music-user pre-application and licensing process.
A Simple RAK Music Rights Audit
Ask:
1. What type of business do we operate?
2. How many branches do we have?
3. What music do we play?
4. Where does it come from?
5. Do we use Spotify?
6. Do we use YouTube?
7. Do we use SoundCloud?
8. Do we use downloaded music?
9. Do we use a commercial music provider?
10. Do we use AI-generated music?
11. Do we have a DJ?
12. Do we have live music?
13. How many music areas do we have?
14. How many hours per day?
15. Do we have existing agreements?
16. Can we document our music rights?
RAK Music Licence FAQ
Do cafés in Ras Al Khaimah need a music licence?
Restaurants and cafés are specifically covered by the UAE commercial music framework. Businesses using music commercially should assess their applicable licensing requirements.
How much does a RAK café music licence cost?
Reported restaurant/café background-music tariffs start at AED 1,500/year for up to 50 seats.
How much does a RAK restaurant music licence cost?
Reported background-music tariffs range from AED 1,500 to AED 6,000 according to seating capacity, with a higher reported schedule for DJ/entertainment use.
Do RAK gyms need a music licence?
Fitness centres are included in the framework. Reported tariffs start at AED 1,700/year.
Do RAK hotels need a music licence?
Hotels are specifically included in the UAE framework.
Do RAK shops need a music licence?
Retail stores, supermarkets and department stores are included in EMRA's current music-user process.
Is there a separate RAK music licence?
The collective-management framework is UAE-wide rather than a separate RAK-only system.
Who handles music licensing?
The Ministry has authorised EMRA and Music Nation within the UAE collective-management framework.
When do fees begin?
Applicable fees begin in December 2026; current reporting identifies 1 December 2026.
Are licences annual?
The Ministry says relevant licences are issued for one year and are renewable under applicable rules and conditions.
Does Spotify Premium cover my RAK café?
Don't assume a consumer subscription provides all commercial public-playback rights.
Does YouTube cover my restaurant?
Don't assume so.
Is royalty-free music exempt?
No blanket exemption should be assumed.
Is AI-generated music exempt?
No blanket UAE exemption has been identified.
Does VENUORA replace EMRA?
VENUORA does not make that blanket claim.
Can I prepare before December?
Yes. EMRA already operates a music-user pre-application and licensing process.
Ras Al Khaimah Music Licence — One-Minute Guide
If your RAK business plays music:
Identify your business.
Identify your music.
Identify your music sources.
Identify your locations.
Identify your music areas.
Identify your daily usage.
Identify DJs and live performances.
Review existing licences.
Understand your applicable tariff.
Keep your documentation.
The UAE's new commercial music framework begins applicable fee collection in:
December 2026
Don't wait until the last minute to understand your obligations.
Final Takeaway
Ras Al Khaimah businesses are part of the UAE-wide music licensing framework.
There is no single universal:
"RAK music licence price."
The applicable tariff depends on:
Business category + size + nature of music use.
Reported examples include:
Café/restaurant background music: from AED 1,500/year
Café/restaurant with DJ: from AED 2,500/year
Fitness centre: from AED 1,700/year
Retail: from AED 1,700/year
Shopping centre: potentially up to a reported AED 50,000/year
Hotel: classification and room-based.
The Ministry has established the UAE-wide framework and authorised EMRA and Music Nation to collect applicable fees and manage relevant rights.
For RAK businesses, the sensible approach is:
Audit your music now.
Understand your rights now.
Prepare before December 2026.
Important Licensing Disclaimer
This page is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
The UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism's official announcement confirms the Collective Management in Music Guide, Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, covered commercial categories, December 2026 commencement and the roles of EMRA and Music Nation.
The detailed AED amounts presented here are reported tariff figures from UAE media and other sources referring to the Ministry's tariff schedule. Businesses should confirm their exact classification, applicable tariff, repertoire, rights and licensing arrangement with the relevant authorised organisation before relying on a figure for payment or compliance.
No blanket exemption is claimed for:
- Spotify
- YouTube
- SoundCloud
- Royalty-free music
- Creative Commons music
- Public-domain recordings
- Independently licensed music
- AI-generated music
- VENUORA music.
VENUORA does not claim that purchasing a VENUORA licence automatically replaces or exempts a business from EMRA, Music Nation or any other applicable UAE music-rights requirement.
A VENUORA licence applies to eligible VENUORA catalogue music and the rights expressly granted under the applicable VENUORA commercial licence.
Businesses with specific licensing questions should confirm their position with the relevant authorised organisation or a qualified UAE legal adviser.
Official Sources
UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism
Collective Management in Music Guide — UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism
EMRA — Music Licensing
EMRA — Music Licensing Application
EMRA — Music User Pre-Application
EMRA — Music User Pre-Application Form
Related UAE Music Licensing Guides
UAE Music Licensing Guide 2026 — Complete Guide
UAE Music Licensing Fees 2026 — Café, Restaurant, Gym, Hotel & Retail Tariffs
Do Cafés & Restaurants Need a Music Licence in UAE?
UAE Music Licence for Restaurants & Cafés
UAE Music Licence for Gyms & Fitness Centres
UAE Music Licence for Hotels
UAE Music Licence for Shops & Retail Businesses
EMRA Music Licence UAE Explained
Music Nation UAE Music Licensing Explained
Collective Management in Music UAE Explained
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 Explained
Background Music Licence UAE
Playing Music in a Café in Dubai — What Licence Do You Need?
Spotify, YouTube & Background Music in UAE Businesses
AI-Generated Music & UAE Music Licensing
Royalty-Free Music vs Licensed Music in UAE
Commercial Music Licence UAE — Complete Guide
UAE Music Licensing FAQ
UAE Music Licence Cost 2026 — How Much Does a Music Licence Cost?
How to Get a Music Licence in UAE — Step-by-Step Guide
EMRA Music Licence Cost UAE 2026
Music Licence Dubai 2026 — Complete Guide for Businesses
Music Licence Abu Dhabi 2026 — Complete Guide for Businesses
Do You Need a Music Licence for a Small Business in UAE?
Music Licence Sharjah 2026 — Complete Guide for Businesses
VENUORA — Commercial Background Music for Ras Al Khaimah Businesses
Controlled catalogue. Documented provenance. Defined commercial licence.
VENUORA is being developed for UAE businesses that want a structured and transparent approach to commercial background music.
Know the music. Know the rights. Keep the licence.
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