UAE Music Licensing Shift: How Businesses Can Prepare Before December 2026
The UAE is transitioning to a new operational licensing and tariff regime for music rights, effective December 2026, managed by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs). Businesses are advised to prepare for these changes to ensure compliance with the new copyright framework.
Why it matters
This shift standardizes music licensing in the UAE, impacting how commercial entities pay for and manage intellectual property rights.
<p>The UAE is moving from a legislative framework for collective management of music rights to a more operational licensing and tariff regime. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (Ministry) recently issued Version 1.1 of the Collective Management Guide for Music (Guide), which is due to be implemented from 1 December 2026. The Guide provides further detail on how the collective management regime is intended to operate, including tariffs applicable to a range of commercial users of music.</p>
<h3>WHAT IS A COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION?</h3>
<p>Copyright and neighboring rights in music can involve multiple categories of rights holders, including songwriters, composers, performers, music publishers and producers of sound recordings. Obtaining licenses separately from every relevant rights holder may be impractical for commercial users, while individual rights holders may also find it difficult to license and administer every use of their music directly.</p>
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