New UAE Music Fees: Businesses to Pay From Dh1,500 to Dh50,000 a Year
Businesses across the UAE that play copyrighted music will face a new annual fee structure from December 1, 2026, with charges starting at Dh1,500 and reaching as high as Dh50,000 depending on the type and size of the establishment.
The tariff schedule forms part of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Collective Management in Music Guide, which sets out how commercial users of music are charged and how royalties are handled for composers, songwriters, performers, producers and publishers.
According to figures reported by Khaleej Times, restaurants and cafes sit at the lower end of the new fee scale, while larger malls, hotels, broadcasters and premium-class aviation operators face higher charges or income-based tariffs.
Restaurants and Cafes: Fees Start at Dh1,500
Restaurants and cafes with up to 50 seats will pay Dh1,500 a year. The fee rises as seating capacity increases, but the annual collection is capped at Dh6,000.
| Restaurant or Cafe Size | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 seats | Dh1,500 |
| 51 to 100 seats | Dh2,700 |
| 101 to 200 seats | Dh4,800 |
| 201 seats and above | Dh20 per additional seat |
Maximum annual collection: Dh6,000.
For a business owner, this makes the basic calculation fairly easy. A 40-seat cafe falls into the Dh1,500 bracket, while a 150-seat restaurant falls into the Dh4,800 bracket.
Restaurants With DJs and Entertainment Pay More
Venues that use DJs or provide entertainment fall under a separate tariff. Entertainment clubs and similar establishments are included in the same category.
| Venue Size | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 seats | Dh2,500 |
| 51 to 100 seats | Dh3,500 |
| 101 to 200 seats | Dh6,500 |
| 201 seats and above | Dh20 per additional seat |
Maximum annual collection: Dh8,000.
The difference is noticeable even for mid-sized venues. A 100-seat restaurant playing background music would pay Dh2,700, while a restaurant of the same size operating with a DJ would fall into the Dh3,500 bracket.
Shops and Commercial Complexes Are Charged by Floor Area
Retail businesses are not charged according to seating. Their tariffs are based on the size of the premises.
| Floor Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 m² | Dh1,700 |
| 301 to 700 m² | Dh3,400 |
| Each additional 25 m² | Dh60 |
Maximum annual collection: Dh20,000.
This means a small shop of 250 square metres would pay Dh1,700 a year, while a larger commercial space above 700 square metres would continue adding Dh60 for each extra 25 square metres until it reaches the Dh20,000 ceiling.
Large Shopping Malls Can Pay Up to Dh50,000
Large shopping malls have their own tariff, calculated on common-area space rather than on the individual shops operating inside the mall.
| Common Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| First 100 m² | Dh625 |
| Each additional 25 m² | Dh50 |
Maximum annual collection: Dh50,000.
That Dh50,000 cap is the highest fixed annual ceiling shown in the tariff schedule supplied with the guide.
Fitness Centres Face a Dh6,000 Annual Cap
Gyms and fitness centres are also covered. Their charges begin at Dh1,700 for premises measuring up to 300 square metres.
| Fitness Centre Size | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 m² | Dh1,700 |
| 301 m² and above | Dh5 per additional m² |
Maximum annual collection: Dh6,000.
Hotel Music Fees Depend on Star Rating and Room Count
Hotels and floating hotels are split into three star-rating categories. The fee rises with both room count and hotel classification.
1- and 2-Star Hotels
| Room Count | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 rooms | Dh50 per room |
| 51 to 100 rooms | Dh5,000 |
| 101 rooms and above | Dh8,000 |
3-Star Hotels
| Room Count | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 rooms | Dh120 per room |
| 51 to 100 rooms | Dh12,000 |
| 101 rooms and above | Dh18,000 |
4- and 5-Star Hotels
| Room Count | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 rooms | Dh150 per room |
| 51 to 100 rooms | Dh15,000 |
| 101 to 200 rooms | Dh18,000 |
| 201 rooms and above | Dh25,000 |
Maximum annual collection for the highest hotel category: Dh25,000.
The difference between hotel categories is substantial. A hotel with 50 rooms would be charged Dh50 per room in the one- and two-star category, Dh120 per room as a three-star property, and Dh150 per room in the four- and five-star category.
Radio Stations Pay 1% to 3% of Annual Income
Broadcasters do not follow a room, seat or floor-area model. Radio tariffs are linked to annual income and the type of programming.
| Radio Station Type | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| General-programme radio stations | 1% of annual income |
| Music and song channels | 3% of annual income |
Minimum annual tariff: Dh1,700.
Television Channels Pay Up to 1% of Annual Income
Television channels are also charged according to annual income, although the rates differ by channel type.
| Television Channel Type | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| General-programme channels | 1% of annual income |
| News channels | 0.25% of annual income |
Minimum annual tariff: Dh1,700.
Premium-Class Aviation Fees Reach Dh45,000
Premium-class aviation operators offering in-flight entertainment are covered by another sliding scale based on user seats.
| Number of User Seats | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 user seats | Dh5,000 |
| 51 to 300 user seats | Dh10,000 |
| 301 to 500 user seats | Dh30,000 |
| 501 user seats and above | Dh75 per additional user seat |
Maximum annual collection: Dh45,000.
The Dh30,000 figure for the 301-to-500-seat aviation bracket comes directly from the tariff table supplied with the ministry guide.
Why the UAE Is Introducing the Tariff System
The fee schedule is part of a broader system for managing copyright and related rights in the music sector. Licensed collective management organisations, commonly known as CMOs, collect royalties on behalf of rights holders and distribute the proceeds according to the applicable rules.
Those rights holders can include composers, songwriters, singers, musicians, sound-recording producers and music publishers.
The framework is based on Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Related Rights and Cabinet Resolution No. 47 of 2022.
Licensed CMOs must obtain a one-year permit from the ministry and renew it annually. They are not allowed to change the approved tariff matrix without prior written approval.
Who Is Exempt From the Music Fees?
The framework provides exemptions for government entities, educational and academic institutions, national occasions and non-commercial personal celebrations.
For commercial operators, the main question is whether copyrighted music is being used as part of the business activity. Restaurants, shops, hotels, gyms, broadcasters and other covered businesses may therefore need to identify the correct tariff before the new schedule takes effect.
Cultural Fund Will Support Musicians
The new framework also establishes a Cultural Fund. According to the published details, the fund will receive a 10% allocation carved out of the 25% share collected before revenues are distributed to CMO members.
A joint committee involving the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and independent experts will oversee the fund.
The money is intended to provide financial, technical and artistic support to musicians and help strengthen the regional and international presence of Emirati music.
Ministry Can Inspect and Penalise CMOs
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism retains supervisory powers under the framework. These include conducting field inspections, reviewing CMO financial records, receiving complaints and imposing administrative penalties.
Permits can also be revoked if a licensed organisation fails to comply with the rules.
What UAE Businesses Should Know Before December 1
The new tariff schedule takes effect on December 1, 2026.
For many smaller businesses, the annual cost will be relatively easy to identify. A restaurant with no more than 50 seats starts at Dh1,500. A similar venue with a DJ starts at Dh2,500. A shop of up to 300 square metres starts at Dh1,700.
Larger operators need to pay closer attention to the caps and calculation methods. Shopping malls can reach Dh50,000 annually, premium-class aviation Dh45,000, and four- and five-star hotels Dh25,000.