New UAE music licensing rules start on 1 December 2026

Licensed music for every venue in the UAE.

Lahn gives cafés, shops, hotels, gyms and malls licensed, curated music. We help you get the right licence from EMRA or Music Nation, and we log every track you play so royalties reach the people who made it.

Join the pilot Estimate your licence fee
45
days until the rules take effect
2
licensing bodies: EMRA and Music Nation
Every play
logged by track and venue
The gilded atrium of Emirates Palace, Abu DhabiPeople gathered on a lawn under palm trees on an Abu Dhabi eveningMarina Café terrace in Abu Dhabi at dusk, with the city across the water
Now playing
Restaurant evening
Eastern Current
9JackJack8
0:00 / 1:30
Press play to hear a preview.
Why now

From 1 December, playing music in a business needs a licence.

Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 sets a Ministry-approved tariff for public performance. Any commercial venue that plays music will need an annual licence from a licensed collective management organisation. Today there are two: EMRA and Music Nation.

AED
1,500 to 50,000
Annual tariff by venue type and size, as reported
AED
10,000 to 100,000
Fine range for infringement under the 2021 Copyright Law
Share
10%
of collections goes to the Cultural Support Fund
Basis
By space
not by building. One hotel may need several licences.

Two bodies, one playlist

Each body covers its own members' catalogue. A mixed playlist may need both licences, and we found no public lookup of which body covers which track.

Records matter

Law firms advise venues to keep a log of what played, where and when. That log is also your evidence if an inspector asks.

Personal accounts don't count

Consumer Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube accounts are not licensed for business use.

How it works

Four steps, then press play.

Designed for owners and managers with a business to run. You set it up once and it keeps going.

1

Tell us about your venue

Venue type, size and opening hours, plus prayer-time and Ramadan preferences.

2

We prepare your licence

We work out your tariff from the Ministry matrix and prepare your application to EMRA, Music Nation or both.*

3

Press play

Curated, licensed playlists change through the day and keep playing if the internet drops.

4

Every play is logged

Each track is recorded with its industry ID and matched to the body that represents it.

* For now, the licence is issued in your business's name and you pay the licensing body directly. We are working towards agreements with EMRA and Music Nation so we can file and pay on your behalf. None exist today.

Evening on Corniche Beach, Abu Dhabi, with people in the water at sunset
For venues

Made for the places people gather.

Each type of space has its own tariff. Lahn works out which one applies to you.

A bright café in Abu Dhabi with high wooden stools

Cafés and restaurants

Priced by number of seats

A hotel lounge in Abu Dhabi with low armchairs

Lounges and DJ venues

Priced by seats, on a higher scale

The fountain atrium of Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

Shops and boutiques

Priced by floor area

The gilded atrium of Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Hotels

Rooms by star rating. Restaurants and shops are licensed separately.

What will the licence cost?

A quick estimate based on the tariff as reported in the press. The licence itself is issued in your business's name by EMRA or Music Nation.

Licence fee estimator

Indicative
Estimated annual tariff
AED 2,700per year
51 to 100 seats

Indicative only. Based on press and law-firm summaries of Annex 1 to Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, not the official guide. It is not yet clear whether the fee is paid to each body separately or shared between them. Please confirm with EMRA or Music Nation. Excludes VAT.

For government and rights holders

Accurate usage data, from the venue up.

The tariff is a flat fee by venue size. Paying the right rights holders depends on knowing what was actually played. Lahn records that at every venue it serves, with no extra work for the venue.

Regulator

Ministry of Economy & Tourism

  • A clear picture of which venues and spaces are licensed
  • Digital records that support inspections
  • Faster compliance from small businesses as the rules start
Licensing bodies

EMRA & Music Nation

  • Every play reported, not a sample
  • Each track tagged to the body whose repertoire it is
  • Reports in standard music industry formats
Culture

Cultural Support Fund & artists

  • The Fund receives 10% of collections
  • Reach data for UAE and Arabic artists
  • Royalties that can follow real plays

Every play is logged by track and venue, so the right artists get paid and regulators see real usage.

This is a proposal. Neither body has published a reporting format yet, and we would agree one with them. No partnership with any ministry, licensing body or fund exists today.

Sample programming

Programmed by time of day. Logged by track.

Pick a programme and press play. These are real 90 second previews, licensed from Pixabay.

Café morning

#TrackLicence basisTime
Play logSample
Plays will appear here.
Music from Pixabay under the Pixabay Content License. Credits are in the footer.
FAQ

Questions venues ask.

Straight answers on the new rules. This is not legal advice. For your own situation, speak to EMRA, Music Nation or a UAE IP lawyer.

Does my business need a music licence?

Yes, if you play music in a commercial venue. From 1 December 2026 you need an annual public-performance licence from a Ministry-licensed collective management organisation. Education, government, national occasions and private non-commercial events are exempt.

What is the difference between EMRA and Music Nation?

They are the two bodies licensed by the Ministry. EMRA is a non-profit founded by artists, licensed in April 2025, with a representation agreement with SACEM. Music Nation is a private, Emirati-led company, licensed in June 2025 and partnered with BMI and SoundExchange. They divide music by catalogue, so a mixed playlist may need licences from both.

How much will the licence cost?

As reported, about AED 1,500 to 6,000 a year for a café or restaurant with background music, AED 1,700 to 20,000 for a shop, and up to AED 25,000 for hotel rooms. Mall common areas are capped at AED 50,000. Please confirm with EMRA or Music Nation.

I run a hotel. Is one licence enough?

Probably not. The hotel tariff covers guest rooms only. Restaurants, halls, shops and entertainment areas inside the hotel have their own tariffs.

What if I play music without a licence?

The 2021 Copyright Law sets fines of AED 10,000 to 100,000, rising to AED 100,000 to 500,000 for repeat offences. A venue can also be closed for up to six months. A licence taken out now does not cover past use.

Will Lahn file and pay my licence?

That is what we are working towards. Today the licence is issued in your business's name and you pay the licensing body directly. In the pilot we will prepare your application and your play records. Filing and paying on your behalf needs agreements with EMRA and Music Nation, which do not exist yet.

Is Lahn approved by the government?

No. Lahn is an independent, early-stage venture. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the Ministry of Economy & Tourism, EMRA, Music Nation or the Cultural Support Fund.

Pilot

Join the founding pilot.

We are looking for 10 to 20 UAE venues to try Lahn around 1 December 2026. In the pilot we will provide curated music, help you prepare your licence and keep a full record of what you play.

Founded by Kosta Karatamoglou, Abu Dhabi.

The Lahn app

We are building an app for venue managers to play, schedule and check their music log. It will come to iPhone and Android after the pilot.

Coming soonApp StoreComing soonGoogle Play
Join the pilot by email

hello@lahn.ae

Thank you. This form is a placeholder, so nothing was sent.

Placeholder form. It does not collect or send any data yet.

Photo and music credits

Photos, Abu Dhabi

Music

Some images cropped. Music previews shortened to 90 seconds.