The guide
Background music that sits outside the UAE's new licensing regime — lawfully, for your venue
Collective music licensing is new to the UAE. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 the Ministry of Economy has licensed two collective management organisations: EMRA (Emirates Music Rights Association, April 2025) and Music Nation (June 2025). Both operate on voluntary assignment — each administers only the works its members have assigned to it, and neither holds a statutory monopoly; the law does not presume that all music is administered by a CMO. Rights holders may license their works directly, and Tonarch does exactly that: it holds the rights in both the works and the recordings and has assigned them to neither EMRA nor Music Nation, so the Tonarch repertoire sits outside both. A documented record of non-assignment now, while both bodies build their repertoires, is worth having. Note that under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 copyright infringement may attract penalties including imprisonment of not less than 9 months and fines of AED 500,000 to AED 1,000,000 (increased for repeat offences) — this concerns unlicensed use generally, not this directly-licensed catalogue. You remain responsible for any other music you play.
What you pay today
Today, playing music in a venue usually means fees to one or more collecting societies:
- EMRA (Emirates Music Rights Association)
- Music Nation
A Tonarch licence from AED1,490 / year per location — one predictable fee, anchored to what you pay now.
The legal basis of direct licensing
Collecting-society fees apply to works within those societies' repertoire. When the rightsholder grants a direct licence and the works are registered with no society, no society royalties arise from playing them publicly. That is the model Tonarch operates on.
The inspection scenario
If a collection agent visits, you present your Tonarch Licence Certificate — issued to your venue by name and address — with the repertoire annex listing every track. It names the rightsholder and confirms the works are registered with no society in any territory.
FAQ
- What is EMRA and why is this happening now?
- The UAE now has two licensed collective management organisations for music: EMRA (April 2025) and Music Nation (June 2025), both under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021. They collect music-licensing fees from venues for the works assigned to them. Enforcement has begun and tariffs are still being published — which is exactly why a directly-licensed catalogue with clear documentation is useful right now.
- Is EMRA the only body that could claim a fee?
- No — there are now two licensed CMOs, EMRA and Music Nation. Neither has a statutory monopoly: each administers only the works assigned to it, and UAE law does not presume that all music belongs to a CMO. Tonarch has assigned its works to neither, so the Tonarch repertoire is outside both. Keep the certificate and annex as your evidence of non-assignment.
- What do I show if a collection agent asks?
- Your Licence Certificate, issued to your venue by name and address, plus the repertoire annex listing every track. Both are delivered the moment you buy and can be printed or shown on screen.
- Am I buying files or a right?
- You are buying the right to play the listed works publicly in one named location. Files are delivered, but the product is the ongoing right plus the documentation. If the licence ends, the right ends.
Informational, not legal advice. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 the UAE has licensed two collective management organisations — EMRA (2025) and Music Nation (2025) — both operating on voluntary assignment, with no statutory monopoly and no presumption that all music is CMO-administered. Rights holders may license directly. Tonarch is licensed directly from the rightsholder and has assigned its works to neither EMRA nor Music Nation, so the Tonarch repertoire is outside both. Copyright infringement under the Decree-Law may attract imprisonment (not less than 9 months) and fines (AED 500,000–1,000,000) for unlicensed use generally. Because the regime is still forming, keep your certificate on hand and confirm your position with local counsel. Any other music you play — radio, television, streaming or staff playlists — remains your responsibility.