UAE Launches Emirates Music Rights Organization

New Era for Musicians' Rights - Emirates Music Rights Introduced

The United Arab Emirates has laid down another important milestone to strengthen its creative economy: it has launched the country's first music rights management organization, the Emirates Music Rights (EMR), a collective rights management body. The initiative aims to finally provide fair compensation to the creators in the music industry - composers, performers, producers, and musicians - for the commercial use of their music.

Why is EMR important?

Until now, composers and performers had to individually collect royalties from business entities like hotels, shopping malls, radio stations, or event organizers. This process was time-consuming and often unsuccessful, leaving many artists without the income they deserved. The EMR now provides a unified framework: it centrally collects royalties and distributes them among the rightful recipients.

The system considers four main stakeholders in the revenue distribution process: the composer, the publisher, the label company, and the performer. Fees are collected based on fixed tariffs approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy.

Legal Security, Fairness, Growth

The initiative not only serves to protect the rights of performers and creators but also strengthens the entire creative ecosystem. The ministry's goal is for the creative industries' contributions to the national GDP to grow to 5 percent by 2031. The introduction of the EMR is one of the cornerstones to achieving this goal, operating in line with international standards and under regular supervision.

The new system also sends an important message to the world: the UAE is creating a reliable, forward-thinking, and art-friendly environment for musical talents - whether they are local or international artists.

What does this mean in practice?

From now on, if a shopping mall uses background music, or a radio station plays a song, they are required to pay royalties to the EMR. This organization ensures in a transparent manner that the involved artists receive their due. This makes the music industry more structured and fair, and encourages the creation of new works.

According to international experts, this is a significant advancement for the entire region. The leader of the world's first music rights management organization (SACEM, France) noted that until now, there has not been a local body able to represent creators' interests in the UAE. This is finally changing.

Local Music, Global Opportunities

The launch of EMR also enables the development of the local music market. Similar to international practices, creators will now receive royalties for music played on the radio or in public places, which was not previously common in the region. This new source of income not only provides financial security but also allows artists to focus entirely on their music.

What can we expect in the future?

The EMR is not merely an administrative organization; it embodies a new mindset. With this step, the UAE government lays the foundation for a modern, sustainable, and fair music industry capable of integrating global standards while prioritizing local cultural values.

(Source: Ministry of Economy official statement.)