Author: Kabineshri Navasekararaja
The United Arab Emirates has firmly cemented its position as the region's leading jurisdiction for the protection of creators' rights and creative industries. In 2025, the UAE music sector entered a pivotal new phase, moving beyond legislative reform toward active market implementation through the launch of its first licensed collective management organizations and a stronger emphasis on enforcement. Record labels, publishers, performers, distributors, and streaming platforms can no longer afford to treat the UAE as an emerging market for rights protection; it is now an operational one.
Legislative Framework and International Commitments
The UAE is a signatory to several international treaties relating to copyright and neighboring rights, including the Berne Convention, the Rome Convention, the WIPO Copyright Treaty, and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. These international commitments significantly influence the interpretation and enforcement of domestic copyright laws and provide internationally recognized standards of protection for rights holders operating within the UAE market.The Copyright Law extends protection automatically to original works upon creation, without the need for mandatory registration. This protection applies broadly across the music industry ecosystem, including musical compositions, lyrics, sound recordings, performances, broadcasts, and digital streaming content. The Implementing Regulations No. 47 of 2022 further operationalize key provisions of the Copyright Law, including those directly relevant to collective rights management. Crucially, the UAE framework operates on a voluntary rights management model, under which rights holders may authorize a collective management organization (“CMO”) to manage certain rights while retaining the ability to pursue direct licensing arrangements independently.
Protection of Musical Works and Sound Recordings
The Copyright Law recognizes and protects multiple layers of rights that arise in the music industry. These include rights in:
- Musical compositions and lyrical works;
- Sound recordings (phonograms);
- Artistic performances by musicians, singers, and performers; and
- Broadcasts and digital transmissions of protected content.
Moral Rights and Assignment Limitations
The Copyright Law distinguishes between economic rights and moral rights. Economic rights, including rights of reproduction, distribution, public communication, and commercial exploitation, may be assigned or licensed to record labels and publishers through contractual arrangements.Moral rights, however, remain personal to the creator and cannot generally be waived or transferred. These include the right of attribution and the right to object to any distortion, modification, or treatment of the work that may prejudice the creator's reputation.
For record labels, this distinction is particularly important in relation to editing, remixing, sampling, marketing, and rebranding activities. Even where full economic rights have been assigned, labels must ensure that exploitation of the work does not infringe the artist's continuing moral rights under UAE law a consideration that applies equally to digital remasters, short-form video edits, and AI-assisted reproductions.
Copyright Registration and Strategic Considerations
Although copyright protection arises automatically upon creation, voluntary registration with the UAE Ministry of Economy provides strategic and evidentiary advantages. Registration creates an official record of ownership and may strengthen a rights holder's position in enforcement proceedings, infringement claims, and licensing disputes.For record labels and publishers managing extensive catalogues and cross-border exploitation rights, registration serves both as an asset management tool and an enforcement mechanism — particularly as the UAE's newly operational collective management organizations begin to actively administer and license catalogues in the market.
Collective Management Organizations and Royalty Collection 2025 has delivered the most significant structural development in the UAE music industry to date the establishment and licensing of the country's first music CMOs.
On 10 April 2025, the Ministry of Economy granted the first CMO license to the Emirates Music Rights Association ("EMRA"), a non-profit organization established in collaboration with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). EMRA is authorized to collect and distribute royalties for every public performance, broadcast, and digital stream of music across all platforms and venues in the UAE. Any service delivering content into the UAE whether headquartered locally or abroad must either conclude a license with EMRA or demonstrate that existing agreements already extend to the UAE audience.
In June 2025, the Ministry granted a second license to Music Nation Copyrights Management ("Music Nation"), a commercial entity that has partnered with Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) the world's largest performing rights organization and SoundExchange, the recording industry's leading digital global CMO. Music Nation is positioned as the first rights management organization in the UAE capable of offering a single integrated solution for collecting performance, mechanical, and neighboring rights.
Record labels, publishers, and artists may now register their catalogues with either or both CMOs and seek royalty distributions for the use of their works across UAE venues, events, broadcasts, and digital platforms. As of the date of this publication, neither EMRA nor Music Nation has commenced active licensing or royalty collection; however, first invoices and broader licensing campaigns are expected during Q3–Q4 2025.
Enforcement and Anti-Piracy Measures
The UAE has strengthened its enforcement mechanisms for intellectual property infringement through The UAE has strengthened its enforcement mechanisms for intellectual property infringement through coordinated action by the Ministry of Economy, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (“TDRA”), customs authorities, and the courts.Rights holders may seek interim and precautionary measures against infringers, including the seizure of infringing materials, website blocking orders, freezing orders, and injunctive relief. In serious cases, copyright infringement may expose infringers to substantial fines and custodial penalties.
The UAE’s Cybercrime Law further supplements the enforcement framework by imposing liability for online infringement activities, including unauthorized streaming, uploading, downloading, and digital distribution of copyrighted content.
With the UAE’s collective management organizations now entering the operational phase, regulatory focus is expected to shift from education and market awareness toward more active enforcement during the second half of 2025. Such measures may include spot audits, formal notices, and financial penalties against non-compliant businesses, making proactive licensing compliance an increasingly important commercial consideration for companies operating in the music sector.
Conclusion:
The UAE has positioned itself as one of the region’s most progressive jurisdictions for copyright protection and the development of creative industries. Through Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021, the Implementing Regulations No. 47 of 2022, the establishment and licensing of EMRA and Music Nation, and a steadily evolving enforcement framework, the country has developed a sophisticated and internationally aligned legal infrastructure for the music industry.For record labels, publishers, artists, distributors, and digital platforms operating within or targeting the UAE market, the transition from legislative reform to practical enforcement is no longer theoretical. As collective rights management and enforcement mechanisms continue to develop, businesses will increasingly need to treat copyright compliance and licensing strategy as core commercial priorities rather than purely legal considerations.
Note: This Legal Update / Newsletter is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. It is based on laws and legal interpretations in effect as of the date of publication. Laws and regulations may change over time, and their application can vary depending on individual circumstances. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek specific legal counsel before acting on any of the information provided herein.