On April 10, 2025, H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, officially announced the formation of the country’s first music copyright collective management organization — the Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA). The organization aims to meet and exceed international standards in the areas of intellectual property protection, commercialization, enforcement, and administration.

    The UAE Ministry of Education has granted EMRA a license authorizing it to collect and manage royalties in the music industry. These royalties will be sourced from public performances, music broadcasting, and entities that use musical works for commercial purposes.

    This development fulfills a long-standing aspiration of both local and international music industries. As the Ministry stated at the launch event, this is a national achievement aimed at protecting and supporting rights within the intellectual property and creative industries, fostering creativity, attracting talent, and empowering UAE music and musicians.

    This move was expected, as the UAE had already amended its laws in 2021 to provide additional regulations on collective management organizations. With the licensing of EMRA, these regulations are now becoming a reality.

    Prior to this, in March 2022, the UAE established its first non-profit copyright management organization for authors and publishers — the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association.

    Until now, rights holders have relied on commercial agreements with business partners or worked with local copyright management companies—often acting as licensing agents—to protect their rights and collect royalties.

    With the establishment of EMRA, a centralized platform will now be available. In other words, the UAE’s music industry—including artists, producers, composers, and lyricists—will be able to collect their royalties through this centralized Collective Management Organization (CMO). Likewise, CMOs from around the world will be able to use EMRA to manage royalties generated in the UAE.

    In preparing for EMRA’s launch, the UAE sought and received support from many major international music industry organizations, such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), SACEM (the Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music), and CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), to ensure that EMRA adopts global best practices.

    At the launch ceremony, EMRA signed multiple memorandums of understanding with local broadcasters—including the Arabian Radio Network, Abu Dhabi Media Network, Dubai Media Incorporated, and Anghami—signaling its intent to collaborate closely with the UAE’s music broadcasting sector from day one.

    For years, local and international rights holders have faced significant challenges managing their royalties in the UAE. EMRA is expected to provide a mechanism that simplifies royalty management both locally and internationally. By working with a broader network of regional and global CMOs, EMRA will help ensure that royalties from performances and broadcasts in the UAE are collected and distributed properly. Although full implementation may take several months, the launch of EMRA marks a promising beginning for the UAE and the global music industry.

Source:http://ipr.mofcom.gov.cn/article/gjxw/gbhj/yzqt/alblhqzg/202504/1991395.html