The Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates has issued its first-ever collective management license in the UAE to the Emirates Music Rights Association (EMRA).

The license allows the association to collect and distribute royalties for music creators and ensure media channels and platforms fulfill their financial obligations to them.

EntArabi reports the permit was granted in accordance with the UAE’s Federal Decree Law No. 38 of 2021 regarding copyright and neighboring rights.

The UAE government has also indicated that the permit for EMRA reflects the market’s commitment to its ‘Vision 2031‘ objectives of becoming a global creative hub by developing an attractive legislative and regulatory framework.

According to the official announcement, the market’s Ministry of Economy will now collaborate with the association to develop a digital platform for rights registration and revenue management and organize awareness workshops for artists.

The Middle East and North Africa was the fastest-growing region for recorded music globally in 2024, growing by 22.8% YoY, according to IFPI figures. Global recorded music industry revenues grew by 4.8% YoY to $29.6 billion in 2024.

According to the official UAE government press release about EMRA, the cultural and creative industries contributed 3.5% to the UAE’s GDP in 2022, equivalent to 54.4 billion dirhams (USD $14.8 billion).

The news was announced at an event in the UAE last week, attended by representatives from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), who expressed their support for the initiative.