We come across intellectual property almost every day, often without realising it.

The song playing in a café.
The photograph used on a menu.
A paragraph copied into a training manual.
A video shown during a workshop.
A chapter reproduced for students.

All of these involve somebody’s creative work.

The UAE’s recent decision on music licensing is a good example of why this matters.

From December 2026, restaurants, cafés, hotels, shopping malls, fitness centres, airlines, radio and television stations, concerts and similar commercial users of music will come under a new collective music licensing framework. The system has been introduced under Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026. The Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation have been authorised to collect and manage the relevant fees. Licences will generally be valid for one year and renewable.

At first glance, this may look like just another compliance requirement.

But it raises a much bigger question.

If we have access to a song, a book, an image or a video, does that mean we are free to use it any way we want?

The answer is no.

Buying a book means we own that particular copy. It does not mean we can photocopy the entire book or a part it and distribute or sell those copies.

In the same way, having access to music does not automatically give a restaurant, airline, gym or event organiser the right to use that music commercially in public.

This is where intellectual property rights come in.

Intellectual property rights are legal rights given to creators and owners of original work. They protect books, music, films, photographs, designs, inventions and other creative content. In simple terms, they give creators some control over how their work is copied, used, performed, distributed or commercially exploited.

Copyright is one important part of intellectual property rights.

It protects literary, artistic and musical creations. But copyright is not just one single right. Think of it as a bundle of rights. These can include reproduction, distribution, public performance, communication to the public, translation and adaptation.

That is why the way we use a work matters.

Take reproduction rights, for example.

Reproduction simply means making a copy of protected work. Photocopying pages from a book, scanning an illustration, copying a photograph, duplicating a recording or creating a digital copy can all involve reproduction rights.

Music can be even more complex.

A single song may involve the composer, lyricist, singer, musicians, music publisher and sound recording producer. Different people may therefore hold different rights in the same song.

This is one reason collective rights management is important. Instead of every café, hotel or airline having to negotiate separately with every creator, authorised organisations can manage permissions and collect and distribute payments to the relevant rights holders.

The new UAE framework also recognises that every use is not the same. A small café playing background music is different from a concert, an airline or a television channel. Fees therefore vary depending on the nature and scale of use.

Some categories, including educational and academic institutions, government entities, national occasions and certain non-commercial personal celebrations, are currently exempt from these music-use fees.

But there is an important point here.

An exemption from one licensing fee does not mean that all copyrighted material can be copied or reused freely.

This is particularly relevant to educational institutions. Showing material for teaching, photocopying an entire textbook, uploading copyrighted content to a learning platform and distributing copies to students are not necessarily the same type of use. Different permissions and exceptions may apply.

The same principle matters to publishers, cafés, restaurants, airlines, event organisers, schools, training institutes, content creators and businesses.

So before using someone else’s creative work, ask three simple questions:

Who owns it?

How am I going to use it?

Do I have the right or permission for that use?

Intellectual property law is not meant to stop people from enjoying creative work. It is meant to ensure that creativity is respected and that creators have a say in how their work is used.

The new UAE music licensing framework is therefore more than a rule about background music.

It is a timely reminder for all of us.

Access to creative work does not automatically mean ownership of the right to use it. Creativity has value, and so do the rights attached to it.

Disclaimer: This article is intended only to create general awareness about intellectual property and copyright. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. Laws, exemptions and licensing requirements may vary depending on the nature of use and the circumstances. For specific guidance, please check with the relevant UAE authorities or seek appropriate professional legal advice.

Additional Reference Material

https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1534

https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1534/download