Protecting Intellectual Property and Boosting Creative Industries in the UAE 🔥
Economy Department Grants Second Music Copyright Permit to Music Nation Entity
In a noteworthy move, the UAE Ministry of Economy has handed out its second collective music management license, this time to Music Nation. This elegantly underscores the nation's unwavering commitment towards safeguarding intellectual property rights and reinforcing its strides in the creative sector.
The occasion was marked by a ceremony at the Ministry's Dubai headquarters, graced by high-ranking officials such as Under-Secretary Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh and Assistant Under-Secretary for Intellectual Property Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini.
This licensure empowers Music Nation to manage and distribute rights for music creators and performers across the country. This move follows in the footsteps of the Emirates Music Rights Association, who received the first such license under the UAE's Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on copyright and related rights back in April 2025.
Al Saleh asserted that this strategic milestone aligns with the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries 2031. This initiative is geared towards fostering a globally competitive creative economy, spearheading talent, innovation, and eco-friendly growth within the sector.
Dr. Al Muaini underscored the music industry's explosive growth, citing Dubai's 350 live music venues and a projected national streaming market blooming from US$841.9 million in 2024 to a staggering US$2.3 billion by 2030. The Ministry remains steadfast in its resolve to establish robust legal structures and advocate for fair remuneration for creators.
Music Nation's Chairwoman, Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, declared that the organization is primed to rise as a prominent force in music licensing, safeguarding rights holders and illustrating the UAE's rich cultural tapestry.Expected strategic partnerships with global entities like BMI and SoundExchange promise to amplify transparency and revenue distribution.
This initiative signifies a monumental leap in solidifying the UAE as a regional powerhouse for music and creative ventures.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
📌 Insights:
- The UAE's National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries 2031 is a far-reaching initiative that aims to propel the cultural and creative sectors into significant contributors to the country's economy. This strategy targets a sizable contribution of 5% to the UAE's GDP by 2031, preserving and promoting Emirati culture while fostering innovation and diversity in creative fields, and seeking global recognition as a hub for creative industries.
- Integral to this strategy are new regulations and licenses, such as the music management license, infrastructure development, education and training programs, and strategic alliances with international players to enhance transparency and revenue distribution. This strategy integrates with other national visions, such as the "We the UAE 2031" vision, emphasizing innovation and economic diversification, and the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, leveraging technology to boost creative industries.
The move to grant a music management license to Music Nation, in alignment with the UAE's Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021, demonstrates the strategic integration of finance and business in fostering innovation within the UAE's creative economy, as outlined in the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries 2031. As Music Nation forges strategic partnerships with global entities like BMI and SoundExchange, it is expected to elevate the economy by enhancing transparency and revenue distribution in the music industry.
