UAE Approves Music Nation as First Music Rights Body in the Gulf

The UAE has officially authorised Music Nation to operate as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) — a pivotal step towards recognising and rewarding the people behind the music.

For decades, artists across the Middle East have heard their songs in clubs, cafés, malls and on television, often without receiving payment. This wasn’t due to piracy, but to a systemic lack of infrastructure. Now, with the backing of global entities such as BMI and SoundExchange, Music Nation is positioned to license music usage, monitor plays and ensure royalties reach songwriters, performers, producers and rights holders.

The UAE’s new legal framework brings it closer to international standards and builds on the groundwork laid by pioneers like PopArabia’s ESMAA, which has spent years cataloguing works and establishing databases to support regional creators.

The change comes at a crucial time. According to IFPI, MENA was the world’s fastest-growing music market in 2023, posting a 22.8% revenue increase — with 99.5% of that growth driven by streaming. Listeners in the region now consume an average of 27 hours of music each week, far exceeding the global average.