Curated, licensed music for your venue, with every play logged.
Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026 sets a Ministry-approved tariff for public performance. Any commercial venue that plays music will need an annual licence from a licensed collective management organisation. Today there are two: EMRA and Music Nation.
Playing without a licence can mean fines of AED 10,000 to 100,000, and up to AED 500,000 for repeat offences.
Each body covers its own members' catalogue. A mixed playlist may need both licences, and we found no public lookup of which body covers which track.
Law firms advise venues to keep a log of what played, where and when. That log is also your evidence if an inspector asks.
Consumer Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube accounts are not licensed for business use.
Designed for owners and managers with a business to run. You set it up once and it keeps going.
Venue type, size and opening hours, plus prayer-time and Ramadan preferences.
We work out your tariff from the Ministry matrix and prepare your application to EMRA, Music Nation or both.*
Curated, licensed playlists change through the day and keep playing if the internet drops.
Each track is recorded with its industry ID and matched to the body that represents it.
* For now, the licence is issued in your business's name and you pay the licensing body directly. We are working towards agreements with EMRA and Music Nation so we can file and pay on your behalf. None exist today.
Each type of space has its own tariff. Lahn works out which one applies to you.
Priced by number of seats
Priced by seats, on a higher scale
Priced by floor area
Rooms by star rating. Restaurants and shops are licensed separately.
A quick estimate based on the tariff as reported in the press. The licence itself is issued in your business's name by EMRA or Music Nation.
Indicative only. Based on press and law-firm summaries of Annex 1 to Ministerial Resolution No. 136 of 2026, not the official guide. It is not yet clear whether the fee is paid to each body separately or shared between them. Please confirm with EMRA or Music Nation. Excludes VAT.
Pick a programme and press play. These are real 90 second previews, licensed from Pixabay.
| # | Track | Licence basis | Time |
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We are looking for 10 to 20 UAE venues to try Lahn around 1 December 2026. In the pilot we will provide curated music, help you prepare your licence and keep a full record of what you play.
Founded by Kosta Karatamoglou, Abu Dhabi.
We are building an app for venue managers to play, schedule and check their music log. It will come to iPhone and Android after the pilot.
hello@lahn.ae
Straight answers on the new rules. This is not legal advice. For your own situation, speak to EMRA, Music Nation or a UAE IP lawyer.
Yes, if you play music in a commercial venue. From 1 December 2026 you need an annual public-performance licence from a Ministry-licensed collective management organisation. Education, government, national occasions and private non-commercial events are exempt.
They are the two bodies licensed by the Ministry. EMRA is a non-profit founded by artists, licensed in April 2025, with a representation agreement with SACEM. Music Nation is a private, Emirati-led company, licensed in June 2025 and partnered with BMI and SoundExchange. They divide music by catalogue, so a mixed playlist may need licences from both.
As reported, about AED 1,500 to 6,000 a year for a café or restaurant with background music, AED 1,700 to 20,000 for a shop, and up to AED 25,000 for hotel rooms. Mall common areas are capped at AED 50,000. Please confirm with EMRA or Music Nation.
No. Lahn is an independent, early-stage venture. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the Ministry of Economy & Tourism, EMRA, Music Nation or the Cultural Support Fund.