SACEM Signs Agreement with the EMRA

Photo Credit: SACEM

SACEM signs a representation agreement with the Emirates Arts & Music Rights Association (EMRA), the first collective rights organization in the UAE.

The Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers of Music (SACEM) has announced the signing of a landmark representation agreement with the Emirates Arts & Music Rights Association (EMRA), the not-for-profit and first Collective Management Organization (CMO) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The move is a major turning point for creators’ rights in the country and marks a significant step for the protection and fair remuneration of creators, authors, composers, and publishers in the UAE.

Creators in the UAE will now, for the first time, benefit from a collective rights management system that ensures royalties are fairly collected and distributed, both locally and internationally. Thanks to its non-profit status, the CMO ensures that management fees are regulated and reinvested in the service of creators. The system aims to empower the creative community and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional hub for culture and entertainment.

SACEM, which represents the largest Arabic-language repertoire in the world, has long been active in the Gulf region. In the UAE, SACEM has joined forces with the International Federal of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) to design a bespoke framework for the collection of both authors’ and neighboring rights, another first for the region.

“This partnership is the result of years of dialogue,” said Cécile Rap-Veber, CEO of SACEM. “It embodies SACEM’s mission to ensure that creators are fairly remunerated and to support the emergence of strong cultural infrastructures wherever creativity thrives. We are also committed to fostering the development and efficiency of collective management organizations around the world, as key pillars of a fair and sustainable creative economy. The UAE’s step forward is visionary, and we are honored to contribute to this new chapter.”

“This collaboration with SACEM represents a major step forward in aligning the UAE’s creative sector with global standards. It reinforces our role as a collective management organization committed to strengthening creators’ rights and positioning the UAE as a leading cultural hub in the region,” said Adnan Al-Obthani, Chairman of EMRA.

In a constantly changing environment, SACEM remains committed to creating more value for the 224,470 authors, composers, and publishers whose author rights it represents. SACEM has become one of the world leaders in collective management, especially in the digital environment. It collects royalties from streaming platforms in nearly 200 territories on behalf of its members.