Media licence for games in the UAE

Video games are a licensed media activity under Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023, in force since 1 December 2023. Since 1 January 2026 the regulator is the National Media Authority (NMA), which took over from the UAE Media Council.

UAE permissions in general are on government permits and licences. What the stores themselves demand is a separate check, the store compliance audit. Our other services in the country are on the UAE page.

Two documents, in a fixed order

For the company

A Media Licence of a Commercial Nature. The NMA describes the activity it covers as «distributing and importing electronic video games within the country».

For each game

A Digital Electronic Video Games Circulation Permit, one per title, filed with the IP certificate and a copy of the game or a link to it. It is accepted only after the company licence exists.

Which row your distribution falls in

Read the first row as an exception, not the normal state. Someone has to exclude the UAE deliberately in each store, then check it again with every update and every platform added later.

Stores publish a title to all their regional storefronts unless told otherwise. Leave the UAE switched on in a single store, and the company is in the second row.

The IP certificate

No permit is issued without a Ministry of Economy and Tourism certificate covering that specific game. Three kinds of applicant can obtain one: the author, whoever holds the rights, or an agent with notarised papers.

A publisher without rights of its own can still get one onto the file:

• the studio takes the certificate in its own name and hands it over for the application;
• the publisher acts for the studio on a notarised power of attorney;
• the publisher applies for itself, if the publishing agreement has transferred enough of the exclusive rights.

Nothing requires the holder to be an Emirati entity; a rights holder registered abroad is accepted. It is not a trademark filing, which belongs to IP registration. Who holds which rights is settled in the publishing agreement.

When the NMA's own age rating is needed

It comes up with boxed copies and code-to-content cards only, since the category has to appear on the box. The UAE does not take part in IARC, so whatever rating the store shows does not count here. A purely digital release needs no rating of its own.

Other rating systems are covered by age rating evaluation.

What the NMA charges

What a breach costs

Fines are set by Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025, in force since 29 May 2025. A media activity without a licence costs AED 10,000 the first time, with thirty days from notice to put it right.

The second time it is AED 40,000. If the breach is still not fixed, the establishment is closed administratively until it is.

Not renewing the licence within thirty days of expiry costs AED 150 a day, up to AED 3,000. With no renewal application within ninety days of expiry, the licence is cancelled.

Beyond fines, the decree-law provides for a warning, closure for up to six months, permanent closure of an unlicensed establishment and cancellation of licences and permits.

Sources: Federal Decree-Law 55 of 2023, its implementing regulation and Cabinet Decision 42 of 2025; fees and the licence wording — the NMA pages for the game permit and the media licence.