Dubai Ministry cracks down on permissions laws: Updated

The underground music scene in Dubai has been dealt another blow as the DTCM has decided to tighten up on regulations that have apparently been in place since the permissions system began.

Musicians are now not allowed to socialise with audience members at all before or after their set. The actual law states that musicians must arrive for their set, play and leave the venue directly after they have played.

Fines for disobeying these rules range from Dh10,000 to Dh20,000.

This means that many audience members who come down to chat to band members after their sets and friends of the band members who have come down to support them will be sorely disappointed.

“Band members are not circus animals, you cannot keep them caged before and after the set and pack them away once they have finished entertaining. No bands will want to play under these conditions!” said a Dubai-based event organiser. “This will destroy the growing independent music scene completely and international bands and music lovers will think twice about coming here.”

We hear, although this remains unconfirmed, that this law was originally implemented as some house bands/entertainers in various venues in Dubai were soliciting customers after their set. However, it seems a shame this rule has been implemented across the board, particularly for underground bands and independent musicians who have little chance to be heard as it is.

The new crackdown has caused a furore in social networking, with many calling for musicians to email the Ministry or even the higher authorities to plea for a change to this law.

This weekend a local venue was fined Dh20,000 one hour after the live music had finished. According to the venue, the band member was leaving the bar when they were stopped by a customer for a chat.

“I can’t believe they came up with this stupid rule. Doesn’t make sense at all. It’s the death of music if this rule persists. Anyway at one point when I was about to leave the bar one of my friends stopped me to say goodbye. They had come all the way from another Emirate to watch us play and I think it’s everyone’s right to  at least bid farewell to their friends. After that the band went straight out,” said a UAE-based musician who was caught by the DTCM ‘socialising with audience members’ – causing the venue to be fined.

Another musician, who also wishes to remain anonymous told us this:

“After finishing our show, people started coming up to me and my band mate to ask us questions about where are we from and we couldn’t simply ignore them since it was all band related, but we tried to keep it as short as possible and to finish the conversation as soon as possible so we can sit in the specified booth. There were alot of people talking to us. Eventually we got called out by two or three guys wearing suits who we believe work for the hotel and they ask us to step outside. but as we approached the entrance, they told us to never mind and you can go back, so right after that we left the bar,” he said. “If there should be a rule like this, the crowds should be told not to talk to the bands after they finish the set, because even if the bands don’t want to talk the crowd comes up to band and talks to them and the band can’t ignore them. We stayed in the “specified” booth until our turn came up to play on stage. As soon as we finished out set the show was over and that’s when people started showing up and talking to us.”

The venue where this band played was also fined.

Other laws include:

• The instrument that a band member plays MUST now be stated on the permissions application
• No bands/band members under the age of 21 can play in a bar/venue serving alcohol
• All events must have permissions even if they are unticketed
• As per the new DTCM regulations, all entertainment, except wedding and birthday celebrations must apply for entertainment permit.

We have emailed the DTCM to ask for a full list of the regulations, but at the time of publishing have not received a reply.

* we are not publishing names of venues, organisers or our sources to protect their privacy.

Permissions – The Basics:

If your event involves any form of live entertainment, you must apply for an Entertainer’s Permit with the Dubai
Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), which you have to do through DWTC.
The permit will not be valid for days that coincide with a religious occasion, during which entertainment activities
are prohibited. Neither will it be valid during daylight hours throughout the holy month of Ramadan, unless prior
permission has been obtained.
If you do not apply for the Entertainer’s Permit on time (3 weeks before the performance) or if you do not receive
an approval and the performance goes ahead, please note that you will be subject to a fine issued by DTCM.
Live Entertainment is classified as singers, musicians, fashion show models, dancers, masters of ceremony, DJs and band players.
You do not require permission but a letter of notification of no objection for the following:

Entertainment that is part of an opening ceremony

Cartoon characters attending the show as part of the event

Models displaying uniforms on exhibition stands

Hair and/or makeup competition on exhibition stands

Performance related to products displayed (e.g. playing on musical instruments to demonstrate their
quality).
Please ensure that the entertainers’ dress codes respect the local culture.

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