In this paper, multi‐users (MU) communications are considered based on the cognitive ratio (CR) technique. Multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) and non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) are proposed to be merged with CR for the sake of improving the achievable throughput and satisfying user fairness. Moreover, utilizing MIMO‐NOMA enables the CR users to be served in the coverage network without the need for spectral sensing. Three scenarios are assumed in this paper to investigate the performance of each CR secondary user (SU) in the presence of single or multiple primary users (PUs). Pairing algorithms are proposed and applied to obtain optimum throughputs and outage probabilities, in which the algorithms are employed to select a PU with an SU to be coupled in a pair, depending on allocating the required power for each user, taking into account that any PU has the priority to reach its required throughput. Moreover, mathematical expressions have been derived for each case to evaluate the required power allocation factor and the achievable throughput for each user. Furthermore, the proposed algorithms show successful and satisfactory achievable rates and outage probabilities.