Every stream pays two things: the recording, which reaches you through your distributor, and the song, meaning the melody and lyrics. The song side, called publishing, is collected by authors' societies, also known as collective management organisations. In much of the Arab world these societies are new, small or not yet operating, which is why so much songwriting money from the region goes unclaimed.
Country by country
| Country | Society | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | EMRA | Licensed by the Ministry of Economy in April 2025 as the first collective management organisation in the UAE |
| United Arab Emirates | Music Nation | Granted a permit as a second organisation in June 2025 |
| Saudi Arabia | None operating yet | The new copyright law provides for collective management organisations, but none was operating at the time of the source |
| Egypt | SACERAU | Collects performance and mechanical royalties |
| Morocco | BMDA (Bureau Marocain du Droit d'Auteur) | Collects performance and mechanical royalties |
| Algeria | ONDA | Collects performance and mechanical royalties |
| Tunisia | OTDAV | Collects performance and mechanical royalties |
For countries not listed, we did not find a society in the sources we checked. Ask your national copyright office before assuming there is none.
What to do as a songwriter
- Know who owns the song. Agree the writing splits in writing before release; a society can only pay people it can identify.
- Join the society where you live, if there is one. Register each song with its writers and their shares.
- If your country has none, ask an established society abroad whether it accepts writers from your country. Rules differ by society.
- Keep your credits consistent. The writer names on your releases should match the names you register.
Where this fits with distribution
A distributor delivers your recordings and pays the recording royalties. Songwriting royalties are collected separately, through societies or a publisher. Our mechanical rights guide and guide to joining a performing rights organisation explain the two sides in more detail.
With Mazufa
Releasing with Mazufa is free: no upload fee, no subscription and no per-release fee, with the revenue share set out in your written agreement. Send full writer credits with every release, so the songs can be matched when you register them. Apply at mazufa.com/apply.
Sources
- Songtrust, Collection Society Database (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) — https://www.songtrust.com/collection-society-database
- CISAC, Ministry of Economy grants Emirates Music Rights Association license — https://www.cisac.org/Newsroom/articles/ministry-economy-grants-emirates-music-rights-association-license-protect-rights
- Baker McKenzie, UAE music licensing update: second collective management organization approved (August 2025) — https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/alerts/2025/08/united-arab-emirates-music-licensing-update-second-collective-management
- Soundtrack Your Brand, Music licenses for business in Saudi Arabia — https://www.soundtrack.io/licensing/saudi-arabia/
On the limits of this guide. Collective management in the region is changing quickly. Check each society's own website before joining. This is not legal advice.