Best Payment Gateways for Online Stores in the UAE (2026): Fees Compared

The best payment gateway for a small UAE online store is usually Ziina (2.6% + AED 1 per payment, plus VAT) or Stripe (2.9% + AED 1), both with no monthly fee. Telr becomes cheaper per payment above about AED 50,000 a month. Add Tabby or Tamara for pay-later, and keep cash on delivery for new customers.

This guide compares the main UAE payment gateways by fees, features and who they suit, shows what each would cost a typical store, and explains what you need to sign up.

Fees were checked on 29 October 2026 on each provider's own pricing or help page, except where marked. Gateways change prices and many negotiate rates; confirm before signing. Disclosure: we make Nodi, an online store platform; we don't sell a payment gateway.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the service that lets your online store, payment link or app accept cards and wallets such as Apple Pay. It checks the card, takes the money from the customer and pays it into your bank account, minus a fee.

In the UAE you'll see three types:

Most UAE online stores use one gateway, one or two BNPL options and COD.

What do I need to get a payment gateway in the UAE?

Almost every UAE gateway asks for:

• A valid trade licence that covers online selling (see how to get an ecommerce licence in Dubai)

• Passport and Emirates ID of the owner(s)

• A UAE business bank account in the licence name

• A website or social page showing your products, prices, refund policy, terms and contact details

• For some products (food, cosmetics, supplements), the relevant approvals

Gateways often reject websites without a refund policy or clear prices, so add those first.

UAE payment gateways compared

Sources: Ziina fees page, Stripe UAE pricing page and Telr pricing page, checked 29 October 2026. Telr, Stripe and Ziina fees are subject to 5% VAT. PayTabs, Network International, Tabby and Tamara set merchant pricing individually.

Ziina: best for small UAE sellers

Ziina is a UAE fintech built for small businesses and social sellers. You can take payments by payment link, QR code, Tap to Pay on your phone, or on your website.

• Fee: 2.6% + AED 1 per payment, including VAT; international cards or non-AED currencies add 1.5%

• Monthly fee: none listed

• Good for: Instagram and WhatsApp sellers who send payment links, pop-ups and markets (Tap to Pay), and new stores

Watch for: the extra 1.5% if many of your customers use foreign cards.

Stripe: best for international customers

Stripe is available to UAE businesses with standard pricing and no setup or monthly fees.

• Fee: 2.9% + AED 1 per successful payment with a domestic card; +1% for international cards; +1% if currency conversion is needed

• Payment links: included at no extra charge

• Payouts: on a rolling, weekly or monthly schedule; Instant Payouts cost 1.5% (minimum AED 2)

• Disputes: AED 60 per dispute

• Good for: stores with customers abroad, subscription products and stores with a developer

Watch for: fees are before VAT, and the 1% extras add up for international sales.

Telr: best for growing stores

Telr is a UAE-based gateway with plans that get cheaper per payment as your volume grows.

As listed on Telr's pricing page, 29 October 2026; all fees plus 5% VAT. Above AED 500,000 a month, Telr offers custom pricing.

• Payment links: unlimited on every plan

• Good for: stores selling AED 50,000 or more a month, where there's no monthly fee and the percentage is lower than Ziina or Stripe

Watch for: the monthly fee at lower volumes. A store selling AED 15,000 a month pays AED 199 before transaction fees.

PayTabs: best if you also sell in Saudi Arabia

PayTabs is a regional gateway founded in Saudi Arabia, with UAE merchant accounts and support for Mada (Saudi debit cards) and pay-later options such as Tamara. Pricing is agreed per merchant. Ask for a written quote including setup, monthly and per-transaction fees.

Network International (N-Genius): best for established businesses

Network International is one of the region's largest card acquirers. Its N-Genius Online gateway works on websites, by payment link and in apps, and the same company offers card machines for shops. Pricing is quoted per merchant; a minimum-volume fee may apply if monthly card sales are AED 20,000 or less, so ask for it in writing. It suits businesses with steady volume that want one provider for online and in-store card payments.

Tabby and Tamara: buy now, pay later

Tabby and Tamara let customers split a purchase into instalments, usually four, with no interest for the customer. You're paid the full amount upfront, minus a merchant fee that each company sets per business (third-party guides put it at roughly 3% to 7%, sometimes plus a fixed fee; ask for your rate).

• Why add them: they can increase order size and conversion on higher-priced items like fashion, electronics, furniture and beauty

• How: directly with Tabby or Tamara, or through a gateway or store platform that supports them

• Tabby payment links can be used to sell on Instagram or WhatsApp without a website

Watch for: the merchant fee is higher than a card payment, so price it into your margins.

What will a payment gateway cost my store?

Example: a store selling AED 20,000 a month in 100 orders (AED 200 each), all with UAE cards.

At AED 60,000 a month in 300 orders, Telr's Medium plan becomes the cheapest: about AED 1,575 a month including VAT, against about AED 1,950 for Ziina and AED 2,142 for Stripe.

Estimates from published fees; your real cost depends on card mix, refunds, disputes and any negotiated rate.

How to choose a payment gateway in the UAE

Questions to ask any gateway:

1. What's the total fee per payment, including VAT, for UAE and international cards?

2. Is there a monthly fee, setup fee or minimum volume?

3. How fast are payouts to my bank?

4. Does it support Apple Pay, Google Pay and payment links?

5. Does it work with my store platform?

6. What are the refund and dispute fees?

7. Can I leave without a penalty?

Should I still offer cash on delivery?

For many UAE stores, yes. COD helps first-time buyers trust a new shop, especially on Instagram. But it brings failed deliveries and slower cash. A common approach: offer card, Apple Pay and pay-later first, keep COD as an option, and confirm every COD order before shipping. See cash on delivery for social sellers.

Take every payment in one store with Nodi

Nodi's online store for UAE sellers accepts cards and cash on delivery, in English and Arabic with AED prices. Orders from your store, Instagram and WhatsApp land in one system with one stock count, and Nodi's AI sends customers a Stripe payment link in the WhatsApp or Instagram chat, so they can pay by card without leaving the conversation. Plans start from AED 59 a month, and you can try the full Scale plan for 30 days for AED 3.

Build your online store · Start your AED 3 trial

Related guides: Payment Links in the UAE · How to Sell on Instagram in the UAE · Shopify in the UAE · How UAE Online Stores Sell in 2026

See it in Nodi: Payment links and online payments in Nodi

Frequently asked questions

Which payment gateway is best in the UAE?

For small stores, Ziina (2.6% + AED 1, plus VAT) and Stripe (2.9% + AED 1) have no monthly fee. Telr is cheaper per payment above about AED 50,000 a month. PayTabs suits stores also selling in Saudi Arabia, and Network International suits established businesses.

What are payment gateway fees in the UAE?

Most charge about 2.25% to 2.9% plus AED 0.50 to 1 per card payment for UAE cards, with extra for international cards. Some add a monthly fee. BNPL providers like Tabby and Tamara charge higher merchant fees.

Can I get a payment gateway without a trade licence in the UAE?

Generally no. UAE gateways ask for a valid trade licence and a business bank account. Dubai's e-Trader licence is a low-cost option for home-based sellers; check that your chosen gateway accepts it.

Is Stripe available in the UAE?

Yes. Stripe accepts UAE businesses, with standard pricing of 2.9% + AED 1 per domestic card payment, plus 1% for international cards.

How do I accept Tabby on Instagram or WhatsApp?

Sign up as a Tabby merchant and use Tabby's payment links, or use a store platform that offers Tabby at checkout and share product links in your DMs.

How fast do UAE payment gateways pay out?

It varies by provider and plan, from about a day to a week. Ask each provider before signing, and check whether faster payouts cost extra.

Sources

• Ziina, business fees, checked 29 October 2026 (fees subject to 5% VAT)

• Stripe, UAE pricing, checked 29 October 2026

• Telr, pricing, checked 29 October 2026

• PayTabs, support: Tamara activation

• Tabby, Are there any fees to use Tabby?

• rfp.wiki, Network International comparison pages (third-party; N-Genius pricing structure)

• Salla, BNPL merchant fee estimate (third-party)