Your checkout page is the most expensive page on your website. Every extra second of loading, every confusing step, every missing payment method costs you a completed order.
In the UAE, payment preferences are specific: credit and debit cards dominate, Apple Pay is mainstream, Tabby and Tamara have made buy-now-pay-later an expectation, and cash on delivery still accounts for 30-40% of orders depending on the product category. The payment gateway you choose determines which of these methods your customers can use — and how much you pay per transaction for the privilege.
This guide compares the payment gateways available to UAE ecommerce sellers with real fee structures, supported payment methods, settlement timelines, and integration complexity.
How We Evaluated
We assessed payment gateways across the criteria that directly impact UAE ecommerce revenue and costs:
- Transaction fees — percentage + fixed fee per successful transaction in AED
- Supported payment methods — cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, local cards
- BNPL integration — Tabby and Tamara support alongside card processing
- Settlement period — how quickly you receive your funds
- Platform integration — Shopify, WooCommerce, custom API availability
- Onboarding requirements — documents, trade license requirements, approval timeline
- Currency support — AED as primary, multi-currency for GCC cross-border
Quick Comparison
| Gateway | Transaction Fee | Settlement | Apple Pay | BNPL | Shopify Integration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tap Payments | 2.75% + AED 1.00 | 2-3 days | Yes | Tabby, Tamara | App | UAE-focused sellers |
| HyperPay | 2.5-3.0% + AED 1.00 | T+3 to T+7 | Yes | Tabby, Tamara | API | Multi-GCC sellers |
| PayTabs | 2.85% + AED 1.00 | 2-3 days | Yes | Limited | Plugin | Budget-conscious |
| Checkout.com | Custom pricing | 2 days | Yes | Tamara | API | High-volume sellers |
| Stripe | 2.9% + AED 1.00 | 7 business days | Yes | No native | Native | Shopify/tech sellers |
Fees are approximate based on publicly available pricing as of early 2026. Actual rates depend on volume, business type, and negotiation.
Tap Payments: The Local Leader
Tap Payments is the most widely used payment gateway among UAE ecommerce sellers. Built in the Middle East, Tap understands the regional payment landscape — including the importance of Apple Pay, local card networks, and BNPL integration.
Transaction fees: 2.75% + AED 1.00 per successful transaction (standard). Volume discounts available above 5,000 transactions/month.
Supported payment methods:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay
- Mada (for Saudi transactions)
- Tabby and Tamara integration
- KNET (for Kuwait), Benefit (for Bahrain)
Settlement: 2-3 business days to your UAE bank account. Weekly settlement available for lower volumes.
Key strengths:
- Purpose-built for the Middle East with native Arabic support
- Strongest BNPL integration — connects Tabby and Tamara directly in the checkout flow
- Pre-built Shopify app with straightforward setup
- Accepts UAE trade license (mainland and most free zones) without extensive documentation
- Local customer support team accessible during UAE business hours
Limitations:
- Transaction fees are not the lowest for high-volume sellers — enterprise gateways with custom pricing become cheaper above 10,000 transactions/month
- Limited international coverage outside MENA
- Settlement speed is slower than Checkout.com
At 1,000 transactions/month with AED 200 average order value: Monthly processing cost = (AED 200 x 2.75% + AED 1.00) x 1,000 = AED 6,500
Best for: UAE ecommerce sellers who want a reliable local gateway with strong BNPL integration and do not need international payment method coverage.
HyperPay: GCC-Wide Coverage
HyperPay operates across the GCC with strong presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Their advantage is multi-country coverage from a single integration.
Transaction fees: 2.5-3.0% + AED 1.00, depending on payment method and volume. Mada (Saudi debit) transactions are lower.
Supported payment methods:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Apple Pay, Mada
- STC Pay (Saudi Arabia)
- Tabby, Tamara
- Sadad, Fawry (for regional coverage)
Settlement: T+3 to T+7. Weekly batching for lower volumes.
Key strengths:
- Single integration covers UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan
- Strong Mada card support for Saudi transactions (lowest fees)
- Direct Tabby and Tamara integration
- Robust fraud detection and 3D Secure implementation
- Experience with enterprise-level UAE merchants
Limitations:
- Higher base fees than Tap Payments for standard card transactions
- Onboarding is slower — expect 1-3 weeks for account approval
- No pre-built Shopify app — requires API integration or third-party connector
- Documentation is less polished than competitors
Best for: Sellers who sell across multiple GCC countries and want a single gateway for all markets. Particularly strong for sellers with significant Saudi Arabian customer base.
PayTabs: Budget-Friendly Option
PayTabs offers competitive pricing and straightforward integration for UAE sellers who need a reliable, no-frills gateway.
Transaction fees: 2.85% + AED 1.00 for standard card transactions. Volume discounts available.
Supported payment methods:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Apple Pay
- Mada (Saudi)
- Limited BNPL options
Settlement: 2-3 business days.
Key strengths:
- Competitive pricing close to Tap Payments
- Shopify plugin available
- Quick onboarding — most accounts approved within 3-5 business days
- Pre-built plugins for WordPress/WooCommerce, OpenCart, and Magento
- Invoice payment links for B2B and social commerce sellers
Limitations:
- BNPL integration is more limited than Tap Payments or HyperPay
- Fewer supported payment methods overall
- Less sophisticated fraud prevention compared to Checkout.com
- Customer support response times can be slow during peak periods
Best for: Small to mid-sized sellers who want competitive rates, standard card processing, and quick setup without complex integration requirements.
Checkout.com: Enterprise Performance
Checkout.com is a global payment processor with a strong UAE presence. Their strength is high-volume processing with optimised acceptance rates and fast settlement.
Transaction fees: Custom pricing (enterprise only, contact sales for rates). Negotiated rates available for high-volume merchants.
Supported payment methods:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Tamara integration
- Multiple alternative payment methods
Settlement: 2 business days — the fastest standard settlement among UAE gateways.
Key strengths:
- Potentially lowest effective cost for high-volume sellers (above 10,000 transactions/month)
- Fastest settlement — 2 business days standard, with next-day available for enterprise
- Highest acceptance rates — Checkout.com’s smart routing optimises transaction success
- Advanced fraud prevention with machine learning
- Comprehensive API with detailed documentation
- Multi-currency processing for international sales
Limitations:
- Onboarding is selective — they target established businesses, not startups. Minimum monthly volume requirements may apply.
- No pre-built Shopify app — requires API integration
- Higher complexity — not a plug-and-play solution for non-technical sellers
- Support is enterprise-focused — smaller sellers may not get priority attention
At 10,000 transactions/month with AED 200 average order value (Tap Payments for comparison): Tap Payments: (AED 200 x 2.75% + AED 1.00) x 10,000 = AED 65,000 Checkout.com’s custom rates for high-volume merchants are typically lower than standard gateway pricing, resulting in meaningful monthly savings at this scale. Contact Checkout.com sales for an exact quote.
Best for: Established ecommerce businesses processing 5,000+ transactions/month who want the lowest per-transaction cost and fastest settlement.
Stripe: Global Standard
Stripe launched in the UAE in 2022 and offers its globally standardised payment processing. For sellers already familiar with Stripe from other markets or using Shopify, it is the simplest integration.
Transaction fees: 2.9% + AED 1.00 per successful transaction. No volume discounts publicly listed.
Supported payment methods:
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- No native BNPL integration in UAE
Settlement: 7 business days (standard for UAE). Timeline may improve with account history.
Key strengths:
- Native Shopify integration — zero development required
- Best developer documentation of any gateway
- Stripe Dashboard is the industry standard for transaction management
- Stripe Radar for fraud detection is excellent
- Multi-currency support for international sales
- Stripe Connect for marketplace businesses
Limitations:
- Highest transaction fees — 2.9% is above all local competitors
- No BNPL integration — you need separate Tabby/Tamara integration
- Settlement takes 7 business days standard, slower than local competitors
- UAE-specific payment methods are limited compared to Tap Payments or HyperPay
- Account approval can be stringent — some UAE businesses report difficulty qualifying
Best for: Tech-savvy sellers using Shopify who want the simplest possible setup and are willing to pay a premium for Stripe’s developer experience and global capabilities.
Our Verdict
For most UAE ecommerce sellers: Start with Tap Payments. It offers the best balance of competitive pricing, local payment method coverage (including Tabby and Tamara BNPL), Shopify integration, and UAE-based support. At standard volumes, the 2.75% + AED 1.00 rate is competitive, and the BNPL integration alone can increase your average order value by 15-25%.
For high-volume sellers (5,000+ transactions/month): Evaluate Checkout.com. Their custom enterprise pricing can result in significant savings at scale compared to standard gateway rates. The faster settlement also improves cash flow.
For Shopify sellers who want zero hassle: Stripe is the simplest setup, but you pay for that simplicity with higher fees and no native BNPL. Consider Tap Payments’ Shopify app as an alternative that matches Stripe’s simplicity with lower fees and BNPL.
For multi-GCC sellers: HyperPay offers the broadest GCC coverage from a single integration, particularly strong for sellers with Saudi Arabian customers using Mada cards.
The payment gateway that costs less per transaction is not always the cheapest option. Factor in BNPL conversion impact, settlement speed (which affects cash flow), and integration complexity (which affects your time and development costs).
Keep Reading
- Tabby for Ecommerce Sellers — deep dive on how Tabby BNPL works for merchants
- Tamara vs Tabby — head-to-head comparison of the UAE’s two largest BNPL providers
- Best Payment Gateway for Ecommerce: UAE — browse the full UAE payments directory