Setting up payments is where most UAE Shopify stores get stuck. Shopify works in the UAE, but payment options depend on your plan and on whether you have a trade licence. Here's a plain-English guide to every option.
The short answer
| Option | Trade licence needed? | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | Yes | Established stores on the right Shopify plan |
| Card gateways (Telr, Network International, Checkout.com, Stripe…) | Yes | Licensed businesses that want card payments |
| Ziina | Check with Ziina (documents are required at sign-up) | Small sellers who want a simple local option |
| Tabby / Tamara (buy now, pay later) | Yes, a registered UAE business | Higher-priced products, fashion, electronics, beauty |
| Cash on delivery | No gateway needed | Starting out, and customers who prefer to pay at the door |
| WhatsApp orders | No gateway needed | Very small catalogues, made-to-order and gifting |
Requirements change, so always confirm with the provider before you build your launch around one option.
1. Shopify Payments in the UAE
Shopify Payments is Shopify's own card processor. It's the simplest option: no separate gateway account, and Shopify's extra transaction fee doesn't apply.
In the UAE it has been rolling out gradually and has been limited to certain merchants and plans (recent reports say it's open to stores on the Advanced plan). You'll need a trade licence, a UAE business bank account and owner ID documents. Check your Shopify admin under Settings → Payments to see whether it's offered to your store.
2. Card payment gateways
If Shopify Payments isn't available to you, a third-party gateway lets customers pay by card. Common choices for UAE Shopify stores include Telr, Network International (N-Genius), Checkout.com and Stripe (for UAE-registered companies).
What they usually ask for:
- A valid trade licence (with an e-commerce or trading activity)
- A UAE business bank account
- Emirates ID and passport of the owner(s)
- A live store with clear refund, shipping and privacy policies
Note: when you use a third-party gateway, Shopify may add its own small transaction fee on top of the gateway's fee. Factor this into your pricing.
3. Ziina
Ziina is a UAE payment app with a Shopify integration. Small sellers like it for its quick setup and fast payouts. Its published fee is a percentage plus a small AED amount per transaction.
Ziina asks for verification documents when you sign up. Some sellers report being approved as individuals, but Ziina's own guidance lists a trade licence among the documents to prepare. Ask Ziina directly whether your situation (freelancer, sole establishment or company) qualifies before you rely on it.
4. Tabby and Tamara (buy now, pay later)
UAE shoppers use Tabby and Tamara heavily, especially for fashion, electronics, furniture and beauty. Customers split the payment, you get paid up front, and stores often see larger orders.
- Tabby has an official Shopify app. You install it, then add your API keys in Shopify's payment settings. It accepts orders with UAE and Saudi billing addresses, in AED and SAR.
- Tamara also offers a Shopify integration, with a similar approval process.
Both require a registered business in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, and they run business checks (KYB) before approving you. Merchant fees are higher than card fees, so they work best on products with healthy margins.
5. Cash on delivery (COD)
COD is still big in the UAE, and it's the easiest way to start: in Shopify, enable "Cash on Delivery (COD)" under manual payment methods.
To make COD work:
- Choose a courier that supports COD and pays out quickly
- Confirm every order by WhatsApp before you ship, which cuts refused deliveries a lot
- Consider a small COD fee, or offer a discount for prepaid orders
6. WhatsApp orders
For small catalogues, custom products or gifting, a "Order on WhatsApp" button is a valid way to start. The customer sends their cart to your WhatsApp, and you confirm and collect payment by payment link or on delivery. It isn't scalable, but it gets you selling on day one.
What we recommend
- No trade licence yet: start with cash on delivery and WhatsApp orders, and check whether Ziina will approve you. Get your licence as soon as orders pick up.
- Trade licence: add a card gateway (or Shopify Payments, if your plan has it), plus Tabby and/or Tamara.
- Always: keep COD available. Many UAE shoppers still choose it.
Let us set it up
Our prebuilt Shopify store for AED 2,000 includes payments that fit your business: Ziina, cash on delivery or WhatsApp orders. If you have a trade licence, we'll also connect card payments and Tabby / Tamara.
Want to know how much the whole store costs? Read How Much Does a Shopify Store Cost in the UAE?
Not sure which payment option fits you? WhatsApp us on +971 52 452 4163.