Every UAE store owner asks us the same question. Which payment option should I use? The honest answer is that most stores need two or three, not one. Here's what each one costs, when you get your money, and who it suits.
The quick comparison
| Option | What it costs you | When you get paid | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | No public UAE rate yet, check your admin. No extra Shopify fee | At least 5 business days | Established stores on a plan that has it |
| Ziina | 2.6% + AED 1 per payment | Instantly to your Ziina wallet, 1 to 2 days to your bank | Small and new stores |
| Mamo Pay | From 2.9% + AED 1 (free plan), lower on paid plans | A few days, same day costs extra | Growing stores that want payment links too |
| Tabby | Around 4% to 7%, agreed with Tabby | Weekly in most cases | Orders above AED 300 |
| Tamara | Around 4% to 8%, agreed with Tamara | Weekly in most cases | Orders above AED 300 |
These numbers are from November 2026 and they change. VAT is added on the fee. Always check the latest price with the provider before you decide.
What does one AED 300 order really cost?
Percentages are hard to feel. So here is one AED 300 order, paid with a UAE card.
- Ziina takes about AED 8.80 plus VAT
- Mamo Pay on the free plan takes about AED 9.70 plus VAT
- Tabby or Tamara take somewhere between AED 12 and AED 24
- Shopify Payments depends on the rate Shopify gives your store
There's one more cost people forget. If you use any payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own fee on top. On the Basic plan that's 2%, so another AED 6 on the same order.
Shopify Payments
This is Shopify's own card payment. Everything sits in one dashboard, and Shopify doesn't charge its extra fee.
The catch is that it's still rolling out in the UAE. It isn't open to every store or every plan yet, and Shopify hasn't published a public UAE price. Go to Settings, then Payments in your Shopify admin to see if your store can use it. Payouts take at least 5 business days, and new stores can wait longer at the start.
Use it if your store already has it available. It keeps things simple.
Ziina
Ziina is a UAE payment app. You get paid fast, it's simple to set up, and the price is clear. It charges 2.6% + AED 1 per payment, plus 1.5% more for foreign cards or other currencies.
The money lands in your Ziina wallet straight away. Moving it to your bank takes 1 to 2 days.
Use it if you're starting out, you sell small items, and you want your money quickly.
Mamo Pay
Mamo is another UAE option, and it's popular with small businesses. The free plan starts at 2.9% + AED 1 per UAE card payment. Paid plans bring the rate down, which makes sense once you sell more each month.
You get paid within a few days. Same-day payouts cost a bit extra. Mamo also gives you payment links and invoices, so it's handy if you sell on WhatsApp and Instagram as well as your store.
Use it if you're growing and want one tool for your store and your payment links.
Tabby and Tamara
These are the "pay in 4" options. Your customer splits the price into parts, but you get the full amount (minus the fee). Tabby or Tamara takes the risk if the customer doesn't pay.
They cost more than cards. Fees are agreed with each store, and most stores pay somewhere between 4% and 8%. Payouts are usually weekly, and both can hold back part of your money as a safety amount.
So why use them? People in the UAE love splitting payments. A customer who won't pay AED 800 today will often say yes to four payments of AED 200. Stores that add them usually see bigger orders.
Use them if your average order is above AED 300 and you have a healthy margin. Fashion, beauty, perfume, furniture and electronics are a good fit.
You need a registered UAE business for both.
Don't forget cash on delivery
Many UAE shoppers still want to pay at the door. Keep it on, but confirm every order on WhatsApp before you ship. That alone cuts a lot of refused orders.
So which one should you use?
- Just starting? Ziina plus cash on delivery
- Selling every day? Ziina or Mamo Pay for cards, plus Tabby or Tamara
- Shopify Payments open on your store? Use it for cards, and add Tabby or Tamara
- Orders above AED 300? Tabby or Tamara are worth it
You don't have to pick only one. Most good UAE stores show two or three payment options, and the customer picks.
Want to see how to set each one up? Read our guide to accepting payments on Shopify in the UAE.
Let us set it up for you
Our Shopify store for AED 2,000 comes with your payments connected. Shopify Payments, Ziina, Mamo Pay, Tabby, Tamara and cash on delivery, whichever fit your business.
Not sure which one fits you? WhatsApp us on +971 52 452 4163 and we'll tell you in two minutes.