You want customers to pay online by card, Apple Pay or Tabby, and every comparison you find gives different fees for the same gateway. Some list Telr plans that do not match Telr's own page, and even Shopify's own pages disagree on which plans get Shopify Payments.
This guide uses only the providers' own pricing and help pages, each read on 28 October 2026: fees, costs at three sales levels, who can sign up, who carries Tabby, and what to ask before you sign. Card fees are one of the running costs covered in our guide to what a website costs in Dubai, year after year.
What does each UAE payment gateway charge in October 2026?
Apart from Telr's flat-fee Startup plan and Mamo's sector rates, published domestic card fees run from 2.25% + AED 0.50 per payment (Telr's Medium plan) to 2.9% + AED 1 (Stripe, Mamo's Growth plan and Shopify Payments on Basic), with monthly fees from nothing to AED 249. Network International, Tabby and Tamara publish no rates, so you get theirs by quote or in your contract.
As published, read on 28 October 2026.
| Provider and plan | Monthly fee | Domestic cards | International cards | VAT on the fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | None | 2.9% + AED 1.00 | Plus 1%, and another 1% if currency conversion is needed | Added unless you give Stripe a valid UAE VAT ID |
| Telr Startup (sales of AED 0 to 9,999 a month) | AED 249 | 0% + AED 0 | 0% + AED 0 | All fees subject to 5% VAT |
| Telr Entry (AED 10,000 to 24,999) | AED 199 | 2.45% + AED 1 | Plus 0.50% | Subject to 5% VAT |
| Telr Small (AED 25,000 to 49,999) | AED 99 | 2.35% + AED 0.50 | Plus 0.50% | Subject to 5% VAT |
| Telr Medium (AED 50,000 and above) | AED 0 | 2.25% + AED 0.50 | Plus 0.50% | Subject to 5% VAT |
| Mamo Growth | AED 0 | 2.9% + AED 1 | 3.4% + AED 1 | Prices exclude VAT |
| Mamo Premium (for AED 50,000 or more a month) | AED 99 | 2.7% + AED 0.80 | 3.2% + AED 0.80 | Prices exclude VAT |
| Ziina Business | None listed | 2.6% + AED 1 | Plus 1.5% (international card or non-AED) | 5% VAT included |
| Amazon Payment Services, Standard plan (under AED 300,000 a month) | AED 200 account management fee | 2.80% + AED 1.0 | "International transactions rates may differ" | Not stated |
| Shopify Payments (Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus) | Shopify plan from USD 24 a month billed yearly | 2.9%, 2.8%, 2.7% or 2.5%, each + AED 1.00 | 3.9%, 3.8%, 3.7% or 3.5%, each + AED 1.00 | Not stated |
| Network International (N-Genius Online) | Quote | Quote | Quote | Quote |
| Tabby and Tamara (pay later) | Contract | Commission set in your contract | Contract | Ask |
What the table does not show
- Stripe charges AED 60 per dispute received and 1.5% for instant payouts, minimum AED 2.00 (Stripe).
- Telr includes payment links, invoices, Apple Pay and Tabby in every UAE plan, and tailors pricing above AED 500,000 a month (Telr).
- Mamo settles in 5 business days on both plans, or the same day for an extra 0.75% (Growth) or 0.5% (Premium), and does not charge Premium's monthly fee in a month with no settlements (Mamo).
- Amazon Payment Services publishes its UAE rates only as images: instalments cost AED 4.00 per transaction and Protect Plus fraud screening AED 0.25 per attempted transaction, with no setup fee and an American Express rate "to be determined" (Amazon Payment Services).
- Network International offers "customized fee structures with zero hidden maintenance costs" but publishes no rates. It accepts domestic card networks such as Jaywan and instant payment networks such as Aani (Network International).
Note: Other 2026 guides print different Telr plans. One Dubai guide, reviewed on 19 August 2026, lists Entry at AED 349 a month with no percentage fee (sales up to AED 20,000), Small at AED 149 plus 2.69% + AED 1, and Medium at AED 99 plus 2.49% + AED 0.50 (businessdubai.ae). Telr's own page shows the plans above, with "0% + AED 0" per transaction on Startup, so get your plan in writing.
Which gateway costs least at your monthly sales?
With AED 200 average payments on domestic cards, Ziina costs least at AED 8,000 and AED 20,000 a month and Telr's Medium plan at AED 60,000, so the answer depends on your volume. Telr's flat Startup plan is only AED 13 behind Ziina at AED 8,000, and Telr's Entry plan costs more than Stripe whatever your order size.
This is arithmetic on the published prices above, before VAT and for domestic cards only, not a quote.
| Provider and plan | AED 8,000 a month (40 payments) | AED 20,000 a month (100 payments) | AED 60,000 a month (300 payments) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | AED 272 | AED 680 | AED 2,040 |
| Telr (plan set by sales) | AED 249 (Startup) | AED 789 (Entry) | AED 1,500 (Medium) |
| Mamo Growth | AED 272 | AED 680 | AED 2,040 |
| Mamo Premium (pitched at AED 50,000 or more a month) | AED 347 | AED 719 | AED 1,959 |
| Ziina Business (VAT taken out) | AED 236 | AED 590 | AED 1,771 |
| Amazon Payment Services | AED 464 | AED 860 | AED 2,180 |
| Shopify Payments at the Basic rate, if your store has it | AED 272 plus your plan | AED 680 plus your plan | AED 2,040 plus your plan |
| Shopify Payments at the Advanced rate | AED 256 plus your plan | AED 640 plus your plan | AED 1,920 plus your plan |
| Shopify Basic with a third-party gateway | That gateway's fees plus AED 160 | That gateway's fees plus AED 400 | That gateway's fees plus AED 1,200 |
The last row adds Shopify's 2% third-party provider fee on Basic (1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced) (Shopify).
Three things that change the answer
- Low volume. Stripe's fee on an AED 200 payment is AED 6.80, so it beats Telr's flat AED 249 Startup plan until about 37 payments, roughly AED 7,300 a month.
- The Entry gap. Telr's Entry rate is 0.45 points below Stripe's, with the same AED 1 per payment. That covers the AED 199 monthly fee only from about AED 44,200 in sales, above the Entry ceiling of AED 24,999, so on domestic cards Entry costs more than Stripe at any order size.
- International cards. If AED 6,000 of the AED 20,000 month came from foreign cards, Telr and Mamo Growth would add AED 30, Stripe and Shopify Payments on Basic AED 60 (Stripe another AED 60 if conversion is needed) and Ziina AED 90 including VAT.
Then add VAT. Telr adds 5% to all its fees, Stripe adds UAE VAT unless it has verified your VAT ID (Stripe), Mamo's prices exclude VAT and Ziina's include it.
Is Stripe available in the UAE, and what does it cost?
Yes. Stripe accepts UAE businesses that hold a valid trade licence or freelancer permit issued in the UAE, and it charges 2.9% + AED 1.00 per successful domestic card payment, with no setup or monthly fees (Stripe).
Stripe's UAE eligibility page lists sole establishments, free zone establishments, LLCs and free zone LLCs, plus branches, and says "We do accept DED eTrader licenses." It does not support individuals without a licence or permit, or non-profits.
What a UAE account gets:
- Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link, with a minimum charge of AED 2.00 (Stripe Support). Tabby is not on the list.
- Products: Payment Links, Checkout, Billing and Tax, so you can sell without a full online shop.
- Payouts: "UAE accounts receive payouts on a T+5 business day schedule", the first payout is delayed by 7 days, and funds go only to UAE bank accounts in AED, with a minimum payout of AED 20.00 (Stripe Support).
- VAT on fees: none "where a valid UAE VAT ID has been provided"; otherwise UAE VAT on all Stripe fees, with a monthly tax invoice (Stripe Support).
Can you use Shopify Payments in the UAE?
Yes, but check your plan first. Shopify's UAE pricing page lists Shopify Payments rates on all four plans, while its changelog of 26 August 2026 says "Merchants on the Advanced plan in the United Arab Emirates can now accept payments through Shopify Payments" and that it "was previously available only to merchants on the Plus plan".
The two official pages disagree on Basic and Grow, so check the payment settings in your own Shopify admin before relying on the Basic rate. If Shopify Payments is not there, you need a third-party gateway and pay Shopify's third-party fee as well.
| Shopify plan | Plan price (USD a month) | Shopify Payments, standard cards | International cards | Third-party provider fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 24 billed yearly, 32 monthly | 2.9% + AED 1.00 | 3.9% + AED 1.00 | 2% |
| Grow | 69 billed yearly, 92 monthly | 2.8% + AED 1.00 | 3.8% + AED 1.00 | 1% |
| Advanced | 299 billed yearly, 399 monthly | 2.7% + AED 1.00 | 3.7% + AED 1.00 | 0.6% |
| Plus | From 2,300 | 2.5% + AED 1.00 | 3.5% + AED 1.00 | 0.2% |
Source: Shopify pricing (UAE), checked 28 October 2026.
Shopify's UAE requirements ask for a company registration number, a UAE-issued trade licence (or a freelancer permit for sole establishments) showing the full legal company name, and an AED checking account with a UAE bank whose IBAN starts with AE. LLCs also need a memorandum of association and proof of the bank account. Savings accounts cannot receive payouts.
Network International lists plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop and OpenCart (Network International), and Tabby supports Shopify (Tabby).
Which gateways need a trade licence, and which offer Tabby?
Every provider that publishes its requirements asks for a registered UAE business: Telr says a valid trade licence is mandatory, Stripe and Shopify Payments accept a trade licence or a freelancer permit, and Tabby requires the business to be legally registered where it operates. Tabby comes built in with Telr and is listed by Mamo, but Stripe does not offer it in the UAE.
| Provider | Who can sign up, in the provider's words | Tabby at checkout | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | UAE-issued trade licence or freelancer permit; DED eTrader licences accepted | Not in Stripe's UAE list | Stripe, Stripe methods |
| Shopify Payments | Trade licence or freelancer permit, company registration number, AE IBAN | Through Tabby's own Shopify connection, signed with Tabby | Shopify, Tabby |
| Telr | A valid trade licence is mandatory | Included in every UAE plan | Telr |
| Mamo | Not stated on the pricing page | Listed as a payment method | Mamo |
| Network International | Not stated on the N-Genius Online page | Buy now, pay later supported | Network International |
| Tabby, signed directly | Legally registered in the country where you operate, with valid business documents and a business bank account | Yes | Tabby |
| Tamara, signed directly | Create a business account and complete verification | Offers its own pay-in-instalments option | Tamara |
The gateway itself also needs a licence. The Central Bank of the UAE's Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Regulation (Circular 15/2021, effective from 6 June 2021 according to the CBUAE Rulebook) "lays down the rules and conditions established by the Central Bank" for licensing retail payment services, which it says "comprise nine categories", including merchant acquiring and payment aggregation. Telr's page, for example, states that "Telr is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE to provide Retail Payment Services" (Telr). Ask every provider for its licence (question 6 below).
What your website needs before you apply
Stripe may review your website as well as your documents. Its website checklist, which it bases on card network rules, asks for:
- a clear description of what you sell, with the price currency stated, because "Listing only the currency symbol may not be enough";
- customer service contacts beyond a contact form (email, phone or chat), and your business address if you have one;
- refund, delivery, return and cancellation policies, unless you have no fulfilment process (for example, in-person services only);
- a privacy policy, the terms of any promotion, and HTTPS on the payment page.
Stripe "might request that you add" what is missing, so publish these pages before you apply.
Note: This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Licensing and VAT rules change, so confirm your own position with the provider, your accountant or a licensed adviser before you sign.
What do Tabby and Tamara charge a business?
Neither publishes a rate. Tabby charges a commission that "may differ from one merchant to another based on factors such as industry and business profile", plus "a small, standard fee applied to each successful order", and says "both fees already include payment gateway charges" (Tabby). Tamara's page promises "clear fees with no hidden costs" but lists none (Tamara).
- Tabby is open to online and in-store merchants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with an active sales channel, social media included (Tabby). It supports Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento 2, OpenCart, Salla, Zid and others (Tabby).
- Tamara connects by plugin or API, lets customers "Pay in up to 4 installments", and lists Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Salla and Zid connections (Tamara).
Which gateway suits your type of business?
Match the gateway to how you sell: low-volume payment links favour providers with no monthly fee, and higher volumes favour Telr's lower tiers or a negotiated quote.
- Salons, spas and clinics taking deposits or selling packages: for payment links sent after bookings, a provider with no monthly fee (Stripe, Mamo Growth or Ziina) usually costs less at low volume. Our guide to WhatsApp bookings and reminders for salons and clinics shows where a payment link fits in the booking chat.
- Cafes and restaurants: compare your gateway cost with what you pay delivery apps. Our guide to Talabat and Deliveroo commission and your own ordering website does the sum.
- Retailers on WooCommerce or a custom site who want Tabby: Telr includes it in every UAE plan and Mamo lists it; or sign with Tabby directly, which has a WooCommerce connection.
- Shopify stores: use Shopify Payments if your admin offers it; otherwise budget the third-party fee.
- Real estate: Mamo lists sector pricing of 1.12% + AED 0.70 on UAE cards with no monthly fee, because "some industries have custom pricing due to card network and regulatory requirements" (Mamo). Ask others whether a sector rate applies.
- Tourist-facing businesses: Telr and Mamo's standard plans add the smallest published international surcharges, 0.5 points.
- AED 50,000 or more a month: Telr's Medium plan has no monthly fee and Mamo Premium lowers both parts of its fee; also get a written quote from Network International.
If you are also building or rebuilding your site, Hoorax builds websites that take card payments for UAE businesses and connects the gateway you choose, and the website cost calculator gives you a first budget.
What should you ask a payment gateway before you sign?
Ask for the full fee schedule, VAT treatment, payout timing and licence in writing, then run the answers through the worked example. Copy these questions into an email to each provider:
- Which plan will I be on at my current monthly sales, and what happens when my sales move into another tier?
- What is the rate for UAE cards, international cards, American Express, Apple Pay and Tabby, and who bills the Tabby commission?
- Is 5% VAT included in these prices or added, and do you charge VAT if I give you my TRN?
- Are there setup, monthly, payout, refund, dispute or chargeback fees, and how much is each?
- How many business days until money reaches my bank, is my first payout delayed, and do you hold back a reserve?
- Which Central Bank of the UAE licence do you hold, and in which company's name?
- Which platforms do you connect to (Shopify, WooCommerce or a custom site), and who maintains the connection?
- How long is the contract, and what does it cost to leave?
- Will the account be in my company's name, not my web agency's? See hiring a web design company in Dubai.
- Can checkout pages and receipts appear in Arabic? Online sellers should read whether your website needs Arabic.
Can someone set this up for you?
Yes. Hoorax is a web studio in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, that builds websites for UAE businesses, including online shops and booking sites that take card payments. We connect the site to the gateway you choose after comparing the options above, and the gateway account stays in your company's name, not ours. See what a build covers on our website design page, check our packages, then send us a WhatsApp message with your monthly sales and the platform you use.