Guide · Shopify in the UAE

Shopify in the UAE: payment gateways, Tabby and Tamara

Q: How do I add Tamara to Shopify?

Sign up as a Tamara partner, then add Tamara as a payment method using its free Shopify app. No coding is needed.

Which payment options UAE Shopify stores can use in 2026, what each one costs where it’s published, how buy-now-pay-later works, and how to set up cash on delivery.

By Velozgida Technologies · Updated 9 November 2026

Quick answer

Yes, UAE-based Shopify stores can now use Shopify Payments, but only on the Advanced and Plus plans (Shopify announced Advanced access in August 2026). It accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay, and pays out in AED. On other plans, use a third-party gateway such as Telr, PayTabs, Network International (N-Genius) or Checkout.com, which adds a Shopify fee of 0.2–2% per order depending on plan. Tabby and Tamara add buy-now-pay-later through their own Shopify apps.

Payment options for UAE Shopify stores

Option	How it works on Shopify	Source
Shopify Payments	Built in; Advanced and Plus plans for UAE stores. Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay. AED payouts to a UAE business IBAN	Shopify
Telr	Free app on the Shopify App Store (Dubai-based developer)	Shopify App Store
PayTabs UAE	App on the Shopify App Store; cards and digital wallets	Shopify App Store
N-Genius Online (Network International)	Free app on the Shopify App Store; supports 3D Secure	Shopify App Store
Checkout.com	Offsite (hosted payment page) and onsite Shopify apps	Checkout.com docs
Tabby (buy now, pay later)	Tabby Payment App; UAE and KSA billing addresses; AED and SAR	Tabby docs
Tamara (buy now, pay later)	Free Shopify payment app; requires Tamara partner sign-up	Tamara
Cash on delivery	Shopify manual payment method; no third-party transaction fee	Shopify

Checked against official Shopify, Tabby, Tamara and Checkout.com pages on 9 November 2026. Many older blog posts still say Shopify Payments is unavailable in the UAE; that is out of date.

Shopify Payments in the UAE: who can use it

Shopify lists the UAE among its Shopify Payments countries, and in August 2026 it extended access from Plus to the Advanced plan. To qualify, Shopify’s help centre says you need a company registration number and one of these business types: LLC, Free Zone LLC, Sole Establishment or Free Zone Sole Establishment (non-profits are not eligible). Payouts go in AED to a UAE checking account with an IBAN starting “AE”. Savings, wire-only and multi-currency accounts are not accepted.

Shopify Payments in the UAE is for online sales only; in-person sales need a separate terminal from another processor. Payouts take at least 5 business days to settle, with a minimum payout of AED 20.

What it costs: Shopify plans and transaction fees

Shopify’s UAE pricing page lists these monthly plan prices (USD, billed monthly): Basic $32, Grow $92, Advanced $399, and Plus from $2,300. They are lower if you pay yearly.

Shopify Payments card rates: 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% / 2.5% + AED 1.00 per online transaction (Basic / Grow / Advanced / Plus), and 3.9% / 3.8% / 3.7% / 3.5% + AED 1.00 for Amex and international cards.
Extra Shopify fee with a third-party gateway: 2% / 1% / 0.6% / 0.2% per order, on top of whatever the gateway itself charges. This applies to all third-party and alternative gateways, even if Shopify Payments is also switched on.

In practice, a store on Basic or Grow using Telr or PayTabs pays both the gateway’s rate and Shopify’s 1–2% fee, so compare total cost per order, not just the plan price.

Tabby and Tamara: buy now, pay later

Buy-now-pay-later is widely used in the Gulf. Tabby reported 15 million+ users and 40,000+ sellers when it raised funding in February 2025 (Bloomberg), and Tamara announced 20 million+ customers and 87,000+ merchants in September 2025 (Arab News).

Tabby: install the Tabby Payment App, register with Tabby for live API keys, add them in the app, set up the webhooks Tabby lists, then activate. Tabby on Shopify accepts UAE and KSA billing addresses and processes in AED and SAR; your store language must be English or Arabic. Customers can split payments into four, and you are paid upfront.
Tamara: sign up as a Tamara partner (Tamara notes a waiting list), then add Tamara as a payment method through its free Shopify app; no coding is needed. Customers pay in up to four instalments, and you are paid upfront.

Neither Tabby nor Tamara publishes its merchant fee; it depends on your agreement with them. Remember that BNPL apps count as alternative payment methods, so Shopify’s third-party fee for your plan applies to those orders too.

Setting up cash on delivery

Cash on delivery is set up as a manual payment method: in Shopify admin go to Settings → Payments, choose Cash on Delivery (COD) from the manual payment methods, add any instructions for customers, and activate it. COD orders show as unpaid until you mark them paid after collecting the money. Manual payment methods don’t carry Shopify’s third-party transaction fee.

VAT on UAE Shopify stores

The UAE standard VAT rate is 5%, in force since 1 January 2018. Shopify also charges UAE stores 5% VAT on their Shopify bill; if your business is VAT-registered, you can add your 15-digit Tax Registration Number in Shopify’s billing settings to be exempt. For how VAT should appear on your own prices and invoices, check with your accountant.

Which setup should you choose?

New store on Basic or Grow: start with one UAE gateway (Telr, PayTabs, N-Genius or Checkout.com), plus Tabby or Tamara if your average order value suits instalments, plus COD if your customers expect it.
Growing store: once fees from a third-party gateway add up, compare the cost of moving to Advanced and using Shopify Payments, which removes Shopify’s extra fee on card payments.
Selling to Saudi Arabia too: Tabby supports both UAE and KSA billing addresses on Shopify.

Whatever you choose, test a real order end to end (card, Apple Pay, BNPL and refund) before launch.

Need a Shopify store set up for the UAE?

We build Shopify stores with UAE gateways, Tabby or Tamara, cash on delivery and Arabic/English storefronts. Book a free 20-minute call for a fixed AED quote.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Shopify Payments available in the UAE?

Yes, for UAE-based stores on the Advanced and Plus plans. Shopify extended it to Advanced in August 2026. Stores on Basic or Grow need a third-party gateway such as Telr, PayTabs, N-Genius or Checkout.com.

How much are Shopify transaction fees in the UAE?

With Shopify Payments, online card rates are 2.9%, 2.8%, 2.7% or 2.5% + AED 1.00 depending on plan. With a third-party gateway, Shopify adds 2%, 1%, 0.6% or 0.2% per order on top of the gateway’s own fee.

How do I add Tabby to my Shopify store?

Register with Tabby for live API keys, install the Tabby Payment App from the Shopify App Store, enter the keys, set up the webhooks Tabby lists, then activate it. It accepts UAE and KSA billing addresses.

How do I add Tamara to Shopify?

Can I offer cash on delivery on Shopify in the UAE?

Yes. Activate Cash on Delivery (COD) under Settings → Payments → manual payment methods. COD orders are marked paid once you collect the money, and no third-party transaction fee applies.

Sources

Market figures are as published by each source and were checked on 9 November 2026. Sources define categories differently, so treat ranges as a guide rather than a quote.