Best payment gateways for a UAE online store (2026)
For a UAE online store in 2026, the best payment gateways are Telr, Tap, Stripe, PayTabs and Network International. They all settle in AED and support Visa, Mastercard and (mostly) Apple Pay — the real difference is fees, setup speed and which platform you use. Here's how to choose — and a WooCommerce developer in Dubai can integrate and test any of them for you.
The quick answer
All five major UAE gateways will let you take card payments and settle in AED. For most small and mid-size Dubai stores:
- Fastest, developer-friendly setup: Tap or Stripe
- Most established UAE option: Telr or Network International
- Strong regional coverage (GCC + Arabic): PayTabs or Tap
- Best for international cards + clean APIs: Stripe
Fees and features compared
| Gateway | Typical fee (UAE cards) | Setup fee | AED settlement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telr | ~2.69% + AED 1 | Often AED 0–350 | Yes | Established UAE SMEs |
| Tap | ~2.5–2.9% | Usually AED 0 | Yes | Fast setup, GCC + Apple Pay |
| Stripe | ~2.9% + AED 1 | AED 0 | Yes | International cards, clean API |
| PayTabs | ~2.69% + AED 1 | Often AED 0–500 | Yes | Arabic + regional coverage |
| Network International (N-Genius) | Negotiated / volume-based | Varies | Yes | Higher-volume merchants |
Telr
One of the longest-established UAE gateways, with strong local bank relationships and support for AED plus multiple currencies. Good all-round choice for a Dubai SME that wants a known, locally-supported provider. Integrates well with WooCommerce and works with Shopify as an external gateway.
Tap Payments
A regional favourite for speed: onboarding is quick, the developer experience is good, and it supports Apple Pay, mada, KNET and cards across the GCC. Excellent when you sell across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf. Native WooCommerce and Shopify integrations.
Stripe
Now available to UAE businesses, Stripe has the cleanest API and dashboards, great international card acceptance and strong fraud tools. Ideal if you sell to customers outside the UAE or want the smoothest developer integration. Slightly higher headline fee, but the reliability and tooling often justify it.
PayTabs
A Saudi/UAE gateway with strong Arabic-language support and coverage across the MENA region. A solid pick if your customers are regional and you want localised checkout and support.
Network International (N-Genius)
A major UAE acquirer, best suited to higher-volume merchants who can negotiate volume-based rates. Setup is more involved but pricing can be very competitive at scale.
How to choose in practice
- Sell mostly to UAE customers? Telr, Tap or Network are all safe, locally-supported choices.
- Sell across the GCC / need Apple Pay + mada? Tap is usually the smoothest.
- Sell internationally? Stripe gives the best global card acceptance.
- Want Arabic-first checkout and regional support? PayTabs or Tap.
- High monthly volume? Negotiate directly with Network International or your bank's acquirer.
A note on WooCommerce vs Shopify
On WooCommerce, you connect any of these gateways directly and pay only the gateway's fee. On Shopify, because Shopify Payments has limited UAE availability, you'll use one of these as an external gateway — which adds Shopify's 1–2% third-party transaction fee on top. For a high-volume UAE store, that extra Shopify fee is a real reason some brands choose WooCommerce. See the full platform comparison.
Not sure which gateway fits your store and margins? Tell me your setup and I'll recommend and configure the right one, including VAT and AED settlement.