Best Payment Gateways in UAE 2026: Features, Fees and Comparison

Choosing the right payment gateway is one of the first decisions any UAE business faces when selling online or collecting payments digitally. The wrong choice means lost transactions, high fees, and integration headaches. The right one gives you a smooth checkout experience, reliable settlements, and room to grow.

The UAE payment gateway market has matured significantly in the past two years. Local providers now compete with global platforms, and the options available go far beyond simple card processing. This guide compares the top payment gateways operating in the UAE in 2026, breaks down their features and pricing, and helps you decide which one fits your business.

UAE Payment Gateways Compared at a Glance

| Gateway | Best for | Published UAE pricing | Monthly / setup fee | Settlement | Local acquiring in the UAE |

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

| Network International | Enterprise, online + in-store | Not published; quoted on volume | Setup fee and monthly minimum typically apply | Per merchant agreement | Yes – its own acquiring licence, direct with Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and UnionPay |

| Telr | Startups and SMEs | Volume-banded: 2.45% + AED 1 (AED 10k–25k/mo), 2.35% + AED 0.50 (25k–50k), 2.25% + AED 0.50 (50k+). International cards +0.50% | AED 249/mo under AED 10k, AED 199 to 25k, AED 99 to 50k, none above AED 50k | 2–3 business days | Licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE for retail payment services |

| PayTabs | Multi-country MENA operations | Not published – quoted per merchant | No setup or monthly fee on the standard plan | 2–3 business days | Via local acquiring partners in each market |

| Tap Payments | Developers, platforms, marketplaces | Not published – quoted per merchant | No setup fee on standard accounts | T+3 standard; T+5 on marketplace accounts | Via local acquiring partners; settles in USD by default unless you request AED |

| Amazon Payment Services | Mid-size to large ecommerce | Not published; quoted on volume | Custom | Standard UAE cycle is weekly (7 days), set by your acquiring bank | Yes – via Mashreq, First Abu Dhabi Bank, RAKBank or Network International |

| Checkout.com | High-growth businesses going international | Not published; custom for all merchants | Custom | T+2 for AED balances | Yes – local acquiring in the UAE |

| Stripe | SaaS and subscription businesses | 2.9% + AED 1 for domestic cards, higher for international | No setup or monthly fees | First payout 7–14 days, then on your chosen daily, weekly or monthly schedule | No local acquiring entity; operates as a licensed provider |

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Rates checked against each provider's published pricing and documentation in September 2026. Only Telr and Stripe publish full UAE card rates; the rest quote on volume, so treat the figures above as a starting point for negotiation and ask for a written fee schedule that includes international-card surcharges, FX margin, chargeback and payout fees. All UAE gateway fees are subject to 5% VAT, and every provider requires a valid trade licence.

What to Look for in a UAE Payment Gateway

Before comparing specific providers, here are the factors that matter most for UAE businesses:

• Supported payment methods: Cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX), Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and local options like Tabby or Tamara for consumer BNPL.
• Multi-currency support: Essential if you sell to customers across the GCC or internationally. Look for AED, SAR, USD, and EUR at minimum.
• Settlement speed: How quickly funds land in your bank account after a transaction. This ranges from next-day to T+7 depending on the provider.
• Integration options: Pre-built plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento matter for ecommerce. API quality matters for custom builds.
• Compliance: PCI DSS certification, Central Bank of UAE licensing, and 3D Secure support are non-negotiable.
• Pricing transparency: Some providers bundle everything into a flat percentage. Others charge setup fees, monthly fees, and per-transaction fees separately.

Top Payment Gateways in UAE for 2026

1. Network International

Network International is the largest payment processor in the Middle East and Africa, processing over 50% of all digital transactions in the UAE. If you have ever tapped a card at a POS terminal in Dubai, it probably ran through Network's infrastructure.

Best for: Large businesses, enterprises, and brick-and-mortar retailers that need both online and in-store payment processing.

Key features:

• Full omnichannel solution covering online payments, POS terminals, and mobile payments
• Direct acquiring relationships with Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, and UnionPay
• Advanced fraud management and 3D Secure 2.0
• Dedicated account management for larger merchants

Pricing: Custom pricing based on transaction volume. Setup fees and monthly minimums typically apply. Best suited for businesses processing above AED 100,000 per month.

2. Telr

Telr is a Dubai-based payment gateway built specifically for the MENA region. It is popular with startups and SMEs because of its straightforward onboarding and competitive pricing for smaller volumes.

Best for: Startups, SMEs, and ecommerce businesses looking for quick setup and MENA-focused support.

Key features:

• Supports 120+ currencies and 30+ payment methods
• Built-in invoicing tools for sending payment links via email or WhatsApp
• Hosted payment page (no coding required) plus full API for custom integrations
• Social commerce features for Instagram and Facebook selling
• Recurring billing for subscription businesses

Pricing: Telr bands its pricing by monthly volume, and the monthly fee falls as you grow: AED 249 per month below AED 10,000 of processing, AED 199 up to AED 25,000, AED 99 up to AED 50,000, and no monthly fee above that. Transaction rates run from 2.45% + AED 1 on the entry band down to 2.25% + AED 0.50 above AED 50,000, with international cards charged an extra 0.50%. All fees are subject to 5% VAT and a valid trade licence is mandatory. No long-term contracts required.

3. PayTabs

PayTabs operates across the MENA region with strong presence in UAE and Saudi Arabia. It positions itself as a full payments ecosystem rather than just a gateway.

Best for: Businesses operating across multiple MENA countries who want a single payment partner for the region.

Key features:

• Presence in UAE, KSA, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman with single integration
• Managed payment pages plus direct API integration
• Built-in fraud prevention with machine learning
• Supports card payments, Apple Pay, mada (Saudi debit), and SADAD
• Marketplace and split payment capabilities

Pricing: PayTabs does not publish its UAE card rates, and quotes per merchant based on volume and industry. There is no setup or monthly fee on the standard gateway plan. Ask for a written fee schedule covering the per-transaction rate, international-card surcharge and FX margin before you sign.

4. Tap Payments

Tap Payments has grown rapidly across the GCC, with a developer-first approach that has made it popular among tech companies and platforms building payment features into their products.

Best for: Tech-savvy businesses, platforms, and marketplaces that need flexible payment APIs.

Key features:

• Clean, well-documented API with SDKs for iOS, Android, and web
• Supports Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and KNET
• Connect and Marketplace features for multi-party payment flows
• Pre-built plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms
• Instant onboarding for businesses in UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman

Pricing: Tap does not publish a public rate card and quotes per merchant; there is no setup fee on standard accounts. One detail worth raising during onboarding: Tap settles UAE merchants in USD by default, so request AED-native settlement to avoid paying an FX margin twice.

5. Amazon Payment Services

Formerly known as Payfort, Amazon Payment Services is one of the most established payment gateways in the region. The Amazon backing provides reliability and scale.

Best for: Mid-size to large ecommerce businesses that prioritize stability and proven infrastructure.

Key features:

• Supports 14 countries across the MENA region
• Advanced tokenization for recurring payments and one-click checkout
• Robust fraud management with configurable risk rules
• Batch invoicing and payment link generation
• Strong reporting and analytics dashboard

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business size and volume. Generally competitive for businesses processing over AED 50,000 monthly.

6. Checkout.com

Checkout.com is a global payment processor with a strong MENA presence, including a Dubai office. It serves some of the region's largest businesses including ride-hailing apps, travel platforms, and marketplaces.

Best for: High-growth businesses with international ambitions that need a single global payment partner.

Key features:

• Global coverage with local acquiring in 50+ countries
• Unified API for cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and alternative payment methods
• Enterprise-grade uptime and scalability
• Intelligent payment routing for higher approval rates
• Detailed analytics and machine learning fraud detection

Pricing: Custom pricing for all merchants. Typically competitive for businesses processing above AED 500,000 monthly.

7. Stripe

Stripe launched in the UAE in 2022 and has quickly become the preferred choice for developers and SaaS companies. Its global reputation for clean APIs and documentation carries over to the UAE market.

Best for: SaaS businesses, subscription companies, and developers who want best-in-class APIs.

Key features:

• Industry-leading API documentation and developer experience
• Stripe Billing for subscriptions, Stripe Connect for marketplaces
• Supports 135+ currencies with automatic currency conversion
• Radar fraud prevention included in standard pricing
• No-code payment links and hosted checkout pages

Pricing: 2.9% + AED 1 per successful card charge for domestic cards. Higher rates for international cards. No setup or monthly fees.

How to Choose the Right Gateway for Your Business

The best payment gateway depends on your business model, transaction volume, and growth plans:

• Just starting out and selling online: Telr or Stripe give you the fastest path to accepting payments with no long-term commitments.
• Selling across the GCC: PayTabs or Tap Payments offer multi-country support from a single integration.
• Running a marketplace or platform: Tap Payments (Connect) or Stripe (Connect) handle multi-party payment flows natively.
• Enterprise with high volume: Network International or Checkout.com provide custom pricing and dedicated support.
• Need online plus in-store: Network International is the strongest omnichannel option in the UAE.

Payment Gateways and Cash Flow: The Bigger Picture

Getting paid is only half the equation. Most B2B businesses face a gap between when they deliver a product or service and when they actually receive payment. A customer might pay through your gateway within seconds, but if you are selling to other businesses on net 30 or net 60 terms, you could wait weeks or months for that cash.

This is where the payment collection infrastructure (your gateway) connects to the broader working capital challenge. Your gateway handles the transaction. But your cash flow strategy determines whether you have the capital to fulfill the next order while waiting for the last one to settle.

For B2B businesses in the UAE, solutions like invoice discounting complement your payment gateway by unlocking cash from unpaid invoices within hours rather than waiting the full payment cycle. You can also use the invoice discounting calculator to see exactly how much working capital you could free up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest payment gateway in the UAE?

It depends on your monthly volume, and the answer is less obvious than the headline rates suggest. Telr bands its pricing by volume and the monthly fee falls as you grow: AED 249 per month below AED 10,000 of processing, AED 199 to AED 25,000, AED 99 to AED 50,000, and no monthly fee at all above AED 50,000, where the rate is 2.25% + AED 0.50. That makes Telr the cheapest published rate in the UAE for any business processing more than about AED 50,000 a month. Below roughly AED 18,000 a month, the AED 99 to AED 249 monthly fee outweighs the lower percentage and Stripe's published 2.9% + AED 1 with no monthly fee works out cheaper. Do the arithmetic on your own volume before you sign, and remember to add 5% VAT.

Which UAE payment gateways have no monthly fees?

Stripe charges no setup or monthly fees and publishes its rates openly. Tap Payments and PayTabs charge no setup fee on standard accounts, though neither publishes its UAE per-transaction rate. Telr drops its monthly fee entirely once you process above AED 50,000 a month. These are the practical choices for businesses in their first year or with irregular volume.

What is the best payment gateway for a startup in the UAE?

Telr and Stripe give you the fastest path to accepting payments without a long-term commitment. Choose Telr if you want MENA-focused support, built-in invoicing and a local licence; choose Stripe if you have developers, want the best API documentation, or want a rate you can check before you talk to sales. If your monthly volume is still small and unpredictable, Stripe's zero fixed cost is the safer starting point.

Which providers offer local acquiring in the UAE?

Network International holds its own acquiring licence with direct relationships with Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and UnionPay, and processes over half of all digital transactions in the country. Checkout.com offers local acquiring in the UAE as part of its 50+ country footprint. Amazon Payment Services acquires through UAE banks including Mashreq, First Abu Dhabi Bank, RAKBank and Network International. Local acquiring matters because domestically acquired transactions typically see higher authorisation rates and avoid cross-border fees.

How quickly do UAE payment gateways settle funds?

Telr and PayTabs settle in two to three business days. Tap Payments runs T+3 as standard and T+5 on marketplace accounts. Checkout.com makes AED balances available at T+2. Amazon Payment Services settles weekly in the UAE, with the exact cycle set by your acquiring bank. Stripe schedules a first payout 7 to 14 days after your first live payment, then follows the daily, weekly or monthly schedule you choose. If you sell B2B on credit terms, note that settlement speed only governs the gap between the card payment and your bank account – it does nothing about the 30 to 60 days you wait for the invoice itself.

Can I use a UAE payment gateway without a registered business?

No. UAE payment gateways are regulated entities and onboarding requires a valid trade licence and a corporate bank account, so individuals and unregistered sellers cannot open a merchant account. If you are testing an idea before licensing, sell through a marketplace or platform that processes payments under its own merchant account until you are registered.

How do I send a payment link to a customer in the UAE?

Most gateways here support it without any development work. Telr includes invoicing tools that send payment links by email or WhatsApp, Stripe offers no-code payment links and hosted checkout pages, and Amazon Payment Services supports batch invoicing and link generation. For B2B sellers, payment links are often the fastest way to collect against an invoice without building a checkout at all.

Which payment platform is best for scaling into the wider Middle East?

PayTabs and Tap Payments both give you several GCC markets from a single integration, which avoids running a separate provider in each country. Checkout.com is the stronger option if your ambitions extend beyond the region and you want one global partner with local acquiring in each market.

Next Steps

Before committing to a payment gateway, request a demo or trial account from your top two choices. Test the checkout experience, evaluate the reporting dashboard, and check settlement timelines against your cash flow needs.

If you are building a B2B business and want to improve how you manage the gap between invoicing and getting paid, get started with Comfi to explore how invoice discounting and B2B BNPL can strengthen your cash position alongside your payment gateway.

Sources

All pricing, settlement and acquiring details on this page were checked against the following sources in September 2026. Where a provider does not publish its UAE rates, this page says so rather than repeating a third-party figure.

1. Telr, “Pricing and Plans”, telr.com/pricing (accessed September 2026) – volume bands, monthly fees, per-transaction rates and international-card surcharge.
2. Stripe, “Pricing – United Arab Emirates”, stripe.com/ae/pricing (accessed September 2026) – domestic and international card rates.
3. Stripe Documentation, “Payouts”, docs.stripe.com/payouts (accessed September 2026) – first-payout timing and payout schedules.
4. Checkout.com Documentation, “Payouts and settlement”, checkout.com/docs (accessed September 2026) – AED settlement timing and local acquiring markets.
5. Amazon Payment Services, “Help and FAQs”, paymentservices.amazon.com (accessed September 2026) – UAE settlement cycle and acquiring bank partners.
6. Tap Payments, tap.company (accessed September 2026) – product scope, supported markets and settlement terms.
7. PayTabs, site.paytabs.com (accessed September 2026) – product scope and plan structure.
8. Network International, network.ae (accessed September 2026) – acquiring licence and card-scheme relationships.
9. Central Bank of the UAE, “Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Regulation”, centralbank.ae – the licensing regime under which UAE payment gateways operate.