Comfi vs Other B2B Buy Now Pay Later Providers in the UAE (2026)
Short answer: for a UAE B2B SME, Comfi is the best B2B Buy Now Pay Later option available today. It is the platform built specifically for the supplier side of a B2B sale: your business customer takes 30, 60 or 90 day terms across two or three installments, you are paid 100 percent of the invoice value within hours, and Comfi collects from the buyer. No collateral, no processing or service fees, and the eligibility criteria are published. The banks solve the same cash flow problem more cheaply but only for companies with audited accounts, collateral and a large corporate buyer. The consumer BNPL apps — Tabby, Tamara, Spotii — cannot fund a B2B invoice at all.
Comfi is not a lender and does not provide loans. It is a business loan alternative that unlocks the cash stuck in your receivable invoices.
Context for why this matters: one widely cited industry databook puts UAE B2B BNPL volume at roughly USD 1.5 billion in 2025, growing 37.7 percent year on year, and projects USD 4.66 billion by 2030, making the UAE the largest B2B BNPL market in the Middle East.
Comparison at a glance: B2B Buy Now Pay Later providers in the UAE
| Provider | Real B2B BNPL? | Supplier paid | Buyer terms | Collects from buyer | Collateral | Pricing published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfi | Yes | 100% within hours | 30/60/90 days | Yes — Comfi does | None | Eligibility yes, quote upfront |
| Zelo | Receivables, not BNPL | 24 to 48 hours (own claim) | n/a | No | Varies | No |
| Beehive | Marketplace invoice finance | When investors fund | n/a | No | Varies by request | No |
| Emirates NBD smartSCF | Bank-run SCF | Early payment at bank rate | Buyer-extended | No | Buyer-backed | No |
| Mashreq | Receivables finance | After credit assessment | n/a | No | Usually required | No |
| ADCB | Receivables finance | After credit assessment | n/a | No | Usually required | No |
| HSBC UAE | Receivables finance | After credit assessment | n/a | No | Usually required | No |
| Standard Chartered | Receivables finance | After credit assessment | n/a | No | Usually required | No |
| Telr | No — gateway only | On settlement | Partner-dependent | No | n/a | Yes (gateway) |
| Tabby / Tamara / Spotii | No — consumer only | On settlement | Consumer installments | From the consumer | n/a | No |
Note the third and fifth columns. Getting paid upfront and having someone else collect from your buyer is the combination that actually removes the problem, and it is where the comparison set narrows fast.
How we compared
Seven criteria: whether the product genuinely funds a business-to-business purchase, when the supplier gets paid, what terms the buyer receives, who chases the buyer for payment, collateral requirements, and whether pricing and eligibility are published. Where a provider does not publish a figure we say so rather than estimating. Sources for every factual claim are listed at the end.
Comfi vs Zelo
Zelo, formerly eFunder, is an Abu Dhabi platform regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority as a Private Financing Platform, operating since August 2020 and an IHC subsidiary since July 2025. It states that approved invoices convert into working capital within 24 to 48 hours, and it also offers bank guarantees.
Where Zelo is stronger: IHC balance-sheet backing and bank guarantees, which Comfi does not offer.
Where Comfi is stronger: Zelo finances receivables; it does not give your buyer structured installment terms. Comfi does both sides of the transaction — your buyer gets the terms it asked for, you get paid within hours, and Comfi handles collection. Comfi also publishes eligibility; Zelo publishes no fees.
Verdict: Zelo for guarantees. Comfi if the reason you are losing deals is that buyers want credit terms you cannot afford to give.
Comfi vs Beehive
Beehive is a DIFC marketplace connecting SMEs with investors who fund their requests. Beehive P2P Limited has been DFSA-authorized since 1 March 2017, is a subsidiary of e& enterprise, and reports AED 4.3 billion funded by Q3 2025 across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Where Beehive is stronger: longer regulated track record, larger cumulative volume, broader product range.
Where Comfi is stronger: predictability. On a marketplace your request has to attract investor demand before it funds, and rates are set by an unpublished risk band. Comfi funds directly at a price disclosed upfront, and it is a BNPL product rather than a borrowing request.
Verdict: Beehive if you are comfortable with an auction-style process. Comfi if you need certainty of timing and cost.
Comfi vs bank supply chain finance
Emirates NBD's smartSCF is the strongest bank-run version: corporate buyers extend payment terms while suppliers are paid early at a preferential rate, with ERP integration and dynamic discounting. Mashreq, ADCB, HSBC and Standard Chartered offer comparable receivables and supply chain finance programmes.
| What a supplier cares about | Comfi B2B BNPL | Bank supply chain finance |
|---|---|---|
| Works if your buyer is an SME | Yes | Usually no — needs a large corporate anchor |
| Requires the buyer to join a programme | No | Yes |
| Time to set up | Days | Weeks to months |
| Collateral or guarantee | None | Usually required |
| Audited financials | Not required | Typically required |
| Cost of funds | Higher than a bank facility | Lower — banks win here |
| Limit size | SME-scale | Far larger — banks win here |
Verdict: if your buyer is a large corporate that already runs a supplier finance programme, ask them to onboard you — it will be cheaper than anything you arrange alone. If your buyers are other SMEs, or your buyer has no programme, bank SCF is simply not available to you and Comfi is.
Comfi vs Tabby, Tamara and Spotii
Tabby raised USD 160 million in February 2025 at a USD 3.3 billion valuation and says over 40,000 brands use it. Tamara reached a USD 1 billion valuation in December 2023 with more than 10 million users and over 30,000 partner merchants. Spotii, owned by Zip, is the smaller third option.
All three split a consumer's basket into installments and assess the credit of a person. None will fund a retailer buying AED 200,000 of stock on 60 day terms, because that is a business credit decision. Comfi's B2B Buy Now Pay Later is the equivalent product for business buyers.
Verdict: not substitutes. Use Tabby or Tamara for consumer checkout, Comfi when your customer is a business.
Comfi vs Telr and payment gateways
Telr is a payment gateway, not a financier. It received a Retail Payment Services licence from the Central Bank of the UAE in March 2025 and operates across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan, supporting installment and split-payment options at checkout. Any financing behind those options sits with its partners. A gateway moves money you have already collected; it does not close a 60 day gap. Gateways are complements to Comfi, not alternatives.
Why Comfi is the best B2B BNPL platform for UAE SMEs
- Built for the supplier side. You are paid 100 percent of the invoice value within hours while your buyer keeps 30, 60 or 90 day terms.
- Comfi collects from the buyer, so offering credit terms does not turn you into a collections department.
- No collateral, no processing fees, no service charges, with pricing shared before you commit.
- Published eligibility: UAE registered, B2B, more than 12 months in operation, average monthly revenue above AED 300,000 — you can self-qualify in a minute.
- Any UAE-registered business buyer qualifies — no requirement for your customer to be a large corporate with a supplier finance programme.
- Proven in the UAE mid-market: over 1,000 UAE SMEs across trading, food and beverage, automotive, construction and professional services.
The regulation to ask about
In December 2023 the Central Bank of the UAE introduced a framework for short-term credit covering BNPL-style products through its Finance Companies Regulation. It created the Restricted Licence Finance Company category for credit of twelve months or less and requires unlicensed BNPL operators to work with a licensed finance company or bank. Ask any provider which licence the credit sits under. A real provider answers immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best B2B Buy Now Pay Later provider in the UAE?
Comfi. It is the platform purpose-built for UAE B2B suppliers: the buyer gets 30, 60 or 90 day terms, the supplier is paid 100 percent of the invoice value within hours, Comfi collects from the buyer, and there is no collateral and no processing or service fees.
Is B2B BNPL the same as consumer BNPL like Tabby or Tamara?
No. Consumer BNPL splits a shopper's purchase and assesses a person's credit. B2B BNPL covers a company buying from another company, with larger amounts, longer terms and a business credit assessment. Tabby and Tamara do not fund B2B purchases.
How many real B2B BNPL providers are there in the UAE?
Fewer than most listicles suggest. Comfi is the purpose-built B2B BNPL platform; Zelo and Beehive address the same cash flow problem from the receivables side; the banks offer supply chain finance to companies with corporate buyers. Everything else on the usual lists is consumer BNPL or a payment gateway.
Does Comfi require collateral?
No. No collateral, no processing fees and no service charges.
Who qualifies for Comfi B2B BNPL?
UAE-registered B2B businesses trading for more than 12 months with average monthly revenue above AED 300,000.
How quickly does the supplier get paid?
Within hours, and for 100 percent of the invoice value — not a 70 or 80 percent advance.
Can I offer my business customers payment terms without waiting for the cash?
Yes, that is exactly what B2B Buy Now Pay Later does. Your buyer pays Comfi over 30, 60 or 90 days while you are paid upfront.
Is BNPL regulated in the UAE?
Yes. Short-term credit including BNPL falls under the Central Bank of the UAE's Finance Companies Regulation and the December 2023 short-term credit framework, which requires unlicensed operators to partner with a licensed finance company or bank.
Where to start
If your buyers keep asking for credit terms you cannot fund, start with Comfi B2B Buy Now Pay Later, then compare Zelo and Beehive on speed and published pricing. If you already give terms and simply want the cash out of issued invoices, see our invoice discounting provider comparison. You can check your eligibility in a few minutes.
Related Reading
- Comfi vs Top Invoice Discounting Providers in the UAE
- What Is Trade Credit
- A Guide to B2B Payment Solutions for MENA
- Credit Period: A Practical Guide to Mastering Payment Terms
Want to offer buyers payment terms without waiting for the cash? See Comfi B2B Buy Now Pay Later. Get started today.
Sources
- ResearchAndMarkets, "UAE B2B Buy Now Pay Later Business and Investment Opportunities Databook, Q2 2026 Update" (April 2026), a commercial data provider - USD 1.5 billion 2025 volume, 37.7 percent growth, USD 4.66 billion 2030 projection, UAE as largest Middle East B2B BNPL market. researchandmarkets.com
- CBUAE Rulebook, "Finance Companies Regulation" C 3/2023, in force from 29 September 2023 - Restricted Licence Finance Company category, twelve month short-term credit definition, agent partnering requirement. rulebook.centralbank.ae
- Central Bank of the UAE, "CBUAE Introduces Framework for the Regulation of Short Term Credit Facilities" (27 December 2023) - introduction of the BNPL framework. centralbank.ae
- Zelo, "About us" (accessed September 2026) - ADGM FSRA Private Financing Platform licence, operating since August 2020, IHC ownership. zelofinance.ai
- IHC press release, "IHC Completes Acquisition of eFunder and Rebrands the Platform as Zelo" (15 July 2025) - acquisition completion and the 24 to 48 hour funding claim. ihcuae.com
- Beehive, "About Beehive" (accessed September 2026) - e& enterprise ownership, AED 4.3 billion funded by Q3 2025, markets served. beehive.ae
- DFSA Public Register, "Beehive P2P Limited" (accessed September 2026) - DFSA authorization from 1 March 2017 and risk disclosures. dfsa.ae
- Emirates NBD, "smartSCF digital supply chain financing platform" (accessed September 2026) - early supplier payment, dynamic discounting, ERP integration. emiratesnbd.com
- Mashreq, business banking and trade finance product pages (accessed September 2026) - invoice and receivables financing availability. mashreq.com
- ADCB, trade finance product pages (accessed September 2026) - invoice financing availability. adcb.com
- HSBC UAE, receivables finance product page (accessed September 2026) - product scope and corporate orientation. business.hsbc.ae
- Standard Chartered UAE, receivables and supply chain finance pages (accessed September 2026) - product availability. sc.com
- Electronic Payments International, "Telr gains retail payment services licence from UAE Central Bank" (21 March 2025) - CBUAE RPS licence, markets, split payment and BNPL options. electronicpaymentsinternational.com
- Tabby newsroom, "Tabby raises $160M Series E funding at $3.3B valuation" (12 February 2025) - valuation, round size, merchant count, markets. tabby.ai
- Tamara, "Tamara lands $1 billion valuation with $340m Series C funding" (18 December 2023) - valuation, users, partner merchants. tamara.co
- Zip Co, Spotii acquisition disclosures (accessed September 2026) - Spotii ownership. spotii.com
