The best payment gateway in the UAE is the one that fits your business model: it accepts the methods your customers use (cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, buy now pay later, and the domestic Jaywan card), settles in AED to your account at a pace that suits you, supports subscriptions and refunds if you need them, and integrates easily with your site or app. Well-known names include Network International (N-Genius), Telr and Checkout.com, with Tabby and Tamara for BNPL.
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What is the best payment gateway in the UAE?
The honest answer: the best payment gateway in the UAE is the one that fits your business model, not the one with the biggest billboard. A small perfume shop selling through Instagram needs quick payment links and Apple Pay; a subscription platform needs recurring billing and secure card storage; a delivery app needs to split payments between parties. Each case has a better fit.
Well-known names in the UAE include Network International with its N-Genius platform, Telr and Checkout.com, alongside BNPL providers Tabby and Tamara and wallets such as Apple Pay. Since July 2026 the domestic Jaywan card has been issued, and it can be accepted online through Network International. This guide does not rank these names; it gives you a method to choose yourself.
For a detailed comparison of the three best-known gateways, read Network International vs Telr vs Checkout.com. If you also sell in Saudi Arabia, the options there differ; see the local payments guide.
Terms to understand before you compare
| Term | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Gateway | The technology that takes card details at checkout and passes them securely for processing |
| Acquirer | The licensed party that accepts the transaction on your behalf and settles funds to your account |
| Aggregator | A provider that onboards many merchants under its own account, usually faster to join |
| Settlement | When and how money reaches your bank account in AED |
| BNPL | The customer pays in installments; the merchant is paid by the provider minus its fee |
| 3D Secure | An extra verification step by the issuing bank that reduces fraud and disputes |
| Tokenization | Storing a card as a secure token with the provider so you can charge again without holding card data |
Some providers combine gateway and acquiring; others offer only the gateway and work with acquiring banks. That difference affects onboarding speed, settlement time and who you call when something goes wrong.
Eight criteria that decide the choice
| Criterion | Why it matters | Ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Payment methods | Customers leave if their preferred method is missing | Do you support Apple Pay, Google Pay, Jaywan and BNPL on one checkout? |
| Settlement | Affects cash flow, especially in peak seasons | How many days to settle? Directly in AED? |
| Full fees | The percentage is not the whole story | What are the setup, monthly, refund, dispute and foreign card fees? |
| Integration | Decides build time and customer experience | Do you have a documented API, hosted checkout, payment links and webhooks? |
| Subscriptions | Essential for memberships and paid apps | Do you support recurring charges and tokenized cards? |
| Refunds and disputes | Drive your daily operations workload | Can I refund partially from the dashboard or API? |
| Security | Protects you from fraud and liability | Is 3D Secure on? What fraud tools do you offer? |
| Support | Payment problems cannot wait | Is support available in Arabic? What are the hours in Ramadan and Eid? |
Known options in the UAE market
This is a general overview of what each option is, not a rating. Features change, so always confirm with the provider directly.
- Network International (N-Genius): one of the largest payment processors in the region, offering an online gateway and in-store POS terminals. A fit if you want online and in-person payments with one provider, and it is the route for accepting Jaywan online.
- Telr: an online payment gateway founded in the UAE that targets small and medium merchants, with payment links and plugins for common store platforms.
- Checkout.com: a global payments company with a presence in Dubai, usually suited to growing or cross-border businesses that want one API and many payment methods.
- Tabby and Tamara: the leading BNPL providers in the Gulf, added alongside your main gateway rather than instead of it. See Tabby and Tamara for UAE merchants.
- Apple Pay: not a gateway itself but a wallet enabled through your gateway. Make sure yours supports it on the web and in-app.
Your business bank may also offer online acceptance through a partnership with a processor. And because the domestic Jaywan card is rolling out, read what Jaywan means for your checkout before you sign.
What do you need to sign up with a gateway?
- 1A valid licence with the right activity
Mainland, free zone or e-Trader licence, with an activity that covers selling what you sell online.
- 2Owner and signatory ID
Emirates ID or passport for owners and authorized signatories, as the provider requires.
- 3A bank account in the company name
Settlement usually goes to a business account matching the licence name, not a personal one.
- 4A site or app ready for review
About, terms, returns and privacy pages, prices in AED and contact details.
- 5A clear business description
What you sell, average order value, expected volume, and whether you sell abroad.
- 6Integration and testing
A sandbox first, then going live after the provider approves.
Those pages are not a formality; providers review them because UAE law on trading by modern technological means expects transparency with customers. See the UAE e-commerce law in plain language.
Which kind of gateway suits you?
- You are starting small or selling from home through social media
- You need payment links to send on WhatsApp
- You want ready plugins for your store platform
- Your sales are mostly local and in AED
- You have a shop and an online store and want one provider
- You sell to customers in many countries and currencies
- You need subscriptions or split payments between parties
- Your volume lets you negotiate better terms
Either way, add BNPL if your average order value is relatively high, as with electronics, furniture, perfume or courses, and make sure Apple Pay sits at the top of the mobile checkout.
How do you add the gateway to your app?
After approval comes the technical part: a checkout, a webhook confirmation, order status updates, an invoice and refunds. Fanann builds these pieces from one description. The general steps are in how to add payments to your app.
Add online payments to my UAE store. Prices in AED including 5% VAT. At checkout, show Apple Pay first on mobile, then cards with 3D Secure, then Tabby for eligible orders. Use the gateway's hosted payment page and never store card data. On success, receive the webhook confirmation, mark the order as paid, issue a tax invoice and send a confirmation by email and WhatsApp. On failure, show a clear message in Arabic and English with a retry option. In the admin dashboard, add full and partial refunds, a daily sales report by payment method, and payment links I can send to customers on WhatsApp.
Try it in Fanann- List the payment methods your customers actually use.
- Get written quotes from at least three providers.
- Compare the full cost on a real month of sales.
- Prepare your licence, bank account and policy pages.
- Test the mobile checkout before launch.
Key takeaways
- No gateway is best for everyone; the right choice depends on your size, channels and your customers' preferred payment methods.
- Compare on eight criteria: methods, settlement, full fees, integration, subscriptions, refunds and disputes, security and support.
- Apple Pay and BNPL through Tabby and Tamara are now expected by UAE shoppers in many sectors.
- Have your licence, company bank account and policy pages ready before applying to speed up approval.
- Get written quotes from more than one provider and test the mobile checkout before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best payment gateway in the UAE?
Do I need a trade licence to get a payment gateway in the UAE?
How do I add Apple Pay to my UAE store?
Should I add Tabby and Tamara instead of a gateway?
How much does a payment gateway cost in the UAE?
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