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Adding Tabby and Tamara in the UAE: BNPL for merchants

How to add Tabby and Tamara to your UAE store or app: how BNPL works for merchants, onboarding documents, integration steps, refunds and mistakes to avoid.

Fanann Team9 min read
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Quick answer

To add Tabby and Tamara in the UAE, apply as a merchant with each provider using a valid licence and a website that shows its policies clearly, then add the pay-later option at checkout through their API, a ready plugin, or a payment gateway that supports them. The customer splits the price into installments according to the provider's terms and their eligibility; the merchant receives the order value from the provider minus its fee, and the provider collects from the customer.

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How do you add Tabby and Tamara to your UAE store?

In short: adding Tabby and Tamara in the UAE takes three stages. First, apply as a merchant with each provider using your licence and website. Second, once approved, add a 'pay later' option to your checkout, through the provider's API, a ready plugin for your store platform, or a payment gateway that shows it on its own page. Third, test the full path: approval, order confirmation, shipping and refunds.

Tabby and Tamara are the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) providers in the Gulf, operating in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. For the customer the idea is simple: split the order price into installments, subject to the provider's terms and their eligibility. For the merchant: receive the order value from the provider minus its fee, without carrying the risk of collecting installments.

If you also sell in Saudi Arabia, the steps are similar but the regulatory details differ; see Tabby and Tamara for Saudi merchants. If you have not chosen your main gateway yet, start with the best payment gateway in the UAE.

How does BNPL work on the merchant side?

  1. 1
    The customer sees the option early

    A small message on the product page shows installments are possible, then Tabby or Tamara appears at checkout.

  2. 2
    The provider checks eligibility

    The customer goes to the provider's page or a pop-up, and the provider decides whether to approve under its criteria.

  3. 3
    The order is confirmed

    On approval the provider notifies your store, the order becomes 'paid' and the invoice is issued.

  4. 4
    Shipping or service delivery

    Some integrations ask you to confirm shipment or 'capture' the payment when the order ships, depending on setup.

  5. 5
    Settlement to the merchant

    The provider transfers the order value minus fees to your account on the agreed settlement cycle.

  6. 6
    Collection from the customer

    The provider collects installments and sends reminders; you never chase a payment.

TaskWho handles it
Showing the option and installment messagingThe merchant, with provider tools
Checking customer eligibility and limitsThe provider
Collecting installments and follow-upThe provider
Issuing the tax invoiceThe merchant, for the full order value
Shipping and returnsThe merchant, informing the provider
Refunding the customer after a returnThrough the provider, at the merchant's request

Is BNPL right for your store?

Usually a good fit
  • Relatively high average order values: electronics, furniture, perfume, jewelry, fashion
  • Courses and prepaid services such as salons and aesthetic clinics
  • Peak seasons: Ramadan, Eid, White Friday, Dubai Shopping Festival, back to school
  • Stores selling to younger shoppers who already use Tabby and Tamara
Needs more thought
  • Very small orders that may not cover the fee
  • Thin margins that cannot absorb provider fees
  • Products the provider may not accept in its categories
  • High return rates that add operational load

The practical way to judge: switch it on, then track for three months your checkout completion, average order value and BNPL's share of sales, and compare that with the fees. Your store's real numbers matter more than any general averages.

What do you need to sign up as a merchant?

  • A valid trade licence with an activity covering what you sell, mainland or free zone; check whether an e-Trader licence is accepted if that is yours.
  • A bank account in the company name to receive settlements.
  • ID for owners and signatories as the provider requires.
  • A ready website or app with clear AED prices plus terms, returns, privacy and seller information pages.
  • A business description covering product types, average order value and expected volume.

Providers review your site before approving, because their name on your page affects their reputation too. A clear site with a written returns policy speeds approval a lot. UAE e-commerce law expects that transparency anyway; see the UAE e-commerce law in plain language.

Technical integration: what must your store build?

PartWhat is neededNote
Product page messageA small strip showing installments with an approximate amountUse the provider's widget so the math matches its terms
Checkout optionTabby and Tamara next to cards and Apple PayShow it only for baskets within the allowed limits
Session creationSend order and customer data to the provider by APILine items, AED amounts and shipping details
Payment confirmationReceive the webhook and update the orderDo not rely on the return page alone
Capture and shippingConfirm shipment to the provider if your setup requires itTie it to a 'Shipped' button in the admin panel
Cancellation and refundsFull or partial refunds by APILinked to a tax credit note
ReportingBNPL sales, fees and settlementsMonthly reconciliation with the bank account

If your main gateway shows BNPL on its own checkout, integration may be simpler, but make sure refunds and reporting work just as well. The general technical details of building BNPL into your app are in BNPL in your own app.

Common mistakes merchants make

  • Forgetting to tell the provider about a return: if you take a product back in store but do not record the refund with the provider, the customer keeps paying installments and you get a complaint.
  • Showing the option outside the limits: customers get annoyed when declined after choosing installments. Show the option based on basket value.
  • Relying on the return page: paid orders get lost if the customer closes the browser. Always use the webhook.
  • Ignoring stock: a confirmed BNPL order for a sold-out product means a cancellation, a refund and a poor experience. Reserve stock when the session starts.
  • Not preparing for seasons: orders spike in Ramadan, Eid and sale seasons, so test the path weeks ahead. See the UAE Ramadan e-commerce checklist.

Disputes and refunds with BNPL differ slightly from cards because the provider is a third party between you and the customer. We cover this in refunds and chargebacks in the Gulf.

Add Tabby and Tamara to your app

Paste this into Fanann

Add buy now, pay later through Tabby and Tamara to my UAE store, alongside cards and Apple Pay. On product pages, show each provider's official installment message. At checkout, show both options only when the basket value is within limits I set in settings. Send order data, line items and shipping in AED to the provider, and reserve stock when the session starts. Rely on the webhook to confirm payment, update the order and issue a 5% VAT tax invoice for the full order value. Add a 'Shipped' button in the admin panel that notifies the provider when needed, and a full or partial refund button that sends the request to the provider and issues a credit note. Add a monthly report of BNPL sales, fees and settlements, with all text in Arabic and English.

Try it in Fanann
  1. Decide whether BNPL fits your average order value and margins.
  2. Prepare your licence, bank account and policy pages.
  3. Apply as a merchant with Tabby and Tamara.
  4. Integrate product messaging, the checkout option, confirmation and refunds.
  5. Test the whole path before your next peak season.

Key takeaways

  • Tabby and Tamara sit alongside your main gateway; they do not replace cards and Apple Pay.
  • The merchant receives the order value from the provider minus fees, and the provider handles eligibility and collection.
  • Have a valid licence and clear terms, returns and privacy pages ready before you apply.
  • A proper integration covers product messaging, the checkout option, webhook confirmation and refunds linked to the order.
  • Show installments exactly as the provider calculates them, and never promise eligibility the provider has not decided.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add Tabby to my online store in Dubai?
Apply as a Tabby merchant with your licence and website, and once approved, connect the payment option through the API, a ready plugin or a gateway that supports it, then test payments and refunds before launch.
Does Tabby pay the merchant upfront?
The provider transfers the order value to the merchant minus its fee, on an agreed settlement cycle, and collects the installments from the customer itself. Check fees and settlement timing in your contract.
Do I need both Tabby and Tamara?
Not necessarily, but many stores show both because some customers prefer one provider or have an available limit there. You can start with one and add the other later.
Who issues the tax invoice when a customer pays with Tabby or Tamara?
The merchant issues the tax invoice for the full order value like any other sale; the provider's fee is a separate matter between you and the provider.
What happens when a customer returns an item bought in installments?
You record the refund with the provider through its dashboard or API, the provider adjusts the customer's installments or refunds what they paid under its terms, and you issue a credit note linked to the invoice.

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