The UAE is home to a thriving ecommerce market. Whether trading in food, materials, tech, or services like marketing and office support, businesses of all shapes and sizes are selling their offerings online.

Such is the activity in this vast market that the UAE is home to one of the strongest online marketplaces in the MENA region – with an ecommerce sector worth an estimated USD 4bn last year.

With the right support, setting up an ecommerce business in the UAE can be quick and straightforward. However, one of the common stumbling blocks is finding the right platform and gateway to take payments smoothly and securely.

If this sounds familiar, then you should consider using the UAE’s many ready-made payment gateways. There are several to choose from that are affordable, reliable and remove much of the heavy lifting of running an online business.

What are the benefits of using a payment gateway solution?

There are many great reasons to use a payment gateway when operating an ecommerce business in Dubai, UAE.

Most importantly, they offer a fast and seamless checkout experience for your customers, removing all barriers to purchasing from your website. Many solutions also process payments faster than in-house solutions, so the money is in your hands almost immediately.

Finally, they offer a level of security that most companies and independent merchants simply cannot match. And when it comes to spending money online, security is everything to the modern consumer.

What payment gateway solutions are available in Dubai, UAE?



Payment gateways act as a third-party mediator between you and your customers. They remove the need for you to implement the technology required to facilitate transactions and give your customers peace of mind that the company can be trusted with their financial details.

There are several on offer in Dubai, UAE. These include local companies as well as international players. Here are some of the most recommended:

• 2Checkout
• Checkout
• Amazon Payment Services 
• PayPal
• Stripe
• Telr

 

Things to consider before picking a payment gateway solution in Dubai

Your payment gateway is there to offer much needed convenience to you and your customers. When choosing a gateway, you should consider the following factors:

User experience: A complicated payment process is a sure-fire way to lose sales. Your customers want speed and ease. So, be sure to read reviews about the systems on offer before making your choice. If there are several mentions of complexities or complications, then that solution is best avoided.

Cost: One of the main benefits of a plug and play payment gateway is that your business gets access to enterprise ecommerce technology at a fraction of the price. But while a good payment gateway should not be expensive, be wary of those that seem too good to be true. While set up fees are not unheard of, most providers do not apply these. Instead, you should expect to pay ongoing service fees, usually taken monthly or yearly. Alternatively, some providers take a percentage of each transaction.

Currency restrictions: If you’re selling to customers around the world, you’ll want to accept multiple currencies. So, if this is you, look for a payment gateway provider with an international scope.

Tech support: A good payment gateway will run in the background with minimal input. But that said, issues do occur with any technology. And when that happens, you need to be confident that the company you have chosen is on hand to give you the help and support that you need.

How much does a payment gateway cost in Dubai, UAE?

Prices vary depending on the number of transactions your business processes online, the monetary amount of these transactions, plus the level of service that you require.

With this in mind it is difficult to offer a guide price, as pricing models vary so wildly. Depending on the provider you choose, you could be paying a few percent of each transaction or AED 500 per month.

Which is the cheapest payment gateway in Dubai?

Again, this will depend on your sales volumes and other requirements. Two of the big players, Stripe and PayPal, offer competitive rates of around 3% + AED 1.10 per transaction. While other providers such as PayTabs offer a flat rate of AED 183.50 for transactions up to USD 2,000 per month.

How to use payment gateway solutions in Dubai, UAE

Payment gateways are designed with ease of use in mind. In most cases, all you need to do is copy and paste a piece of code into your website and your provider will take care of the rest.

Some ecommerce platforms also offer step-by-step setup wizards to get you up and running in no time.

Need help getting your ecommerce started in Dubai, UAE?

Hopefully, this guide has made clear that if you’re armed with the right knowledge, choosing a payment gateway in Dubai doesn’t have to be overly complex.

That being said, it does require a level of prior knowledge, much like the rest of the UAE company formation process.

To help you manage this business decision, as well as many others, it’s a good idea to work with a company formation specialist such as Business Incorporation Zone.

We are a team of company registration professionals who are passionate about bringing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to life.

As well as handling your license application, Set Hub can also assist with the opening of corporate bank accounts and advise on the most appropriate financial institution to suit your specific needs.

We also offer visa and immigration services and can handle all government formalities, permissions, work permits, and visa applications required to trade in the UAE.

In short, our experts can establish your company on your behalf, make your license and visa applications, and take care of all the necessary admin – leaving you free to get on with running your business.