Is Shopify Payments available in the UAE?
Yes, which surprises many merchants because older forum posts still say otherwise. The UAE is on Shopify's official list of Shopify Payments countries. On 26 August 2026 Shopify announced that Shopify Payments in the UAE is available on the Advanced plan; before that it was limited to Shopify Plus. It accepts Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay, for online sales.
Note: Shopify's UAE pricing page also lists Shopify Payments card rates for Basic and Grow. If you are on those plans, check in your admin whether Shopify Payments is offered to your store before planning around it.
Which payment gateways work with Shopify in the UAE?
| Provider | Type | Shopify app |
|---|---|---|
| Tap Payments | Cards, Apple Pay, mada; checkout page adds Google Pay and Tabby | Official apps (native checkout and checkout page) |
| Telr | Cards and wallets, Dubai-based | Official app |
| Network International (N-Genius Online) | Cards via a major UAE acquirer | Official app |
| Checkout.com | Cards and wallets, for higher volumes | Official onsite app |
| Tabby | Buy now, pay later | Official app |
| Tamara | Buy now, pay later (3 instalments) | Official app |
Compare the rate, monthly fee, settlement time and refund handling for your volume. When you use a third-party gateway, Shopify adds its own transaction fee on top (see below).
What does Shopify cost in the UAE?
| Plan | Yearly billing | Monthly billing | Shopify fee with a third-party gateway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | USD 24 / month | USD 32 / month | 2% |
| Grow | USD 69 / month | USD 92 / month | 1% |
| Advanced | USD 299 / month | USD 399 / month | 0.6% |
| Plus | from USD 2,300 / month | 0.2% |
Prices from shopify.com/ae/pricing on 13 November 2026, excluding apps, theme and the 5% VAT Shopify charges UAE merchants on its bills.
For a store doing AED 50,000 a month on Basic with a third-party gateway, the 2% Shopify fee alone is AED 1,000 a month. That is often the point where Grow or Advanced pays for itself.
How do you handle 5% VAT?
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 a year and voluntary from AED 187,500 (Federal Tax Authority). Shopify's tax help does not list the UAE as an automatic tax country, so stores usually set 5% manually at country level. Prices shown to consumers should include VAT.
Should you offer cash on delivery?
Cash on delivery is declining in the UAE but still common, with market estimates of around a quarter of e-commerce orders. Shopify supports it as a manual payment method: orders stay pending until you mark them paid. Offering COD next to cards and Tabby or Tamara removes a reason not to buy, but plan for higher return and refusal rates.
Which licence do you need to sell online?
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on trade through modern technology, online sellers need a licence that covers e-commerce, issued by the economic department of their emirate or by their free zone. In Dubai, home-based individuals can apply for an eTrader licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism. Check the activity on your licence matches what you sell; payment gateways verify it during onboarding.
Can a Shopify store be in Arabic, right-to-left?
Yes. Shopify supports Arabic as a store language, and its newest themes support right-to-left layout. Many older themes need an RTL app or custom code. If Arabic matters for your customers, choose the theme with RTL in mind from the start and have product texts written by a native speaker. See Arabic and English websites.
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Is Shopify Payments available in the UAE?
Yes. The UAE is on Shopify's list of Shopify Payments countries. Since 26 August 2026 it is available on the Advanced plan; before that it was limited to Shopify Plus. Merchants on Basic or Grow usually connect a local gateway such as Tap, Telr, N-Genius or Checkout.com.
Which payment gateway should a UAE Shopify store use?
If you are on Advanced or Plus, Shopify Payments is the simplest option. Otherwise choose a gateway with an official Shopify app, such as Tap Payments, Telr, Network International (N-Genius) or Checkout.com, and compare their rates and settlement times for your volume.
Can I offer Tabby or Tamara on Shopify?
Yes. Both Tabby and Tamara have official apps in the Shopify App Store, so customers can split payments into instalments.
Do I need a licence to sell online in the UAE?
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023, online sellers need a trade licence that covers e-commerce. In Dubai, home-based individuals can apply for an eTrader licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism.
Does Shopify support Arabic and right-to-left layout?
Shopify supports Arabic as a store language, and its newest themes support right-to-left layout. Older themes may need an RTL app or code changes, so check before you choose a theme.