UAE Payment Gateways Compared: Telr vs PayTabs vs Network International

Choosing the right payment gateway is one of the most consequential decisions for a UAE e-commerce business. The wrong choice means lost sales, high fees, or a checkout experience that drives customers away.

**Telr:** Based in Dubai, Telr is one of the most popular payment gateways for UAE SMEs. Setup is relatively fast (5–10 business days). Transaction fees: 2.49% + AED 1 per transaction. Supports Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, mada (Saudi), and KNET (Kuwait). Strong WordPress/WooCommerce and Shopify plugins. Good Arabic checkout interface.

**PayTabs:** Saudi-origin but very strong UAE presence. Transaction fees: 2.85% + AED 1 per transaction. Particularly strong for MENA-wide businesses that sell across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan. Supports installment payment options (Buy Now Pay Later) which is increasingly popular in the UAE.

**Network International:** The largest payment processor in the UAE, used by major banks. Transaction fees are typically lower (1.8–2.2%) but setup requires a direct merchant account with a UAE bank (longer process, 15–30 days). Best for established businesses doing high monthly volumes.

**Stripe:** Available in UAE since 2022. Most developer-friendly, excellent APIs, 2.9% + AED 1. Best for international sales and tech-savvy teams. Does not support all local card types (Visa/Mastercard only in UAE).

**Recommendation by stage:**

• Early-stage startup: Telr (fastest setup)
• Growing MENA business: PayTabs
• Established UAE business: Network International
• Tech-first or international: Stripe