Accepting payments at a pop-up should be the easiest part of your business operations, but many merchants find themselves unprepared when a customer wants to pay with their phone.
This is because most traditional POS machines are clunky, require upfront hardware costs, and often come with long-term contracts you don't need for a temporary event.
And if you're relying on bank transfers, you’re dealing with awkward "did it go through?" moments that kill the vibe of a busy market. You need a way to take card payments instantly, without carrying extra equipment.
That's where Tap to Pay comes in.
How to accept Tap to Pay at pop-ups or markets
To accept Tap to Pay in a physical setting, you need a device equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and a payment provider that supports Tap to Pay on iPhone or Tap to Pay on Android.
Instead of carrying a separate card reader, your smartphone becomes the terminal. The process typically follows three steps:
Open your payment app: Enter the transaction amount for the customer's purchase.
Present your phone: The customer taps their contactless card or digital wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay) against the back of your device.
Confirm the sale: The payment is processed securely via the cloud, and you can send a digital receipt immediately.
“Tap to Pay suits pop-ups, events, and anything fast-moving. With a QR code, the customer has to scan it – it's a bit of a faff. Tap to Pay is much quicker, which is why businesses benefit so much from it.”
Alia AlHaj, Senior Product Manager at Ziina
Leading Tap to Pay apps for pop-ups and markets: Ziina, Foloosi, Stripe, and Square
Ziina
Foloosi
Stripe
Square
Ease of setup
Very fast signup (minutes with Emirates ID); minimal requirements
Designed for easy and fast setup
May involve more complex onboarding
May involve more complex onboarding
Integration complexity
No hardware needed; phone becomes POS (Tap to Pay on iPhone & Android)
No hardware; mobile POS on smartphones
Tap to Pay app available; may require additional setup for Stripe Terminal
Tap to Pay app available; may require additional setup for POS hardware
Payout speed
1-2 days (often within 24 hours), with instant cashout available for eligible users
Not specified
2-5 days
Next-day payouts
Ideal for
UAE-focused businesses that need fast payouts, team access, and an all-in-one wallet
Businesses that want mobile flexibility, paperless receipts, and real-time reporting
More tech-advanced businesses that are large or global in scale
Larger or more international businesses operating outside the UAE
Ziina
Ziina is the UAE’s homegrown solution for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to move their money forward fast. We provide a locally regulated payment ecosystem that bridges the gap between digital sales and physical retail for UAE-based businesses.
Here is how Ziina enables you to accept Tap to Pay:
Sign up in minutes with just your Emirates ID: Subject to successful verification and eligibility checks, many users can set up a professional account quickly and may be able to start accepting payments the same day.
Turn your iPhone or Android into a POS: Ziina supports Tap to Pay on iPhone and Tap to Pay on Android, so you never have to worry about charging a separate card machine or losing a dongle at a busy market.
Get paid faster with instant cash outs: Traditional providers can hold your funds for up to 7 days. At Ziina, we offer instant cash out options for eligible users, and standard transfers to your bank are typically processed within 1-2 business days, subject to bank processing times.
Manage multi-user access for your team: If you have staff helping at your stall, you can set up sub-accounts with specific permissions. This allows them to collect payments without seeing your total account balance or sensitive data.
Centralize every sale in one wallet: Whether you’re selling in person via Tap to Pay or taking orders through branded payment links on Instagram, all your revenue stays in one place for easy tracking.
Foloosi is a regional payment provider in the UAE that offers a mobile card payment app for both iOS and Android. They focus on providing a secure and paperless workflow.
With Foloosi, you can:
Streamline your service with mobile point of sale (mPOS) capabilities. Staff can take orders and process payments anywhere around your booth using their own smartphones. This prevents a bottleneck at your main counter and ensures you never miss a sale when the market gets crowded.
Maintain transparency with real-time sales reports. You can see a quick overview of your total sales directly from the dashboard to track how your market stall is performing throughout the day. This helps you monitor which items are selling best so you can adjust your stock or pitch on the fly.
Reduce your environmental footprint with paperless transactions. The app allows you to send digital invoices and receipts via email or SMS once the transaction is processed
Stripe
Stripe is the infrastructure behind many of the world’s largest e-commerce sites, and they offer "Stripe Terminal" for in-person payments. They are a powerful option for businesses that are already highly tech-savvy or have a custom-built app.
Consider these factors if you’re looking at Stripe for your pop-up:
Technical barriers: Stripe is built for developers. Setting up their payment gateway or in-person payment flows often requires more technical knowledge than a small business owner might have time for.
Onboarding requirements: Stripe often requires specific documentation, such as a trade license, before you can go live. For a hobbyist or a new entrepreneur testing a concept in the market, this can present a challenge.
Payout speed: Stripe payout timelines may vary depending on the country, account type, and payment method. Businesses should check Stripe’s latest UAE terms to understand applicable payout timelines.
Square
Square is known for its sleek hardware and integrated software in the POS space. It is a popular choice for businesses that want a "one-stop-shop" for everything from inventory to team management.
While Square is one of the pioneers of Tap to Pay, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
Limited regional availability: Based on publicly available information, Square does not currently offer local merchant services in the UAE. For many local entrepreneurs, this means dealing with international workarounds that lack the security and trust of a locally regulated provider.
Hardware upsells: Square is well-known for their proprietary hardware, like the Square Register or Terminal. If you only want to use your phone, you might find their software more complex than necessary for a simple market setup.
Standardized support: Like many global platforms, getting a human on the phone can be difficult. If your payments go down during a peak market hour, you may be stuck waiting for an automated ticket response.
A full comparison of the top payment apps and gateways in the UAE
Accepting payments on your phone is a game-changer, but you don't want to learn the hard way during your busiest hour. Don't:
Ignore that many customers in the UAE still find Tap to Pay on a phone surprising. Be prepared to explain that Tap to Pay is offered through a CBUAE-licensed payment provider and uses secure, encrypted payment technology.
Forget to set up specific team permissions. Choose a provider that enables you to delegate payment collection to your staff without compromising your financial privacy or primary account settings.
Neglect branding, as a generic payment screen might look less trustworthy. Ensure your payment gateway or links show your logo and brand colors to build legitimacy.
Final thoughts
Accepting Tap to Pay at markets shouldn't require expensive hardware. Your focus should be on your craft and your customers, not on the logistics of moving money.
By choosing a local Tap to Pay partner that understands the specific needs of UAE entrepreneurs, you get more than just a payment app; you get the freedom to grow your business on your own terms.
Try Ziina today and see how easy it is to get paid at your next event.
*Disclaimer: All information relating to third-party products and companies featured in this article has been sourced solely from their respective public websites and official publications at the time of writing. Ziina makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. Product features, positioning, and company details may have changed since publication. Readers should refer to each provider's official website for the most up-to-date information before making any purchasing decisions.
Availability of Ziina products and features is subject to eligibility, successful verification, device compatibility, applicable transaction limits, Ziina’s terms and conditions, and regulatory requirements. Customers are responsible for ensuring they hold any trade license, permit, tax registration, or other approval required for their business activities. Fees, limits, payout timelines, and product features may vary and are subject to change. Please refer to Ziina’s latest terms and pricing for full details.
