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If you're looking for a payment gateway for your small e-commerce store, you're probably finding that there are a lot of options to choose from.
The truth is, there's no single "best" payment gateway for every business. The right choice depends on your needs. For example, if you're based in the UAE, a local payment gateway such as Ziina or Mamo could potentially be a good fit because they're built specifically for the local market.
To help you compare your options, this article looks at four payment gateways that are popular with small e-commerce businesses in the UAE. We'll break down what each provider is best for, along with their fees, payout speeds, and key features.
Comparison table: Payment gateways for small e-commerce stores
| Name of payment gateway | Ziina | Telr | Mamo |
|---|---|---|---|
Could be well-suited for | E-commerce stores in the UAE that want to scale quickly and easily | E-commerce businesses that need tiered pricing plans | Online businesses in the UAE |
Transaction fees for UAE cards | 2.6% + 1 AED | 2.69% + AED 1 (varies by plan) + subscription fee | 2.9% + 1 AED on a Growth plan and 2.7% + 1 AED on a Premium plan |
Transaction fees for international cards / currency exchange | Additional 1.5% per transaction for non-AED currency and/or international cards | 3.4% + 1 AED for international cards (Growth plan); +2% when charging customers in non-AED currencies. | 3.4% + AED 1 for international cards and +2% for non-AED currency on a Growth plan. 3.2% + AED 0.8 for international cards and +1.5% for non-AED currency on a Premium plan. |
Payout speed | 1 - 2 days for amounts under 25K AED subject to bank processing times, (24h options available for eligible users) | 2 - 5 days, with same-day settlements available (to be confirmed with provider) | 1–2 days (to be confirmed with provider) |
Note: Fees shown reflect publicly available standard pricing and may vary depending on card type, transaction volume, currency, settlement arrangement, additional services and VAT. Onboarding and payout timelines are indicative and may depend on successful verification, banking arrangements, and other eligibility requirements.
Read more: Comparing payment solutions for UAE merchants
Ziina
Since this is our article, we’ll introduce ourselves first. Ziina is a payment gateway that’s designed for small, medium-sized, and large e-commerce businesses in the UAE.
Adding an online checkout to your website only takes a few minutes with Ziina, and you can choose between using a hosted checkout page or a pre-built website plugin.
Here’s what you can do when you partner with Ziina:
- Pay only 2.6% + 1 AED per transaction (plus 1.5% for international cards) without any subscription charges or setup fees (for the latest terms, consult Ziina’s pricing page)
- Add embedded checkout to your website with Ziina’s API so customers can pay on your website without any redirects or drop offs
- Improve your customer experience with an average checkout time of 4 seconds
- Easily expand to new sales channels. You can use payment links to sell on social media or QR codes and Tap to Pay to accept payments at in-person markets
- Regardless of your sales channel, you can track every transaction in one centralized mobile app
- Let you customers pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major debit and credit cards at checkout based on which website builder you use
- Transfer funds to your bank in just 1—2 days for amounts under 25K AED (subject to bank processing times), with 24h cashout options available for eligible users.
Here are some alternative payment gateways:
Telr
Telr is a UAE-based payment gateway designed to help e-commerce businesses accept payments in the Middle East and beyond.
Telr's key features:
- Redirect customers to a Telr-hosted checkout page, reducing the need to build and maintain your own payment interface.
- Generate Quicklinks to collect payments through social media or instant messaging, without needing a full e-commerce checkout.
- Support major card networks, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods such as Buy Now, Pay Later.
- Access Telr Finance, which offers fast-track funding options for businesses looking to accelerate growth.
- Securely store payment credentials as tokens, allowing returning customers to check out without re-entering their full card details.
- Set up recurring billing for subscriptions and repeat purchases.
Pricing: Telr uses a subscription model combined with per-transaction fees of 2.69% + AED 1 for businesses earning AED 20,001—50,000 per month.
Please check Telr’s website for the latest product offerings.
Mamo
Mamo is a UAE-based payment platform with key features such as:
- Access your money faster with same-day settlement
- Accept major payment methods, including American Express, mada, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
- Create secure payment links and share them through WhatsApp, SMS, email, or social media
- Send professional invoices directly from your dashboard
- Issue corporate cards to your team and earn up to 8% cashback on eligible business purchases
- Accept payments in 15+ non-AED currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP
Pricing: Transaction fees are at 2.9% + AED 1 on UAE cards.
Please check Mamo’s website for the latest product offerings.
What to consider before choosing a payment gateway
Before deciding on a payment gateway, think about how you'll actually use it day to day. The cheapest option isn't always the best fit if it doesn't support the features your business needs.
Here are a few things worth comparing before you make a decision:
- Integration: Does it work with your e-commerce platform, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or WordPress? If you're using a custom website, check whether APIs or plugins are available.
- Fees: Look out for subscription fees, setup costs, and any additional charges for international cards.
- Payout speed: If cash flow is important, check how long it takes for payments to reach your bank account.
- Payment methods: Make sure the gateway supports the payment methods your customers are most likely to use, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major card networks.
- Business growth: If you plan to sell through multiple channels, consider if the gateway also supports payment links, QR codes, invoices, or social commerce.
Choosing a payment gateway that matches both your current needs and your future plans can save you time and make it easier to grow your business.
Final thoughts
The best payment gateway ultimately depends on how your business operates and what matters most to you. Some businesses prioritize lower fees, while others value faster payouts, a smoother checkout experience, or integrations with their existing e-commerce platform.
For many small businesses in the UAE, a local provider such as Ziina can be a strong choice. It combines competitive pricing, a fast and simple setup process, support for popular website platforms, and additional payment tools like payment links, QR codes, and Tap to Pay — all managed from a single mobile app.
*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 July 2026. 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.
**Disclaimer: 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.
This article was published in August, 2026.
Sources:
- https://telr.com/
- https://telr.com/pricing
- https://www.mamopay.com/pricing
- https://www.mamopay.com/