Stripe alternatives with cost-effective transaction fees (depending on your use case)
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Transaction fees might seem inconsequential on a single sale, but they can add up fast. Over the course of a year, a difference of just 0.1% could end up costing your business thousands of dirhams in extra fees.
Because pricing varies between payment providers, it’s worth comparing transaction fees alongside factors such as the overall pricing model, monthly fees, payout speeds, and customer support.
Below, we've compared some payment providers in the UAE, including Stripe and several regional alternatives, to help you find the one that’s right for your business:
Comparison table: UAE payment providers with cost-effective transaction fees
| Provider | Pricing model | Monthly fee | Transaction fees | Estimated cost for a 100 AED transaction | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ziina | Pay-as-you-go | Free | 2.6% + 1 AED | 3.60 AED | +1.5% (covers international cards and/or non-AED transactions) |
Telr | Subscription + per transaction fees | From 99 AED/month | 2.69% + 1 AED | 3.69 AED | Varies depending on merchant agreement / not publicly specified |
Tap Payments | Custom/tiered | Contact sales | 2.75% + 1 AED | 3.75 AED | Varies depending on payment method and merchant agreement |
Amazon Payment Services | Volume-based | 200 AED/month (<300k AED/month) | 2.80% + 1 AED | 3.80 AED | Varies depending on merchant agreement (published pricing notes that international transaction rates may differ) |
Stripe | Pay-as-you-go | Free | 2.9% + 1 AED | 3.90 AED | +1% for international cards (+1% extra if currency conversion is required) |
Estimated fees are based solely on transaction fees for a single 100 AED payment. Monthly subscription fees, setup costs, or other charges are not included. Businesses should consider both fixed and variable costs when comparing providers.
Read more: Comparing the best payment gateways in the UAE
Ziina
Ziina is the UAE’s first payments app built specifically for businesses, entrepreneurs, and pop-up vendors in the Middle East.
When you partner with Ziina**:
- You pay a flat rate of 2.6% plus 1 AED on each transaction
- There are no monthly subscriptions, hidden setup fees, or surprise administrative charges
- You can access fast cashouts that typically land in your bank within one to two business days for amounts under 25K AED
- Instant cashout options are available for eligible users who need immediate access to their funds
- An additional 1.5% fee is applied only for international cards or non-AED currency transactions
“Ziina changed how we think about payments. If I'd known about it when we opened, we would have saved so much time and money,” said Kyle, a Ziina business user and the Managing Partner of Ace of Fades barbershop.
Here are some other alternatives to consider:
Telr
Telr is a payments platform that focuses on helping startups and SMEs scale across the UAE (and beyond).
Telr can adjust its fee structure based on your monthly sales volume. For example, while Telr’s transaction fees are 2.69% + 1 AED, the monthly subscription fees can range from 99 AED to 349 AED, depending on your plan.
With Telr, you can also:
- Access support from local teams based in the UAE
- Enable Buy Now Pay Later options through integrations with Tabby
- Create payment links and invoices from your dashboard
Tap Payments
Tap Payments is a MENA-focused payments platform with transaction fees at 2.75% + 1 AED. The platform is developer-friendly, since it offers a selection of APIs and a sandbox environment to test your integration before going live.
With Tap Payments, you also get:
- Payout support available for all local banks across the MENA region
- A wide variety of digital wallets to offer at checkout, including Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
- High acceptance rates through direct integrations with local payment rails
Amazon Payment Services
Formerly known as PayFort, Amazon Payment Services is designed for established companies that need to accept a high volume of transactions internationally.
Amazon Payment Services' standard pricing includes transaction fees of 2.80% + 1 AED, along with a 200 AED monthly subscription for businesses processing less than 300,000 AED per month. Businesses exceeding this volume may be eligible for custom pricing.
With Amazon Payment Services, you can also:
- Build a checkout experience using mobile SDKs for Android and iOS
- Make use of fraud monitoring and real-time transaction tracking
- Offer customers instalment plans
International card and currency conversion fees
If your business regularly accepts payments from international customers, it's worth looking beyond standard domestic transaction fees.
Many payment providers apply additional charges when customers pay with an international card or when currency conversion is required.
Comparison
| Provider | International card fees | Currency conversion fees |
|---|---|---|
Ziina | +1.5% (covers international cards and/or non-AED transactions) | Included in the same 1.5% surcharge |
Stripe | +1% | Additional +1% when currency conversion applies |
Telr | Varies depending on merchant agreement / not publicly specified | Varies depending on merchant agreement / not publicly specified |
Tap Payments | Varies depending on payment method and merchant agreement | Varies depending on payment method and merchant agreement |
For example, if a customer pays with an international card that also requires currency conversion:
- Ziina: 4.1% + 1 AED (2.6% + 1.5% + 1 AED)
- Stripe: 4.9% + 1 AED (2.9% + 1% + 1% + 1 AED)
Final thoughts
For businesses in the UAE, payment providers like Ziina, Telr, APS, and Tap Payments could offer cost-effective transaction fees in the region. However, you should also take other factors into consideration, from international card fees to currency conversion fees, monthly fees, or hidden charges.
The best choice comes down to your individual business needs.
*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 June 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 July, 2026.
Sources:
- https://telr.com/pricing
- https://telr.com
- https://www.tap.company/en-ae/terms-and-conditions
- https://www.tap.company/en-ae
- https://paymentservices.amazon.com/pricing
- https://paymentservices.amazon.com/
- https://stripe.com/ae/pricing