Best Payment Gateways for MENA in 2026
Payment processing is the backbone of e-commerce in the MENA region. Unlike Western markets where credit cards dominate, MENA has a diverse payment landscape with local debit networks, digital wallets, buy-now-pay-later services, and cash on delivery. This guide covers the best payment gateways for MENA businesses in 2026.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
For more resources, see our best e-commerce platforms for MENA 2026 guide and our best software for Saudi Arabia businesses 2026 guide.
Why MENA Payment Gateways Are Different
MENA's payment landscape differs from Western markets in several key ways:
- Local debit networks: Mada (Saudi Arabia) is the dominant payment method — more used than credit cards
- Digital wallets: STC Pay, Apple Pay are widely adopted
- Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL): Tabby and Tamara are rapidly growing — 0% interest to consumers
- Cash on delivery (COD): 30-40% of MENA e-commerce orders still use COD
- Low credit card penetration: Many MENA consumers don't have credit cards
- Multi-currency: MENA businesses often need SAR, AED, EGP, and other local currencies
- Regulatory compliance: Payment processors must comply with Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and UAE Central Bank regulations
Quick Comparison
| Payment Method |
Type |
Countries |
Integration with Salla |
Integration with Shopify |
| Mada |
Debit network |
Saudi Arabia |
Native |
Via HyperPay/PayTabs |
| Apple Pay |
Digital wallet |
Saudi Arabia, UAE |
Native |
Via Shopify Payments/gateways |
| STC Pay |
Digital wallet |
Saudi Arabia |
Native |
Via HyperPay/Tap |
| Tabby |
BNPL |
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait |
Native |
Via Tabby app |
| Tamara |
BNPL |
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait |
Native |
Via Tamara app |
| HyperPay |
Aggregator |
MENA-wide |
Via API |
Via HyperPay app |
| PayTabs |
Processor |
MENA-wide |
Via API |
Via PayTabs app |
| Tap |
Processor |
MENA-wide |
Via API |
Via Tap app |
Mada: Saudi Arabia's National Payment Network
Mada is Saudi Arabia's national debit card network, operated by Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). According to official sources, Mada has over 30 million cards in circulation and is the most used payment method in Saudi Arabia.
How it works: Mada cards are linked to customers' bank accounts. Payments are deducted directly from the account in real-time. Mada processes both online and in-store payments.
Integration: Salla integrates with Mada natively — no additional setup required. For Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms, Mada is available through payment aggregators like HyperPay, PayTabs, and Tap.
Fees: Mada transaction fees are regulated by SAMA. Online transaction fees are typically 1-2% per transaction, lower than international credit card fees.
Best for: Any Saudi e-commerce business — Mada is essential as it's the most used payment method in the Kingdom.
Apple Pay: Digital Wallet
Apple Pay is widely available in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Customers can pay using their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad with Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
Integration: Salla includes Apple Pay natively. Shopify supports Apple Pay through Shopify Payments or third-party gateways. WooCommerce supports Apple Pay through Stripe or HyperPay plugins.
Fees: Apple Pay transactions use standard card network fees. There's no additional Apple Pay fee for merchants — the fee is the same as the underlying card transaction.
Best for: Businesses targeting iPhone users in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Apple Pay provides a fast, secure checkout experience that can increase conversion rates.
STC Pay: Saudi Digital Wallet
STC Pay is a digital wallet by stc (Saudi Telecom Company) with over 10 million users in Saudi Arabia. According to STC Pay's official website, it supports online payments, in-store payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and international remittances.
Integration: Salla integrates with STC Pay natively. For other platforms, STC Pay is available through HyperPay and Tap.
Fees: STC Pay transaction fees vary by plan and transaction type. Merchant fees are typically 1-2% per transaction.
Best for: Saudi businesses targeting STC Pay's large user base. Particularly effective for businesses targeting younger demographics who prefer digital wallets.
Tabby: Buy Now, Pay Later
Tabby is a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform popular in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait. According to Tabby's official website, customers can split purchases into 4 interest-free installments.
How it works: Customers select Tabby at checkout, pay 25% upfront, and the remaining 75% in 3 equal installments over 6 weeks. Tabby charges 0% interest to consumers — the merchant pays a fee per transaction.
Integration: Salla integrates with Tabby natively. Shopify supports Tabby through the Tabby app. WooCommerce supports Tabby through plugins.
Fees: Tabby charges merchants a fee per transaction (typically 3-6% depending on the plan). Consumers pay 0% interest. Late fees may apply to consumers for missed payments.
Best for: Businesses selling products with higher price points (electronics, fashion, furniture). Offering Tabby can increase average order value by 20-30% and reduce cart abandonment.
Tamara: Buy Now, Pay Later
Tamara is another BNPL platform serving Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait. Similar to Tabby, Tamara offers interest-free installment payments.
How it works: Customers can pay in 4 installments or choose longer payment plans. Tamara charges 0% interest to consumers — the merchant pays a fee.
Integration: Salla integrates with Tamara natively. Shopify supports Tamara through the Tamara app. WooCommerce supports Tamara through plugins.
Fees: Tamara charges merchants a fee per transaction (typically 3-6%). Consumers pay 0% interest.
Best for: Similar to Tabby — businesses with higher-value products. Offering both Tabby and Tamara gives customers choice in BNPL providers.
HyperPay: Payment Aggregator
HyperPay is a MENA-focused payment aggregator that provides access to multiple payment methods through a single integration. According to HyperPay's official website, it supports Mada, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, STC Pay, and mada Pay.
How it works: HyperPay acts as a single integration point for multiple payment methods. Instead of integrating with each payment method separately, businesses integrate once with HyperPay and get access to all supported methods.
Integration: HyperPay integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and custom websites. Salla does not require HyperPay as it includes all payment methods natively.
Fees: HyperPay charges ~2-3% per transaction, depending on the payment method and volume. Setup fees may apply.
Best for: Businesses using Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce that need multiple MENA payment methods through a single integration.
PayTabs: Regional Payment Processor
PayTabs is a MENA-focused payment processor headquartered in Saudi Arabia. According to PayTabs' official website, it serves businesses in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and other MENA countries.
How it works: PayTabs provides payment processing for Mada, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and other payment methods. It offers both hosted checkout and API integration.
Integration: PayTabs integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and custom websites. Available as a Shopify app and WooCommerce plugin.
Fees: PayTabs charges ~2-3% per transaction. Setup fees may apply. Volume discounts available for high-transaction businesses.
Best for: MENA businesses that need a regional payment processor with local support and multi-currency capabilities.
Tap is a MENA-focused payment platform that provides payment processing and aggregation. According to Tap's official website, it supports Mada, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, STC Pay, and other local payment methods.
How it works: Tap provides a unified payment API that connects to multiple payment methods. It offers hosted checkout, embedded checkout, and API integration options.
Integration: Tap integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom websites. Available through apps and plugins.
Fees: Tap charges ~2-3% per transaction. Pricing varies by payment method and volume.
Best for: MENA businesses that want a unified payment platform with local payment method support.
Salla: All-in-One MENA Payment Solution
Salla (990 SAR/year) is the best all-in-one solution for MENA payments. Salla includes Mada, Apple Pay, STC Pay, Tabby, Tamara, HyperPay, PayTabs, and Tap — all integrated natively. No separate payment gateway setup required.
Wati: WhatsApp Payment Collection
Wati ($49/month) enables WhatsApp-based payment collection. Send payment links via WhatsApp, allowing customers to pay directly from their WhatsApp chat. This is particularly effective in MENA where WhatsApp is the primary communication channel.
Tidio: Payment Support Chatbot
Tidio (free, from $24.17/month) provides AI chatbots that can assist customers with payment questions in Arabic. Reduce abandoned carts by answering payment-related questions instantly.
Ease of Integration
Salla is the easiest — all payment methods are pre-configured. No API keys, no gateway accounts, no technical setup. Simply enable each payment method in the Salla dashboard and start accepting payments. This is a massive advantage for non-technical Saudi business owners.
Shopify requires moderate setup. For each payment gateway (HyperPay, PayTabs, Tap), you need to: create a gateway account, install the Shopify app, enter API credentials, and configure settings. Each gateway takes 2-4 hours to set up. Shopify Payments is easier but doesn't support Mada directly.
WooCommerce requires technical setup. Each payment gateway requires a plugin installation, API configuration, and testing. WooCommerce's flexibility means more customization options but also more complexity. Expect 4-8 hours per gateway with plugin configuration.
BigCommerce has moderate setup similar to Shopify. Payment gateways are configured through the BigCommerce control panel. Each gateway takes 2-4 hours.
Wix eCommerce has limited MENA payment options. Wix Payments is available in some MENA countries but doesn't support Mada. Third-party gateways can be integrated but with limitations.
Transaction Fees Comparison
| Payment Method |
Typical Fee |
Notes |
| Mada (via Salla) |
Included in Salla plan |
No separate fee |
| Mada (via HyperPay) |
~1-2% per transaction |
Plus HyperPay monthly fee |
| Apple Pay |
Standard card fees |
No additional Apple fee |
| STC Pay |
~1-2% per transaction |
Varies by plan |
| Tabby (merchant fee) |
~3-6% per transaction |
0% to consumer |
| Tamara (merchant fee) |
~3-6% per transaction |
0% to consumer |
| HyperPay |
~2-3% per transaction |
Plus setup fee |
| PayTabs |
~2-3% per transaction |
Plus setup fee |
| Tap |
~2-3% per transaction |
Volume discounts available |
| COD |
No processing fee |
But higher logistics costs |
Security and Compliance
All payment gateways operating in Saudi Arabia must be licensed by SAMA (Saudi Central Bank). In UAE, payment processors must be regulated by the UAE Central Bank.
Salla is SAMA-licensed and PCI DSS compliant. All payment processing meets Saudi regulatory requirements. Salla handles security, encryption, and compliance.
HyperPay is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant (highest level). Licensed by SAMA. Uses 3D Secure authentication for online transactions.
PayTabs is PCI DSS compliant and SAMA-licensed. Uses tokenization for secure card storage. 3D Secure supported.
Tap is PCI DSS compliant and licensed by relevant MENA regulators. Uses encryption and tokenization.
Tabby and Tamara are licensed by SAMA and other MENA regulators. They handle consumer credit assessment and compliance.
Apple Pay uses tokenization and biometric authentication. No card numbers are shared with merchants. Apple Pay is inherently secure.
STC Pay is licensed by SAMA. Uses PIN and biometric authentication. Transactions are encrypted.
Mobile Payment Experience
Mobile payments are critical in MENA — over 70% of e-commerce transactions are on mobile:
Salla provides mobile-optimized checkout with all payment methods accessible on mobile screens. Mada Pay, Apple Pay, and STC Pay are optimized for one-click mobile checkout.
Shopify offers Shop Pay for fast mobile checkout. However, Mada on mobile requires redirect to the gateway's mobile page, which can add friction.
WooCommerce mobile checkout depends on your theme. With a mobile-optimized theme, all payment methods work on mobile. Without it, the experience can be poor.
BigCommerce provides mobile-responsive checkout. Payment methods are accessible on mobile but may require redirects for some gateways.
COD (Cash on Delivery) Management
COD remains important in MENA — 30-40% of orders use COD. Managing COD effectively requires:
Salla includes built-in COD support with order tracking. You can set COD fees, restrict COD to certain areas, and track COD orders through the dashboard.
Shopify supports COD through custom payment methods. You can enable COD at checkout and manage it through order fulfillment. Apps are available for COD fee management.
WooCommerce supports COD natively through the WooCommerce COD plugin. You can configure COD fees, restrict by zone, and manage COD orders.
BigCommerce supports COD through custom payment methods. Configuration is available in the control panel.
Best Practices for COD
- Set a COD fee (5-15 SAR) to cover logistics costs
- Restrict COD to areas with reliable courier service
- Call customers to confirm COD orders before shipping
- Use WhatsApp (Wati) to confirm COD orders and reduce returns
- Track COD return rates and adjust areas accordingly
Industry-Specific Payment Recommendations
Fashion and apparel: Tabby + Tamara + Mada + Apple Pay — BNPL is essential for fashion as customers prefer spreading costs. Salla includes all these natively.
Electronics: Tabby + Tamara + Mada + Apple Pay + STC Pay — Electronics have higher price points where BNPL significantly increases conversion. All payment methods should be available.
Food and grocery: Mada + Apple Pay + STC Pay + COD — Fast checkout is essential. Digital wallets provide the fastest checkout. COD is still preferred by many for food orders.
Services and subscriptions: Mada + credit cards + Apple Pay — Recurring payments require card-based methods. Mada supports recurring payments for subscriptions.
B2B and wholesale: Bank transfer + Mada + credit cards — B2B payments often use bank transfers. Offer Mada and credit cards for smaller B2B transactions.
Payment Method Comparison by Country
Saudi Arabia
| Method |
Type |
Popularity |
Salla Native |
Shopify via App |
| Mada |
Debit |
Very High |
Yes |
HyperPay/PayTabs |
| Apple Pay |
Wallet |
High |
Yes |
Shopify Payments |
| STC Pay |
Wallet |
High |
Yes |
HyperPay/Tap |
| Tabby |
BNPL |
Growing |
Yes |
Tabby app |
| Tamara |
BNPL |
Growing |
Yes |
Tamara app |
| COD |
Cash |
30-40% of orders |
Yes |
Manual/config |
UAE
| Method |
Type |
Popularity |
Salla Native |
Shopify via App |
| Credit Cards |
Card |
High |
Via HyperPay |
Shopify Payments |
| Apple Pay |
Wallet |
High |
Yes |
Shopify Payments |
| Tabby |
BNPL |
Growing |
Yes |
Tabby app |
| Tamara |
BNPL |
Growing |
Yes |
Tamara app |
| COD |
Cash |
20-30% of orders |
Yes |
Manual/config |
Egypt
| Method |
Type |
Popularity |
Salla Native |
Shopify via App |
| Fawry |
Cash/Pay |
Very High |
No |
Via plugins |
| Credit Cards |
Card |
Medium |
Via HyperPay |
Shopify Payments |
| Apple Pay |
Wallet |
Growing |
Yes |
Shopify Payments |
| COD |
Cash |
50-60% of orders |
Yes |
Manual/config |
Using Salla
- Best choice: Use Salla's native payment integrations — all methods included
- Cost: 990 SAR/year (Plus plan) — no separate payment gateway fees
- Setup: Zero — all payment methods are pre-configured
Using Shopify
- Best choice: HyperPay or PayTabs for Mada + local methods
- Add: Tabby and Tamara apps for BNPL
- Cost: Payment gateway fees (~2-3%) + Shopify transaction fees
- Setup: 2-4 hours per gateway
Using WooCommerce
- Best choice: HyperPay or PayTabs plugin for all MENA methods
- Add: Tabby and Tamara plugins for BNPL
- Cost: Payment gateway fees (~2-3%) + hosting
- Setup: 4-8 hours per gateway
Using BigCommerce
- Best choice: PayTabs or Tap for MENA payment methods
- Cost: Payment gateway fees (~2-3%) + BigCommerce subscription
- Setup: 2-4 hours per gateway
MENA Payment Best Practices
Offer Multiple Payment Methods
- Provide at least 3-4 payment options at checkout
- Always include Mada for Saudi Arabia
- Include at least one BNPL option (Tabby or Tamara)
- Keep COD as an option — 30-40% of MENA customers prefer it
- Apple Pay for mobile users
Optimize for Mobile
- 70%+ of MENA e-commerce is on mobile
- Ensure payment pages are mobile-optimized
- Use Apple Pay and STC Pay for one-click mobile checkout
- Minimize form fields on mobile checkout
Build Trust
- Display payment method logos prominently
- Show security badges (SSL, PCI compliance)
- Offer COD to build trust with new customers
- Provide Arabic payment pages for Arabic-speaking customers
Reduce Cart Abandonment
- Offer BNPL (Tabby/Tamara) to spread cost
- Send abandoned cart reminders via WhatsApp (Wati)
- Use Tidio chatbot to answer payment questions instantly
- Simplify checkout — fewer steps = higher conversion
For more resources:
Final Verdict
The best payment gateway setup for MENA in 2026:
Best all-in-one: Salla — all local payment methods native (990 SAR/yr)
Best for Shopify: HyperPay or PayTabs — Mada + local methods via app
Best BNPL: Tabby + Tamara — offer both for customer choice
Best digital wallet: Apple Pay + STC Pay — cover iOS and Saudi wallet users
Best for WhatsApp payments: Wati — payment links via WhatsApp ($49/mo)
Best for payment support: Tidio — Arabic AI chatbot for payment questions (free)
For most MENA businesses, Salla provides the simplest payment setup — all methods are included natively. For businesses on Shopify or WooCommerce, HyperPay or PayTabs provide the best MENA payment integration. Always offer multiple payment methods to maximize conversion rates.
Always verify current fees and integration options on official payment gateway websites before making a decision.
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