How to start in UAE

Topic summary

A merchant currently operating a European clothing store seeks guidance on expanding to the UAE market (non-dropshipping model). Physical inventory remains in Europe.

Key technical considerations identified:

  • Language/Localization: Exploring multilingual store setup options, potentially using translation apps and considering subdomain structure (e.g., uae.mystore.com)

  • Payment Processing: Questioning whether existing Shopify Payments suffices or if regional gateways like Telr or PayTabs should be added

  • Shipping/Delivery: Seeking recommendations for logistics solutions from Europe to UAE

The discussion remains open with no responses yet. The merchant is looking for practical, experience-based advice on these implementation steps.

Summarized with AI on October 23. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hi guys, could you, please, share your experience, how to start sell in UAE (not drop shipping).

Now the store is created for Europe. (in progress, actually)

Physically products (clothes) in Europe.

So, from Shopify technical perspective. I believe my steps are:

  1. Language: do something to make store multilangage (some app with auto/manual translate)?

  2. Setup switching to client language (maybe add some subdomain like uae.mystore.com?)

  3. Payments. Is it enough “Shopify payments“ which I have already. (maybe add other like Telr, PayTabs)

  4. Delivery. Could you suggest?

Thanks in advance!

2 Likes

To support multi-currency payments you can use Easy⁞⁞Pie Shopify Stripe Checkout.

3 Likes

Use Shopify Markets + a translation app (no need for a subdomain).
Shopify Payments is fine, but I’ve added PayTabs before for better local card acceptance.
DHL Express or Aramex are the smoothest Europe→UAE options.

thank you so much! But now I have some update: physical product store will be located in Dubai itself. How it impact to shop, fulfull settings?