What payment gateway options work best for UAE-based drop shippers?

[Tiwoh]

**Easy:**Pie for Shopify supports multi-currency. So, for example: while your default currency is AED, it allows you to accept payments in USD using fixed exchange rates for new markets (countries) that you add in the Shopify Markets settings.

@reda8 @Hagar-m @gonetoolong369 @JamaliBox @nwk @Almarar6 @Sardarr @LoveLashUAE @DK1313 @Arminomino

[LoveLashUAE]

Hey thank you for this, I will have a look into that.

[nwk]

Hey @gonetoolong369 , I can confirm you’ll need a valid business licence to sign up for Stripe. They’ll have you upload when you sign up and request the updated when your licence is due for renewal.

[Rnagfn]

@nwk

I would say this should be of the absolute highest priority since so many merchants are relocating to the UAE and selling world wide. Can you offer a more detailed explanation as to why this hasn’t been implemented yet as the technical implementation is simple, so is it a legal issue?

Can you please let me know which payment gateway is the best for UAE? I don’t have licence.

[eComInsider]

Hello Hagar-M,

We are using Stripe, Tap Payments, and Telr in our different stores (UAE-based). Among all, I found Stripe is better.

[AbdulKaderr]

Check which payment is supported in UAE you can check this link here: https://www.shopify.com/payment-gateways#country

[preetsaini]

Hello Hagar-M,

I am currently on the same stage where you were once while setting up the payment gateway.

Can you please help me with the same? Have you found the payment gateway which works best in UAE with multi support currency?

[yogebe]

This solution is especially perfect for increasing UK and EU sales.

[Umar1]

Hi, i hope you are doing well

can you help me find out how can i register with strip casue they are asking for a license, and i don’t have one,

2nd: can you tell me if i can use someone else’s license for registering on stripe .looking forward for your answer /Thanks

[Jamalhaider]

Hello, im also trying to start dropshipping on shopify, but I have some issued which I can’t found the solve yet,

1st, can I Add my bank account or debit card for payment to get paid???

Second, if I sign up in UAE, can I dropship outside uae???

As you said for payment in UAE Strip or Payooneer, mostly peoples use Master card or visa inside UAE FOR online shopping??

Can I Sign up for Strip inside UAE and Connect my debit card to get paid???

Please guide me about these issue, I will thanks.

[nwk]

1st thing of note on the topic - Shopify have just added about a dozen new countries to Shopify Payments access. UAE was NOT one of them which is very disappointing. There might be more countries added this time next year…

To answer your questions,

1. It depends on what payment provider you use but typically you’ll need to link a bank account from the same country to receive payouts.

2. If you sign up in the UAE, yes you can ship /dropship anywhere in the world, that shouldn’t be a problem.

3. If you are serving the UAE audience you’ll be able to find a payment provider easily enough that utilise those payment methods. For selling outside the UAE ensure you can accept VISA and Mastercard at the very least.

4. I don’t think you can pay out to debit card (not from what I’ve seen so far), more likely local bank account as per #1.

I’d suggest signing up to the trial and testing things out

[Fojefi]

Is this third party Shopify Stripe Checkout solution the only way to do multi-currency?

[Azizahmed]

Hi Hagar-m, For a UAE-based dropshipper without a license, your best options are Ziina or Stripe . Here’s a good comparison between them:

Option	Best For	Essential Requirement	Supports Visa/MC/Apple Pay?
Ziina	Getting started quickly	Emirates ID	Yes (Apple Pay)
Stripe (Direct)	More established setup	Business license may be needed later	Yes (Apple Pay)

What to do next:

1. Try Ziina first. It’s a local app designed for fast UAE setup using an Emirates ID. It supports Apple Pay, which your customers prefer.
2. If Ziina doesn’t work for you, apply for a direct Stripe account. Be upfront about being a new dropshipper.
3. Plan to get a license. This will be necessary for long-term growth and more payment options.

You must remember, a payment gateway helps you convert sales. To drive traffic to your new store, learning the fundamentals of SEO is your next important step. You can learn about search engine positioning to help attract customers to your store in this article.

To check official lists of supported gateways, you can consult Shopify’s payment gateway resource.

[Bivoy]

Stripe is the best, has a lot of features.

[Designifyang]

@Hagar-m

Hello,

My name is Hagar, based in UAE, I am new to Shopify and I’m working on an online store as a drop shipper in UAE, I don’t have a license yet, as I’m still checking if Shopify is useful to utilize outside the US, or it’s built only to be used in the US?

I am facing a problem setting up the payment gateway methods, as many gateways are not supported in the UAE. Also, many of them do not support drop shippers, and others do not support businesses without licenses.

I need your recommendations for a proper payment gateway. Paypal is not a useful gateway for customers in the UAE, and it won’t enrich the traffic to my dropshipping or retail business. Customers in UAE need quicker and easier methods like Visa, Mastercard, or Apple Pay.

Would you guys recommend any Payment gateway? or ay support from the Shopify team in that topic, if quick and possible, please.

Thanks for your kind reply in advance

Hi Hagar — great work getting into Shopify and thinking ahead about what will actually work in the UAE. I’ll break down the payment gateway situation clearly and give you practical options you can explore now, even before you have a trade license.

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Can You Use Shopify Outside the US?

Yes — you absolutely can run a Shopify store from the UAE and sell globally. Shopify itself supports sellers worldwide. However, Shopify Payments (the built-in processor) is not available for UAE-based merchants yet. That’s why you’re seeing limited gateway options in your admin.

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Why Is Payments Setup Hard in the UAE?

Here’s the key challenge:

• Shopify Payments isn’t enabled for UAE-registered accounts, so you can’t just click to accept Visa/Mastercard and Apple Pay directly.

• Many third-party gateways still require a business license and a local bank account to approve you.

• Stripe is available in UAE, but Shopify doesn’t offer Shopify Payments here, even though Stripe itself operates locally.

This means you often have to combine:

1. A supported payment provider

2. A local or international merchant account

3. Possibly a business license

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Options to Accept Payments in the UAE (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, etc.)

1. Stripe (direct account)

• You can sign up for a Stripe merchant account in UAE.

• Once connected to Shopify as a third-party gateway, customers can pay with credit/debit cards and Apple Pay (if the processor supports it).

• Stripe is widely regarded as the best solution for online stores — easy onboarding, solid support, and great fraud tools.

• Downside: Stripe usually requires a business license and a UAE bank account to approve payouts and verify identity.

You might still be able to open Stripe without a license if you speak to Stripe support about your business model (drop shipping) — but approval isn’t guaranteed.

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2. PayTabs

• Popular in the Middle East and works well with Shopify.

• Supports Visa, Mastercard, and local cards.

• Known to accept UAE merchants with fewer barriers than global gateways.

• Often works with businesses at an earlier stage — but it’s best to confirm whether they require a trade license before applying.

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3. Tap Payments

• A regional payment gateway available for UAE merchants.

• Supports credit/debit cards and some wallets.

• Good local support and reasonable setup process.

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4. Telr

• Another Middle Eastern gateway supported by Shopify.

• Accepts Visa, Mastercard, and other regional methods.

• Typically preferred by many UAE e-commerce sellers.

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5. 2Checkout (Verifone)

• A global processor accepted on Shopify.

• Easy to integrate and supports major cards worldwide.

• But: often has stricter requirements for documentation and verification.

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Common Pitfalls to Know

• Apple Pay support: Apple Pay in Shopify depends on the payment processor supporting it (e.g., Stripe).

• Gateways may require business verification (even if you’re dropshipping). Many payment providers won’t onboard a store without business documentation.

• Shopify charges an additional fee when you use third-party gateways (because Shopify Payments isn’t available in UAE).

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Tips for a Dropshipping Setup (Before You Get a License)

1. Talk to payment providers directly

Before applying through Shopify, speak with:

• Stripe support

• PayTabs onboarding team

• Tap Payments

• Telr

Ask them about dropshipping, license requirements, and required documents — sometimes they have flexible options for new e-commerce sellers.

2. Use Multi-Currency

If you’re selling globally (EU, US, UK), list prices in USD/EUR/GBP — this gives customers familiar pricing and might lower friction for international card payments.

3. Consider Platforms That Help With Payment Setup

Some services (like Easy Pie Checkout) act as bridges — they help you connect Stripe and Shopify in regions where Shopify Payments isn’t available.

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Summary Recommendation

If you want Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and strong checkout conversions:

Best 1–2 to try first (UAE sellers):

1. Stripe — best overall, supports all major payment types (start here)

2. PayTabs / Tap Payments — strong regional support

After that:

• Telr — good local option

• 2Checkout — fallback global gateway

Most of these require business verification, so starting the trade license process — even a simple e-trader license — will dramatically increase your acceptance chances.