Core Issue:
Lebanese merchants face significant challenges setting up payment gateways for Shopify stores due to PayPal’s unavailability and limited local banking integration options.
Available Solutions Discussed:
Third-party payment gateways: Areeba, PayFort (Amazon Payment Services), CashUnited, OMT, and PinPay were mentioned, though several participants noted many providers (PinPay, CMO, CashU) have been inactive since 2019
Areeba integration: Requires registering a SALR company (مؤسسة فردية) in Lebanon, estimated to cost $700-$2,000 depending on legal/accounting fees
Montypay (BLOM Bank): Available but reportedly has poor reviews and customer service
Workarounds: Using e-wallet apps (Whish, Suyool, OMT) to manually generate payment links for each customer, though this creates friction and trust issues
International proxy: Having a trusted contact abroad create a Stripe account and transfer funds to Lebanon
Key Limitations:
OMT debit cards cannot be directly linked to Shopify
Most solutions require formal company registration
Manual payment links reduce customer confidence
Many listed providers are outdated or non-operational
Status: Discussion remains open with multiple users seeking clarification. One developer (N_Abey) offers custom integration services for local gateways but requires API documentation and fees.
Summarized with AI on October 25.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
Hi, Iam considering opening a shopify store here from Lebanon, and I want to know what type of payment methods are available for future customers that want to pay are supported here in Lebanon (because paypal is not supported here).
Can I for example link my bank account to my shopify store so the payments would go directly to my account or is this not supported?
And if that doesn’t work out can I then link my OMT debit card to my store so then the payments would go directly there?
I would really appreciate it if you’d give an answer.
Depending on the payment gateway that you choose to set up with your store will determine the payout requirements and process. Each third-party payment gateway operates independently and may have different requirements or policies. We have a great help document that goes into depth on how you get paid that you may find useful.
Let me know what you think and if you have any questions.
Dear @Sarah_123_1
If you’re having trouble finding a payment option that works for the Lebanese market, don’t worry. As partners who develop payment apps for Shopify, we’re here to help you. We can help you add the Lebanese payment gateway you like to your Shopify store. Just pick the payment gateway you want to use, sign up for a merchant account with them, and let us know. We’ll take care of setting it up for you.
In Lebanon, businesses looking to integrate Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) have several options available, reflecting the diverse financial landscape of the country. Here’s a list of some payment gateway providers that are popular or have a presence in Lebanon, offering various APMs:
PayFort (Amazon Payment Services) - A well-known payment gateway in the Middle East, providing comprehensive payment solutions tailored to the region’s needs. CashUnited - Offers a variety of payment services, including online payments and cash collection services, catering to the Lebanese market. Areeba - A leading financial technology company providing innovative payment solutions for both online and in-store transactions in Lebanon.
Bank Audi Electronic Payment Gateway - A service by one of Lebanon’s largest banks, offering secure online payment processing for merchants. PayTabs - A payment solution provider that offers a secure and efficient online payment gateway system, catering to businesses in the Middle East, including Lebanon. Fawry - While primarily Egyptian, Fawry offers its payment solutions in several Middle Eastern countries, providing digital payment services that could be accessible to Lebanese merchants through partnerships or direct integration. OMT (Online Money Transfer) - Provides a range of payment and money transfer services, including bill payments and online purchase payments in Lebanon. PinPay - A mobile payment service that allows users to pay for a wide range of services and products directly from their mobile phones.
It’s important to note that the availability and suitability of these payment gateway providers can vary based on the specific needs of a business, such as the type of products or services sold, the target customer base, and the preferred transaction currencies. Additionally, the rapidly changing economic conditions in Lebanon may affect the services and operations of these payment gateways. Businesses should conduct thorough research and possibly consult with a financial advisor to choose the most appropriate payment gateway provider for their needs.
Okay thank you so much, but just one more thing, I took a look on your
supported payment methods, and there was a master credit card available,
does this mean you only accept credit cards, or can I use my master debit
card?
Thank you in advance.
Good evening, I have the same (I guess) issue. I contacted Areeba who is telling me the payment should be authorized by Amazon? I don’t have any idea what to do next and need help to fix this. I can’t open a shop without the possibility of using a credit card payment.
Could you help?
How much is the consultancy for this kind of matter?
how are you I am from Lebanon too and I am facing the same issue. I want to ask you if your OMT debit card work with you or not. And if you fix this problem and how?
I can support you with my phone number to have better conversation about this problem.
We’re here to help you integrate a local payment gateway into your Shopify store with your chosen payment provider. Please send us a direct message so we can provide further assistance.
I have identified several payment providers available for the Lebanese market that online merchants in Lebanon can sign up with. Below are some of the available options.
CMO: Participating banks include BBAC, BML, Byblos Bank, LGB Bank, and SGBL.
CASHU: An electronic wallet payment option.
MT2PAY: A mobile payment solution.
PinPay: Mobile payments, supported by Bank Audi and Bank Med, and licensed by the Central Bank of Lebanon.
NetCommerce: Partner banks include Fransabank and Credit Libanais.
Areeba
Bankmed
Network AE
If you choose to sign up with any of the providers listed above, we are happy to assist you in integrating it with your Shopify store.
All our integrations are built in full compliance with Shopify guidelines and seamlessly connect with the Shopify ecosystem. They are designed to work smoothly with any Shopify features and with all Shopify-approved apps.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional clarification.
I guess that the information you provided is a bit outdated. Most of the listed providers, such as PinPay, CMO, and CashU, have been out of service since 2019. However, Areeba, as far as I know, is still operational. I will double-check with them to confirm.
Well unfortunately not much, from what I have gathered you can either create your own payment method by generating a wish payment link where you can send it to clients so they can pay through but then ot would be hassle for you to pay the supplier for them to ship the product or either know someone abroad that you trust that can open a PayPal account for you, or you can only ship to Lebanon where you can put the payment as cash on delivery.
If you’re in Lebanon, your only option is to register a SALR company (mo2assase fardiye hek chi). I’ve been told it will cost around $700, but I’m still confirming this. Once registered, you can use Areeba.
But how can you integrate wish with shopify? can you tell me please?