The UAE e-commerce market is growing at 23% annually and is expected to reach $17 billion by 2026. If you're building an online store in the UAE, here's what you need to know.
Payment Gateways
UAE customers expect local payment options. The most important integrations:
Telr — Popular UAE gateway supporting local cards and installments. PayTabs — Strong regional coverage across GCC. Stripe — Best for international customers and developer experience. Cash on Delivery — Still accounts for 30%+ of UAE e-commerce orders.
Logistics & Fulfillment
Aramex — The dominant regional courier with strong UAE coverage. Fetchr — UAE-based with GPS-based delivery (no address needed). Noon Fulfillment — If you're selling on Noon marketplace.
Arabic Language & RTL Support
A significant portion of UAE shoppers prefer Arabic. Your store should support: - Right-to-left (RTL) layout - Arabic product descriptions and checkout - Arabic customer support
Platform Choice
Shopify — Best for most UAE businesses. Fast to launch, handles payments and logistics well. Custom Next.js — Best for unique requirements, complex catalogs, or when you need full control.
VAT Compliance
UAE VAT is 5%. Your e-commerce platform must generate VAT-compliant invoices and support VAT registration numbers at checkout.
What We Recommend
Start with Shopify for speed to market, then migrate to a custom platform once you've validated your product-market fit and need more flexibility.