The reliable and safer payment gateways have a strong base in the ever fast-growing digital marketing world e-commerce business in the UAE. The efficient way to process transactions employs the payment gateway in the business. This helps the customers to enjoy the purchase with the most efficient payment options irrespective of their locations. The owner of the business will need to consider a good payment gateway which would ease them in business operations financially besides enhanced experience for the users.
What Does Payment Gateway Mean?
The payment gateway is actually termed an online payment facility that carries out electronic payment for website e-commerce and online retailers. It serves as a means of connecting consumers and merchants by transmitting payment information such as credit card details from the consumer to the payment processor through a secure channel. The payment gateway, to prevent fraud, encrypts sensitive information that should be kept very private and thus ensure secure transaction.
Types of Payment Gateways
There are several types of payment gateways you can choose from:
1. Hosted Payment Gateways
An external payment gateway is a service that processes payments from customers on behalf of merchants. When a customer is to make an online payment, they are redirected from the e-commerce site to the hosted payment gateway’s secure page at that time. Here, the customer would fill in forms concerning payment information, such as credit card and any other payment methods, at which point the customer’s response is redirected back to the merchant’s website.
Since all the transaction data will be via the hosted gateway, the merchant’s website will not store any sensitive payment information. This adds an extra layer of protection since private details are handled by the payment provider, who is an expert in performing such transactions. Well-known examples of hosted gateways include PayPal, Stripe Checkout, and Square.
2. Self-hosted Payment Gateways
With self-hosted payment gateways, the entire payment process occurs on the website of the merchant. This gives full rights to manage the user experience. The client, however, enters payment information directly on the merchant’s site, and this is passed onto the payment processor for authorization: where the difference comes in with a hosted gateway is that the merchant is responsible for securing the transaction.
Therefore, the website will comply with all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) to handle sensitive payment data. That is the type of gateway that gives more control to the merchant over branding, customer site experience, and design of the website where everything is hosted on their behalf. This gateway is usually most suitable for businesses that want to have full control over payment processing. Examples include Authorize.Net and CCAvenue, both self-hosted payment gateways.
3. API-hosted Payment Gateways
A payment gateway hosted through an API utilises application programming interfaces (APIs) to interface payment processing directly into the merchant’s website or app. This would mean, as a merchant, making the entire payment process available seamlessly within their own platform-in other words, without routing customers to a third page. The API will thereby serve the purposes of safe communication between the merchant’s site and the payment processor, resulting in successful transfer while allowing flexible situations when it comes to customization for merchants.
Hence, this could be the type of payment gateway that one would choose for business from where the holder wants absolute control over the event from checkout to the deposit confirmation with the scope of some advanced features being brought in, for example, subscription management or dynamic pricing or any custom promotions made in-house. API integration also provides better control over customer experience because companies can now create a payment flow that suits their specific needs. Some of the well-known API-hosted payment gateways include Stripe, Razorpay, and Braintree.
4. Local Bank Integration Gateways
A local bank integration gateway creates a direct link between a merchant’s website and local bank payment infrastructure. These gateways process payments by accessing the bank’s systems, resulting in the direct transfer of funds from a customer’s bank account to the merchant’s bank account. This enables instant, seamless payments, typically in local currencies, which are particularly favorable for businesses operating in one specific region or country.
However, since it is geared towards local banking systems, it might have the capabilities to offer custom features also like local payment methods, regional fraud protection, or better compliance with local laws. Local bank integration gateways are meant for merchants interested in providing a payment solution with country-centric relevance, such as Emirates NBD’s Payit gateway and other local bank-backed gateways in the UAE.
How does the Payment Gateway Application Work?
The payment gateway application acts as a liaison between the e-commerce website and the payment processor. When the customer wants to pay for a product or service online, the payment gateway encrypts the payment details and sends them to the processor. The processor then communicates with the bank for transaction approval, after which the process can complete. The payment gateway provides instant feedback for the merchant and client, assuring continuity in the transaction.
Benefits of Using Payment Gateways
- Protection of Transactions: Payment gateways encrypt customer data with safeguarding fraud systems.
- Convenience to the Customer: It provides different types of payment methods available to make payment easy for customers.
- Faster Transaction: It speeds up the payment process for quick transactions along with making the user experience better overall.
- International Reach: Many of the payment gateways offer payments in different currencies so that international customers can make use of their services.
- Regulatory Compliance: The payment sources help businesses comply with industry regulations, including PCI-DSS, giving trust and reliability to the business.
20 Best Payment Gateways in UAE for 2025
Here’s a comprehensive list of the top payment gateways in the UAE, each with its unique features and pricing models.
Telr
Telr is one of the best payment gateways in the United Arab Emirates, with a minimum secure and easy integration for all business sizes. There is fast processing for this payment gateway, and it also has an excellent reputation as an easy customer support and flexible payment solution.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Payment Pages, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and local payment methods.
- Supported by: Multiple banks and financial institutions.
- Pricing: Competitive rates based on transaction volume.
CashU
CashU is a regional payment gateway with a focus on the MENA region, which accommodates with local payment methods and assures higher security.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: CashU credits, credit cards, and debit cards.
- Supported by: Local banks and regional card networks.
- Pricing: Custom pricing based on the business.
Checkout
Checkout payment solutions for businesses that boost scalability and reliability. They give a unique seamless payment experience not only to mobile users but also to desktop users.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Payment Pages
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, wallets.
- Supported by: Visa, MasterCard, and other international card networks.
- Pricing: Flexible pricing with no setup fees.
2Checkout
2Checkout is the international payment solution, which provides its services in many currencies, accepts most of the payment methods, and provides fraud liability.
- Options for Integration: API, Shopping Cart Integration
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, local payment methods.
- Supported by: International banks and financial institutions.
- Pricing: Monthly fees and transaction-based pricing.
CCAvenue
CCAvenue is one of the best payment gateways in the UAE and provides all the payment solutions. It is also trusted on security and multi-currency acceptance.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, wallets, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Banks across the UAE.
- Pricing: Transaction-based pricing with competitive rates.
Cybersource
Cybersource, a member of Visa, has reliable and scalable payment solutions. It is in fact famous for its advanced fraud detection tools and global payments acceptance.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets.
- Supported by: Visa, MasterCard, and more.
- Pricing: Based on transaction volume and business needs.
Amazon Payment Services
Supported by Amazon, this gateway offers robust payment processing solutions across countries. Various local and global payment options are here.
- Options for Integration: API, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and Amazon Pay.
- Supported by: Major banks and payment systems.
- Pricing: Flexible pricing based on usage.
PayTabs
PayTabs is a payment gateway based in the UAE. It caters to businesses within the region and provides efficient easy integration and competitive prices.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, local payments, and wallets.
- Supported by: Regional banks and card networks.
- Pricing: Competitive with low setup costs.
Paycaps
Paycaps is a payment gateway that provides security but also offers a wide variety of payment options, giving enterprises a cheap online transaction option.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, local payment methods.
- Supported by: Major local and international banks.
- Pricing: Custom pricing based on transaction volume.
Hyperpay
Hyperpay is the leading payment gateway in the UAE specializing into providing payment methods and advanced fraud prevention. It is also recommended for businesses venturing out on global markets.
- Options for Integration: API, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets.
- Supported by: Local and international banks.
- Pricing: Transaction-based fees.
Stripe
Stripe is the most popular in terms of payment gateway worldwide; it has a set of tools that are comprehensive and well suited for e-commerce use; its customization and reporting tools can be defined as really powerful.
- Options for Integration: API, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, wallets, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: International banks and financial institutions.
- Pricing: Custom pricing based on business needs.
Payit
Payit is ideal payment solution being easily integrated and hence useful offering smooth experiences to online businesses in the UAE.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards and local payment methods.
- Supported by: Emirates NBD and other local banks.
- Pricing: Affordable with minimal setup fees.
Skrill
Skrill is one of the most trusted online e-wallets and payment processors around the world, it allows online businesses to process payments across borders.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: E-wallet, credit/debit cards, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Major banks and financial systems.
- Pricing: Transaction fees based on volume.
PayPal
PayPal is one of the most widely used gateways all over the world, one of the fastest and most secure for transactions from businesses in the UAE.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Most banks and global payment systems.
- Pricing: Transaction-based fees.
Payoneer
Payoneer is an international payment services vendor that concentrates its services on cross-border transactions. It is the best service for companies that want to reach the global demographic. It is famous among freelance payments as well.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Bank transfers, Payoneer balance, credit cards.
- Supported by: International banks.
- Pricing: Transaction-based fees.
Noon Payments
Noon Payments is a payment gateway in the UAE that was created by an extremely popular e-commerce site, Noon, and is aimed mainly to optimize for business activities in the Middle East.
- Options for Integration: API, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, wallets, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Local and international banks.
- Pricing: Competitive with low setup costs.
Foloosi
Foloosi is an easy yet powerful payment gateway for businesses located in the UAE providing mobile payment solutions.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: QR payments, credit cards, and debit cards.
- Supported by: Local banks.
- Pricing: Affordable transaction fees.
PayFort
PayFort is owned by Amazon; it is the number one payment gateway in the UAE. Known for its security, it supports many local and international payment methods.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Multiple local banks.
- Pricing: Competitive fees based on transaction volume.
My Fatoorah
My Fatoorah is an easy site-to-integrate payment gateway in the UAE for businesses both large and small.
- Options for Integration: API, Plugins
- Payment Options: Credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and wallets.
- Supported by: Local and international banks.
- Pricing: Low transaction fees.
WorldPay
WorldPay is one of the world’s best-known payment processors. It is easy to access and generates credible and secure services in the UAE. It also supports all forms of payment and currency.
- Options for Integration: API, Hosted Pages
- Payment Options: Credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.
- Supported by: Major banks and financial institutions.
- Pricing: Flexible pricing based on business needs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Payment Gateway in Dubai
When selecting a payment gateway, keep the following factors in mind:
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Security:
Security is the major concern when it comes to the selection of a payment gateway-and, by doing so; it protects the sensitive customer information while the transaction is made. Check for the only gateway that uses secure encryption technologies, such as SSL or TLS encryption, to shield data from unauthorized access. Besides this, it also adds improved tools for fraud protection like tokenization, real-time transaction monitoring, and secure authentication techniques. An excellent payment gateway should comply with the industry’s standards, for example, PCI DSS-compliant, because it makes sure that your system is very secure and minimizes the risk of a data breach.
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Transaction Charges:
The transaction costs vary between payment gateways on a large scale. These are proportionate to your profit margins. Check out both the percentage received from the transaction and any fixed fees that are going to be applicable. Some also charge monthly or one-time setup fees; hence rather easy to look at the overall pricing structure. Furthermore, some of them offer tiered pricing that may really save you as your sales go up, depending on the volume of your business.
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Modes of Payment:
More options in payment modes are also ensured to increase the chances of conversion by offering the various ways through which the customers will prefer the medium of payment to use. Find out which gateway provides credit and debit cards, e-wallets (such as PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay), and other alternatives, such as bank transfers or mobile payments. Depending on your target market, you may even want to accept local payment online in some regions.
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Currency Support:
Multi-currency support should be integral for an international business organization. The feature enables consumers to pay in their native language, which only adds up to the shopping experience but saves hassle in any case because of varying exchange rates. With this, businesses have better chances to enter newer markets.
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Integration:
Integration with your e-commerce platform is paramount in streamlining your payments process and improving operational efficiency. Ensure that the gateway offers integration with the platform you are using, whether it’s Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or others. Search options that have pre-built plugins, extensions, or APIs to minimize the setup time and cost of creating technical issues. Also, the integration with other business systems, such as inventory management and accounting tools, gives a more coherent flow of work.
Conclusion
The right choice of a payment gateway is essential for boosting the customer experience in your e-commerce operation in the UAE as well as for the safety of your transactions. With the countless veritable example of option available, take your business needs, the payment methods you want, and your budget into consideration before arriving at the best option. This way, you will have the best solution for your business, with regard to payment processing, since it will consolidate payment processing and focus on the business itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a payment gateway and why is it important for my e-commerce website?
A payment gateway is a service that processes online payments securely. It is important for your website to facilitate smooth, secure, and efficient payment processing.
How do I choose the best payment gateway for my e-commerce business?
Consider transaction fees, payment methods supported, security features, and integration options when choosing a gateway.
Are payment gateways in the UAE safe to use?
Yes, payment gateways in the UAE adhere to industry standards for security, ensuring safe transactions.
What are the costs associated with using a payment gateway in 2025?
Costs typically include setup fees, monthly fees, and transaction fees. Rates vary depending on the provider.
How long does it take to integrate a payment gateway into my e-commerce website?
Integration time can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity and the gateway.
Are there payment gateways that support multiple currencies in the UAE?
Yes, many payment gateways in the UAE support multiple currencies, ideal for international businesses.