If you run a business in the Middle East, North Africa, or parts of Asia, you’ve likely heard of PayTabs. While names like Stripe, PayPal, and Square dominate the global conversation around digital payments, PayTabs has been quietly and powerfully transforming how businesses in the region accept, manage, and scale online payments.
More than just a payment gateway, PayTabs is a full-service fintech platform tailored to the cultural, regulatory, and commercial realities of the markets it serves. And it’s not just for enterprise giants—freelancers, e-commerce startups, service providers, and government agencies all rely on it.
In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about PayTabs—from what it does and how to use it, to its benefits, integrations, pricing, and more.
1. What Is PayTabs?
PayTabs is a regional payment processing company that allows businesses to accept online payments via:
- Credit and debit cards
- Digital wallets
- Local payment methods
- Direct bank integrations
Founded in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, PayTabs was built with a clear purpose: to serve businesses in emerging markets that lacked access to easy, reliable online payment infrastructure.
Since then, it has expanded across:
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- Oman
- Iraq
And it’s still growing. With each market it enters, PayTabs ensures compliance with local financial regulations, offering businesses a regionally native alternative to global processors.
2. Why PayTabs?
Let’s face it—most international gateways (like Stripe or Square) either aren’t available or aren’t optimized for many MENA and South Asian countries. PayTabs bridges that gap by offering:
- Local currencies
- Arabic-language support
- Shariah-compliant processing
- Integrated invoicing, e-commerce plugins, and APIs
- Support for GCC VAT regulations
- Payouts to local banks
PayTabs positions itself as a “glocal” solution—global technology, with local understanding.
3. How PayTabs Works
At a high level, PayTabs helps businesses receive payments online, via their website, mobile app, or a payment link. It connects your business to banking networks and payment methods through a secure, compliant, and easy-to-integrate API.
Here’s a simple flow:
- Customer makes a purchase
- Payment info is securely submitted to PayTabs
- PayTabs processes and verifies the payment
- Funds are settled to your business bank account, typically within a few business days
You get full control via a business dashboard, where you can:
- Track transactions
- Issue refunds
- Monitor settlements
- Download reports
- Manage customers and invoices
4. Payment Methods Supported
PayTabs supports a wide array of payment methods depending on the country you operate in.
International Methods
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Local & Regional Options
- Mada, STC Pay (Saudi Arabia)
- Meeza (Egypt)
- KNET (Kuwait)
- BenefitPay (Bahrain)
- Sadad (Qatar)
- Fawry (Egypt)
- Payit (UAE)
By supporting these domestic payment schemes, PayTabs gives you access to millions of local customers who can’t (or prefer not to) pay with international cards.
5. Core Products and Services
1. Payment Gateway
The standard way to accept payments on your website, app, or digital platform.
- Fast and secure API
- Fully PCI-DSS compliant
- Mobile-optimized checkout pages
- Hosted or embedded checkout options
2. PayLinks
Don’t have a website? No problem.
With PayLinks, you can:
- Create a payment link
- Send via SMS, email, or WhatsApp
- Get paid in minutes
Ideal for freelancers, coaches, or small sellers.
3. Invoicing
Generate branded, VAT-compliant invoices with embedded payment options.
- Customizable templates
- Track status (sent, paid, overdue)
- Supports recurring invoices
- Arabic/English language support
4. Subscription Billing
Set up recurring payments for:
- Memberships
- SaaS products
- Retainer services
You define the billing cycle, duration, and pricing.
5. E-Commerce Plugins
PayTabs offers pre-built plugins for:
- WooCommerce
- Shopify
- Magento
- OpenCart
- Prestashop
- WHMCS
- CS-Cart
- Ecwid
These let you integrate PayTabs in minutes with no coding required.
6. Mobile SDKs
Want to embed payments into your mobile app?
PayTabs offers mobile SDKs for:
- iOS
- Android
- Flutter
6. Security and Compliance
PayTabs takes security seriously.
- PCI-DSS Level 1 certified
- TLS 1.2 encryption
- 3D Secure 2.0
- Fraud monitoring tools
- Tokenization support
- KYC and AML compliance
- Local bank and central bank approvals in each market
All data is handled with full compliance to local financial regulations, and merchants undergo basic identity verification before going live.
7. Payouts and Settlement
PayTabs lets you link your local business bank account to receive payments.
- Payout Frequency: Varies by country (usually every 2–4 business days)
- Currencies Supported: IQD, SAR, AED, EGP, BHD, QAR, KWD, USD, INR, PKR, and others
- Settlement Reports: Accessible via dashboard (daily, weekly, or monthly summaries)
You can track your balances, refund transactions, or initiate payouts directly from the dashboard.
8. Pricing: What Does PayTabs Cost?
PayTabs uses a custom pricing model based on your business type, transaction volume, risk category, and country.
Typical fees range:
| Fee Type | Range |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee (one-time) | $0 – $500 (waived for some plans) |
| Monthly Fee | Often waived (or ~$20/month) |
| Transaction Fee (local) | 2% – 3% + small fixed fee |
| Transaction Fee (international) | 3% – 4.5% |
| Refund/Dispute Fees | Varies |
You’ll need to apply and get an official quote from the PayTabs sales team, but the total cost is generally competitive with global processors—and often more tailored to local markets.
9. Integration Process
You can integrate PayTabs in three ways:
1. Hosted Checkout (No-Code)
Redirects customers to PayTabs’ secure checkout page.
- Easy to set up
- Fully responsive
- Ideal for fast launch
2. Embedded Checkout (Low-Code)
Keeps the customer on your website.
- Seamless experience
- More customization
3. Full API Integration (Custom Code)
For advanced use cases like marketplaces, booking systems, or ERP integrations.
- Full developer control
- Use PayTabs RESTful APIs
- Includes tokenization, subscription setup, and reporting APIs
10. Customer Support and Service
PayTabs offers:
- Email and ticketing support
- Live chat (in some markets)
- Dedicated account managers (for larger businesses)
- Arabic and English language support
Support is generally responsive, and the company is known for being approachable and merchant-friendly—especially for startups.
11. Who Is PayTabs Best For?
PayTabs is ideal for:
- E-commerce businesses in MENA/Asia looking for local currency support
- Freelancers and SMEs needing quick online payment tools
- Subscription-based startups
- Service providers like coaches, agencies, or consultants
- Platforms and marketplaces that need to manage multiple vendors
- Government and NGO projects looking for regional payment compliance
12. Comparing PayTabs to Other Platforms
| Feature | PayTabs | Stripe | PayPal | HyperPay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Focus | MENA & South Asia | Global (US/EU focus) | Global | MENA-focused |
| Local Payment Methods | Yes | Few | Limited | Yes |
| Arabic Support | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Local Currency Payouts | Yes | No (in many markets) | No | Yes |
| Subscriptions | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Custom Pricing | Yes | No | No | Yes |
If you’re based in the Middle East, North Africa, or South Asia—and you want a payment platform that understands your market, speaks your language (literally and financially), and gives you the tools to grow—then PayTabs is one of the best solutions available.
It may not be as globally famous as Stripe or PayPal, but it was built for businesses like yours. It knows the rules, supports the currencies, and handles the paperwork. And that makes it a powerful partner in the world of modern digital commerce.
