As online shopping continues to grow across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the ability to collect payments securely and efficiently is more important than ever. Whether you’re a small business selling through Instagram or a large enterprise scaling across multiple countries, choosing the right payment gateway is a decision that can directly impact your revenue, customer trust, and ability to grow.
But the MENA region is unique. It’s home to fast-growing economies, millions of first-time online shoppers, and a diverse mix of cultures, currencies, and payment behaviors. That makes finding the “best” payment gateway more than just a technical decision — it’s about local trust, cultural fit, and financial agility.
This guide will walk you through 15 of the most reliable and widely-used payment gateways in MENA, helping you understand what they offer, where they operate, and who they’re best suited for.
What Is a Payment Gateway?
At its core, a payment gateway is the service that authorizes and processes online payments between your customer and your business. It acts as the bridge between the buyer, their bank or card provider, and your merchant account.
In regions like MENA, where cash-on-delivery was once the default, the growing shift to digital payments has made gateways essential for ecommerce, subscription services, mobile apps, and even point-of-sale (POS) systems.
The best payment gateways handle all this behind the scenes — and offer tools like fraud detection, recurring billing, refunds, invoicing, and integration with local banking systems.
What to Look for in a MENA-Focused Payment Gateway
Choosing the right gateway is more than just comparing fees. In MENA, here are some of the most important factors to consider:
- Currency and Language Support: Can you accept local currencies like AED, SAR, EGP, and IQD? Can customers interact in Arabic, English, or French?
- Local Payment Methods: Do they support Mada, Meeza, Apple Pay, and mobile wallets? Can customers pay in installments?
- Compliance and Regulation: Are they licensed to operate in countries like Saudi Arabia (SAMA), Egypt (CBE), or the UAE?
- Ease of Integration: Do they work with your ecommerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento)? Can developers set it up quickly?
- Support and Dispute Resolution: Can you reach real people in your time zone when something goes wrong?
Now let’s look at the 15 best options in the region.
Top 15 Payment Gateways in the MENA Region
1. PayTabs (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, GCC)
PayTabs is one of the most established regional players. Based in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, it offers robust, secure solutions tailored for MENA merchants. It supports credit cards, local wallets, Apple Pay, and even social selling with payment links.
Highlights:
- Multiple currencies and language support
- Great fraud protection tools
- Trusted by thousands of merchants across the Gulf
- Offers PayTabs SwitchOn for enterprises wanting their own branded gateway
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
2. Paymob (Egypt, UAE, GCC)
Headquartered in Cairo, Paymob is now expanding into the Gulf. It provides both online and in-person payment infrastructure, making it a go-to for fintechs, large retailers, and growing startups.
Highlights:
- Strong network of partnerships with banks and mobile wallets
- Powerful merchant dashboard
- Supports card payments, wallets, QR, and installment options
Best for: Businesses in Egypt and GCC looking for scalable infrastructure
3. Telr (UAE, Saudi Arabia)
Telr has been around since 2014 and focuses heavily on SMEs. It offers quick onboarding, multi-currency support, and integrations with Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and other ecommerce platforms.
Highlights:
- Support for over 120 currencies
- Clean API and simple integration
- Multiple settlement currencies
Best for: Startups and medium businesses selling cross-border
4. Tap Payments (Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC)
Tap Payments has become a strong player in the Gulf, thanks to its localized approach and lightning-fast onboarding. It supports all major GCC currencies and popular local methods like Mada and KNET.
Highlights:
- Payment links via SMS and WhatsApp
- Smooth checkout interface with Arabic support
- Quick setup with no heavy paperwork
Best for: Social sellers, freelancers, and app-based businesses
5. Checkout.com (Global with strong MENA presence)
Checkout.com is a global player with regional offices in Dubai and Riyadh. It’s known for its developer-friendly APIs, high performance, and enterprise-grade security.
Highlights:
- End-to-end payment processing
- Real-time analytics
- Integrated fraud protection and compliance tools
Best for: Enterprises and high-growth startups scaling internationally
6. Amazon Payment Services (Formerly Payfort)
As the fintech arm of Amazon in the Middle East, APS is trusted by some of the biggest ecommerce platforms in the region. It’s stable, scalable, and well-integrated with installment providers and banks.
Highlights:
- Offers installment payments
- Deep integration with Amazon and Souq
- Great for high-volume businesses
Best for: Ecommerce platforms looking for mature, secure infrastructure
7. HyperPay (Jordan, Saudi Arabia)
HyperPay provides smart online and POS payment services across the region. Its platform supports local wallets, recurring payments, invoicing, and cross-border settlements.
Highlights:
- Real-time fraud detection
- Payment reconciliation dashboard
- Local support in Jordan and KSA
Best for: Mid to large-size businesses needing flexibility
8. Moyasar (Saudi Arabia)
Moyasar is known for simplicity. It’s particularly attractive to developers, startups, and tech companies who want to quickly integrate card and Mada payments in KSA.
Highlights:
- Simple, modern API
- Works well with Apple Pay
- Transparent pricing
Best for: Startups and developers in Saudi Arabia
9. Zbooni (UAE, Jordan, KSA)
Zbooni is perfect for merchants who sell through social media and want to accept payments via WhatsApp or Instagram.
Highlights:
- Create and send payment links
- Built-in CRM and order management
- Arabic-first UX
Best for: Creators, home-based sellers, small retailers
10. Geidea (Saudi Arabia)
Geidea provides an end-to-end fintech solution for businesses in the Kingdom. Its services range from POS terminals to ecommerce gateways and BNPL integrations.
Highlights:
- Licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
- Supports Mada and mobile wallets
- Full suite for in-store and online sales
Best for: Brick-and-mortar stores going online in Saudi Arabia
11. Fawry (Egypt)
Fawry is one of the most recognized fintech brands in Egypt, especially for offline-to-online payments. It supports cards, wallets, kiosk payments, and even supermarket pay-ins.
Highlights:
- Massive customer trust and reach
- Easy for unbanked consumers
- Works well for utility payments, e-bills, and ecommerce
Best for: Businesses in Egypt targeting mass-market users
12. CashU (UAE, Jordan, Levant)
CashU focuses on prepaid online payments for users without access to bank cards. It’s especially useful for digital goods, subscriptions, and gaming.
Highlights:
- Prepaid card system
- Secure and private checkout
- Available in many Arab countries
Best for: Businesses selling digital goods or targeting the unbanked
13. Network International (UAE, MENA)
One of the largest payment processors in the region, Network International provides enterprise-grade services including POS, ecommerce, and issuing.
Highlights:
- Strong bank partnerships
- Regional dominance
- Offers merchant acquiring services
Best for: Large banks, financial institutions, and multinational businesses
14. 2Checkout (now Verifone) (Global with MENA support)
A global processor that supports subscription billing, SaaS, and digital products, 2Checkout is great for online-first companies looking to go global.
Highlights:
- Recurring billing engine
- Multiple languages and currencies
- Strong fraud detection tools
Best for: SaaS and digital services with customers worldwide
15. PayTabs SwitchOn (Saudi Arabia)
PayTabs SwitchOn is an enterprise-grade white-label solution used by banks, telcos, and PSPs to launch their own payment platforms on top of PayTabs’ infrastructure.
Highlights:
- Customizable gateway framework
- Built for large-scale deployment
- Compliance, risk, and settlement tools included
Best for: Banks or enterprises wanting to build their own PSP infrastructure
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Gateway for Your Business
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right payment gateway depends on:
- Where you operate (KSA, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, etc.)
- Who your customers are (retail, B2B, social, international)
- How you sell (website, mobile app, social media)
- What matters most (speed, fees, installment plans, support)
Whether you need simple payment links or full-fledged financial infrastructure, the MENA region now offers more choices than ever before. Take your time, compare your options, and work with providers that understand the nuances of your market and customers.
