The verdict in three sentences
In Dubai, a B2B webshop can choose between Network International, Checkout.com, Stripe or local bank gateways, at around 2.5 to 3% per transaction and with activation in days; in Morocco the choice is narrower, since Stripe is not available to Moroccan-registered companies in 2026 and CMI remains the standard. Integration costs 14,500 to 40,000 AED in Dubai and 15,000 to 40,000 MAD in Casablanca, over 3 to 6 weeks (2026 market estimates). 3D Secure is mandatory in both markets, which protects the merchant against disputes but requires a well-designed checkout.
The real options for a merchant
A B2B webshop selling IT equipment to businesses handles large amounts (often the equivalent of 5,000 to 80,000 MAD or AED per order). The choice of gateway depends on the collecting entity and the currency.
| Option (2026 estimate) | Required entity | Fee per transaction | Setup fee | Settlement currency | Time to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMI via a Moroccan bank | Company in Morocco | 1.5 to 2.5% | 2,000 to 5,000 MAD | MAD | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Local aggregator (licensed PSPs) | Company in Morocco | 2 to 3% | 0 to 3,000 MAD | MAD | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Stripe | Company outside Morocco (EU, UAE, US) | 1.5 to 3.25% | 0 | EUR, USD, AED | 1 to 7 days |
| Standard bank transfer | Any entity | 0 to 15 MAD | 0 | MAD | Immediate |
| Payment on delivery (cheque, bill of exchange) | Any entity | 0 | 0 | MAD | Immediate |
Some companies set up a subsidiary in Dubai or Europe to use Stripe, but that is a heavy tax and regulatory decision (foreign exchange office rules, repatriation of currency) that is not justified for collecting Moroccan clients in dirhams. For a local client base, CMI remains the simplest route. In Dubai, by contrast, a UAE company can open Stripe, Checkout.com or Network International accounts directly.
Integration cost: Casablanca and Dubai
The CMI integration uses the hosted payment page: the client is redirected to CMI's secure page, completes 3D Secure with their bank, then returns to the shop. Dubai gateways work similarly or through embedded payment fields. The technical work covers the security hash, server callback handling, failure management and automatic order updates.
| Item (2026 ballpark) | Casablanca (MAD excl. VAT) | Dubai (AED) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant application and account setup | 1,500 to 4,000 | 1,000 to 3,000 | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Payment module integration (hash, callback) | 6,000 to 15,000 | 6,000 to 15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Failure handling, retry and partial payment | 3,000 to 8,000 | 3,000 to 8,000 | 1 week |
| Automatic invoicing and accounting reconciliation | 3,000 to 9,000 | 3,000 to 10,000 | 1 week |
| Sandbox testing and go-live | 1,500 to 4,000 | 1,500 to 4,000 | 3 to 5 days |
| Total | 15,000 to 40,000 | 14,500 to 40,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
In Dubai, the landscape is more open: Network International, Checkout.com, Stripe or local bank solutions usually charge 2.5 to 3% per transaction, with accounts opened within a few days. Integration cost is comparable, but activation is faster. These are market estimates.
B2B needs more than card payments
In B2B, cards only cover part of the orders. Corporate clients often have card limits equivalent to 20,000 to 50,000 MAD and internal approval workflows. A good shop therefore offers several methods: card for small orders and new clients, bank transfer with a pro forma invoice for large amounts, and 30 or 60-day terms for approved accounts. The flow must generate the pro forma automatically and hold stock for 48 to 72 h.
Mini case study
Youssef runs an IT equipment importer in Casablanca, a business model that many Dubai distributors share: 600 trade clients, 1,100 orders a month, an average basket of 9,500 MAD. Today every order goes through a pro forma and bank transfer, with 3 to 5 days between order and payment, and 12% of pro formas never paid.
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Illustrative scenario: CMI integration at 28,000 MAD excl. VAT, setup fee of 3,500 MAD. If 35% of orders move to card, that is 385 orders and about 3.66 million MAD a month, and fees at 1.8% come to 65,800 MAD monthly. In return, abandoned pro formas on that segment are halved, about 23 more orders a month, close to 220,000 MAD in revenue. At an 18% gross margin, the gain reaches 39,600 MAD a month, plus immediate collection. The calculation also shows why the rate must be negotiated: at 1.5%, fees drop to 54,900 MAD.
FAQ
Why is Stripe not available to Moroccan companies?
Stripe has not opened merchant sign-up in Morocco as of 2026, notably because of foreign exchange regulations. A Moroccan company must use CMI or a payment provider licensed by Bank Al-Maghrib. A UAE company, by contrast, can use Stripe directly.
Are gateway rates negotiable?
Yes, depending on volume and bank. Above roughly 1 million MAD in monthly transactions, rates close to 1.5% are possible with CMI, versus 2 to 2.5% for a small merchant; in Dubai, high-volume merchants often negotiate below 2.5%.
Does 3D Secure cost sales?
It adds a step and can cause 5 to 10% of attempts to fail if the client has not enabled online payments on their card. Clear messaging and a bank transfer alternative limit the loss.
Can CMI collect from foreign cards?
Yes, CMI accepts Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad, with settlement in MAD to your account. Fees are often higher, around 2.5 to 3%.
Can Kolonell integrate these gateways?
Yes, as part of its e-commerce projects, Kolonell integrates local gateways, including CMI in Morocco and Wave or Orange Money in West Africa.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your bank, your monthly volume and your current platform, and we will price the gateway integration and the B2B payment methods. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
