The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai SME billing B2B subscriptions, Network International remains the local reference, with fees of about 1.8 to 2.5 % per transaction, while Checkout.com and Stripe win on recurring billing and developer tooling. Integration costs AED 15,000 to 50,000 depending on the depth of the subscription flow. The real gain is not the fee rate but automatic bank reconciliation, which frees up finance every month end.
Gateways available to UAE SMEs in 2026
The orders of magnitude below apply to an SME collecting AED 400,000 to 1,500,000 a month online. Rates are negotiable above those volumes.
| Criterion | Network International | Checkout.com | Stripe (UAE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee per transaction | 1.8 to 2.5 % | 2 to 2.9 % negotiated | about 2.9 % + AED 1, international cards higher |
| Setup fee | AED 1,000 to 3,500 | 0 to AED 2,000 | 0 |
| Onboarding time | 3 to 6 weeks | 2 to 4 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 3-D Secure | mandatory | built in | built in |
| Multi-currency | yes, AED, USD, EUR | 150+ currencies | 135+ currencies |
| Recurring billing | tokenisation on request | native | native (Billing) |
| Settlement | T+1 to T+3 | T+2 to T+7 | T+3 to T+7 |
For subscriptions the key question is card tokenisation: without it, customers re-enter their card every month and renewal rates drop by 15 to 25 points.
Integration and compliance cost
Integration is not a single button. You need a clean sign-up flow, failed-payment handling, payment notifications and export to accounting.
| Component | Budget AED excl. VAT | Timeline | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple hosted checkout | 15,000 to 22,000 | 2 weeks | one-off payment, gateway page |
| Recurring billing with tokenisation | 20,000 to 35,000 | 3 to 4 weeks | automatic dunning on failure |
| Compliant invoicing and receipt emails | 6,000 to 12,000 | 1 week | TRN, 5 % VAT, numbering |
| Automatic bank reconciliation | 8,000 to 15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | matching receipts in the ERP |
| Customer portal (invoices, card, cancellation) | 10,000 to 18,000 | 2 weeks | cuts support calls |
| Full project (estimate) | 35,000 to 50,000 | 6 to 8 weeks | excluding gateway onboarding |
Start the merchant application on day one: trade licence, refund policy, terms of sale and a live website with company details are required before activation.
Mini case study
Omar, CFO of a Dubai SME selling fleet management software at AED 1,200 a month, bills 350 companies by bank transfer and cheque. His team spends 3 days a month chasing and matching payments, with 8 % of invoices more than 30 days late. Moving to recurring card billing at 2 % costs about AED 8,400 a month on AED 420,000 collected. In return, 2.5 days of finance time are freed, about AED 5,000, and late payments fall below 2 %, improving cash flow by about AED 25,000 a month. The AED 42,000 project pays back in 3 to 4 months.
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FAQ
Why does merchant onboarding take 3 to 6 weeks?
The acquiring bank checks the company, the website and the terms of sale before enabling the account. An incomplete site or a missing refund policy often adds 2 weeks.
Can we collect from foreign customers in USD or EUR?
Yes, all three gateways accept international cards and settle in AED or foreign currency. Fees on foreign cards are often 0.5 to 1 point higher.
Is Stripe a good fit for a UAE SME?
Yes, Stripe has been available to UAE companies for several years and is fast to integrate. Its standard rate is higher than a negotiated Network International contract once volumes exceed roughly AED 500,000 a month.
Does 3-D Secure hurt conversion?
It adds an OTP or banking app step, with 3 to 8 % abandonment depending on the issuer. It also shifts chargeback liability to the issuer, which protects the merchant.
How much does maintenance cost after launch?
Allow AED 1,500 to 4,000 a month for monitoring, security updates and small changes. Gateway API changes are absorbed in that retainer.
Let's scope your project. We integrate your gateway with recurring billing and automatic reconciliation, for an indicative budget of AED 35,000 to 50,000 excl. VAT and 6 to 8 weeks of work. 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.
