A UAE merchant account allows your business to accept card payments from customers — via a POS (Point of Sale) terminal in a physical store or via an online payment gateway. Here is a complete guide to UAE merchant accounts in 2025.
UAE Merchant Account vs. Payment Gateway
Merchant Account: A bank account that holds the funds from card payments until they are settled into your main business bank account. In the UAE, merchant accounts are provided by UAE banks (Emirates NBD Merchant Services, FAB Merchant, Mashreq Merchant) or by payment service providers (Network International, Checkout.com). Payment Gateway: The technology that processes the card transaction (reads card data, sends to the card network, receives approval, returns confirmation to you). Payment gateways can be separate from the merchant account provider or bundled with it.
UAE POS Terminal Providers
Network International: UAE’s largest POS terminal provider. Used by 70%+ of large retail chains and restaurants in the UAE. Terminal lease: AED 200–500/month. Transaction fee: 1.5–2.5% depending on card type and volume. Paymob (UAE): Affordable POS solution for SMEs. Transaction fee: 2%+ for standard merchants. Telr Terminal (UAE): SME-friendly, integrated with Telr’s online gateway. WIO Bank Tap-to-Pay: WIO Bank merchants can use a smartphone as a POS terminal via the UAE TAP-to-Pay service — no hardware required for small merchants.
Required Documents for UAE Merchant Account
UAE bank or PSP requirements: valid UAE trade licence, UAE business bank account (most providers require you to be a customer), 3–6 months of trading history (for higher-risk categories), and an active UAE website with terms of service and refund policy displayed (for online merchants).