Tabby vs Tamara for Merchants: Fees, Payouts and Setup in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
A merchant comparison of Tabby and Tamara in the UAE and Saudi Arabia: how fees work, when you get paid, which platforms they connect to and how to decide whether to offer one or both.
D2C.ae
Business
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8 minute read
Tabby and Tamara are two of the best-known buy now, pay later (BNPL) providers in the GCC. Both let customers split a purchase into instalments while the provider pays the merchant. For a store owner, the differences are in fees, payout timing, market coverage and setup.
This guide compares them from the merchant side, using what each company publishes. Commercial rates are agreed per merchant, so treat any fee range here as a starting point for your own quote.
Quick answer
Both providers integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, Salla and Zid, both hold licenses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and both charge the merchant a fee on each order at rates set in your agreement. Tabby publishes a weekly payout cycle that pays on working Mondays. Tamara says merchants receive the full order amount upfront, on a settlement timeline agreed in the contract. Integration firms report that many GCC stores offer both and compare the cost per paid order after a few months.
1. How BNPL works for the merchant
The customer chooses Tabby or Tamara at checkout and the provider approves or declines the purchase. If it is approved, the provider pays you the order value minus its fee and collects the instalments from the customer. Tabby says sellers pay a small fee each time Tabby is used at checkout. Tamara says it manages customer repayments while the business receives the full payment upfront.
2. Tabby for merchants
What customers see
Tabby offers 4 interest-free payments, or up to 12 monthly payments on larger purchases.
Fees
Tabby's payout reports show a fixed fee plus a variable fee for each order, with VAT applied to Tabby's commission and not to the order value. The rates are part of your commercial terms. Tabby's public pages do not list them.
Payouts
Tabby's help centre describes two payout cycles:
Fixed: paid every working Monday regardless of the amount, with a payout fee of AED or SAR 6, or AED or SAR 25 when the payout is below 2,500
Flexible: held until the net amount reaches AED or SAR 2,500, then paid on the following working Monday with a fee of AED or SAR 6
If a customer is refunded after you have been paid, Tabby deducts the refund from your next payout.
Regulation
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed Tabby for buy now, pay later activity in 2025. In June 2026 Tabby announced consumer finance and SME finance licenses from SAMA as well. In the UAE, Tabby states that its Tabby Cash services are provided by Tabby Payments LLC, which is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
3. Tamara for merchants
What customers see
Tamara lets customers pay in full or split a purchase into up to 4 interest-free payments. It advertises no late fees and describes its plans as Sharia compliant.
Fees
Salla's help centre says Tamara's merchant fees vary with the merchant agreement. Tamara states that its Salla plugin is free to install.
Payouts
Tamara says merchants receive the full payment upfront. Salla's help centre adds that amounts become eligible once the order is shipped, and that settlements follow the timeline agreed with Tamara.
Regulation
Tamara Finance Company operates under the supervision of the Saudi Central Bank. In the UAE, Tamara FZE states that it is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE.
Platforms and markets
Tamara lists integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Salla and Zid, among others. It says most merchants go live within a few hours with its no-code plugins and that custom integrations take 1 to 3 business days. Its website has country versions for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.
4. Tabby and Tamara side by side
Customer plans: Tabby offers 4 interest-free payments or up to 12 monthly payments. Tamara offers payment in full or up to 4 interest-free payments
Merchant fees: both charge per order, at rates set in your agreement
Payouts: Tabby pays weekly on working Mondays with a payout fee. Tamara settles on the timeline in your agreement once orders ship
Regulators: both are licensed by the Saudi Central Bank and the Central Bank of the UAE
Platforms: both connect to Shopify, WooCommerce, Salla and Zid
5. What the fees look like in practice
Neither provider publishes a public rate card. Agencies that integrate both quote merchant rates of roughly 3% to 8% of the order value, sometimes with a small fixed fee, depending on volume and category. Treat that range as indicative.
Ask each provider for a written quote that covers the percentage fee, any fixed fee, payout fees, refund handling and minimum payout amounts. As a hypothetical example, a 6% fee on an AED 300 order costs AED 18, which is often more than card processing on the same order. Our guide to break-even ROAS for GCC brands shows how to include these fees in your ad targets.
6. How to choose
Where your customers are
Integration firms often describe Tabby as stronger in the UAE and Tamara as stronger in Saudi Arabia. Ask each provider for data on your category and market before assuming that applies to you.
Cash flow
Compare payout timing against how quickly you need to pay suppliers and couriers. A weekly cycle with a minimum threshold affects a small store more than a large one.
Order value
Longer plans, such as Tabby's option of up to 12 monthly payments, are more relevant for higher-priced products.
Test both
If you can, run both for a few months and compare paid orders, average order value, fee per order and refund rate by provider.
7. Setup checklist
Have a valid trade license and a business bank account ready. See our guide to getting an e-commerce license in Dubai
Apply for a merchant account with each provider and wait for approval
Install the plugin for your platform and add your live keys
Add instalment messaging on product and cart pages
Place a test order and a test refund in each market and currency you sell in
Reconcile payout reports against your orders every week
Final thoughts
Tabby and Tamara are similar enough that the decision usually comes down to your quoted rate, the payout cycle and which provider your own customers already use. Get both quotes in writing and measure the result on paid orders and contribution per order.
Related reading: how to build a profitable D2C brand in the UAE, what D2C means for UAE and GCC brands and how to sell on Noon.
Need help with checkout and payments?
D2C.ae sets up and tests BNPL, wallets, card gateways and cash on delivery rules for UAE and Saudi stores through our checkout and payments service. Book a free growth audit.
FAQ
Do Tabby and Tamara charge merchants a fee?
Yes. Both charge the merchant a fee on each order. Tabby's payout reports show a fixed fee plus a variable fee, and Tamara's fees vary by merchant agreement. Neither publishes a public rate card.
How quickly do Tabby and Tamara pay merchants?
Tabby's help centre describes payouts every working Monday, either weekly or once the net amount reaches AED or SAR 2,500. Tamara says merchants are paid the full amount upfront, on the settlement timeline in their agreement.
Can a store offer both Tabby and Tamara?
Integration firms report that many GCC stores offer both. Check your own merchant agreements for any conditions before you add a second provider.
Are Tabby and Tamara licensed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Central Bank licensed Tabby for BNPL activity in 2025, and Tamara Finance Company operates under its supervision. In the UAE, Tabby Payments LLC and Tamara FZE both state that they are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
