Top-rated online store platforms with integrated payment processing

An online store is only as good as its checkout. If customers can’t pay with the card, wallet or local method they trust, they leave. And if payments, orders and payouts live in separate systems, your team spends hours reconciling them.

That is why the most important question when choosing an eCommerce platform is often not about themes or features, but about payments: which platforms let you sell and get paid in one place?

This guide compares five top-rated online store platforms with integrated payment processing, Shopify, Maxcommerce, Salla, Zid and BigCommerce, with a focus on what matters to businesses selling in the UAE and the wider GCC.

What “integrated payment processing” means

A platform with integrated payments lets you accept online payments at checkout without building your own connection to a bank. It comes in two forms:

• Built-in payments: the platform is also the payment provider. You activate payments from the store’s admin, and payouts and fees show up next to your orders. Shopify Payments, Maxcommerce Pay, Salla’s payments and Zid Payments are examples.
• Pre-built gateway integrations: the platform connects to payment gateways such as Stripe, Checkout.com, Network International, Telr, PayTabs or Tap. You sign a contract with the gateway, then switch it on in the store without custom code.

Both count as integrated, but they differ in cost, local payment methods, settlement currency and how much paperwork you need to get started.

What to compare

Before looking at the platforms, decide what your business needs:

1. Local payment methods. Cards and Apple Pay are expected everywhere. In Kuwait, KNET is essential; in Saudi Arabia, mada and STC Pay. Buy-now-pay-later options such as Tabby and Tamara are popular across the GCC.
2. Total cost. Add the platform subscription, payment processing rates and any extra platform fee charged when you use a third-party gateway.
3. Settlement. Where your money lands, in which currency, and how fast.
4. Arabic and RTL. A store that serves Arabic-speaking customers needs a proper right-to-left layout, not only translated text.
5. Beyond the website. Payment links, QR codes and in-store or on-the-go payments matter if you also sell through WhatsApp, social media or in person.
6. Growth. Multi-currency, multi-store, B2B pricing and integrations with your ERP, CRM and inventory systems.

1. Shopify

Shopify is the world’s best-known hosted eCommerce platform and powers millions of stores, from first-time sellers to global brands.

Payments. Shopify’s own provider, Shopify Payments, is now available to businesses in the United Arab Emirates. It takes cards and wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay directly in the Shopify checkout, with payouts and fees shown in the same admin as your orders. If you prefer another gateway, Shopify integrates with many third-party providers, but it then adds its own transaction fee on top of the gateway’s rate, from 0.2% to 2% depending on your plan.

Strengths

• A fast, polished checkout, including Shop Pay for returning customers.
• A huge app store and theme marketplace.
• Hosting, security and PCI compliance handled for you.
• Strong tools for marketing, social selling and international markets.

Things to consider

• Extra transaction fees when you don’t use Shopify Payments.
• Local methods such as KNET, mada or some BNPL providers rely on third-party apps or gateways.
• Monthly app subscriptions can add up as your store grows.

Best for: brands that want a proven platform, a large ecosystem and a quick launch, especially when Shopify Payments covers their markets.

Already on Shopify? Our team offers Shopify maintenance services to keep your store fast, secure and up to date.

2. Maxcommerce

Maxcommerce is a cloud eCommerce platform built for the Middle East by Shubbak Technologies. It runs on AWS and is designed for stores that need local payments, Arabic and English, and integration with the rest of the business. Plans start from AED 85 per month, with support from the Maxcommerce team.

Payments. Maxcommerce comes with Maxcommerce Pay built in, so you can accept online payments from day one without a separate gateway contract. The same platform lets merchants get paid beyond the website: a scan-to-pay QR code (card, Apple Pay and Google Pay), payment links shared on WhatsApp, SMS or email, and recurring billing for subscriptions and contracts.

If you already have a gateway, or need a specific local method, Maxcommerce also integrates with the providers GCC customers use, including Network International, Telr, PayTabs, Tap, MyFatoorah, KNET, Hesabe, Etisalat, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Stripe and Paydo.

Strengths

• Integrated payments with Maxcommerce Pay, plus local gateways when you need them.
• Payment links, QR payments and recurring billing in the same platform as your store.
• Built for the GCC: Arabic and English, and multi-currency stores.
• D2C, B2B and multi-brand stores on one platform.
• Mobile-first storefronts as progressive web apps, with an app-like experience on any phone.
• Integration with ERP, CRM, inventory and marketing tools through APIs.
• Hosted on AWS and built to follow PCI DSS requirements.

Things to consider

• A smaller app ecosystem than Shopify or BigCommerce, with features delivered by the platform team instead.
• Focused on the GCC rather than every market worldwide.

Best for: UAE and GCC businesses that want an affordable store with payments built in, local payment methods, B2B or multi-brand selling, and payments across web, social and in-person channels.

3. Salla

Salla is one of the largest eCommerce platforms in the region, with more than 68,000 active stores in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is Arabic-first and lets merchants start a store for free.

Payments. Salla has its own integrated electronic payments system, managed from the store dashboard. Its checkout supports the methods Saudi shoppers expect, including mada, STC Pay, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard and American Express, and buy-now-pay-later from Tabby and Tamara, without the merchant signing separate gateway contracts.

Strengths

• Arabic-first platform and checkout, with a large Saudi customer base.
• Local payment methods and BNPL built in.
• Connections with more than 100 local and international shipping companies.
• A large app store and a network of service providers and affiliate marketers.

Things to consider

• Built around Saudi Arabia first; check that the payment methods and settlement you need are supported in the UAE.
• Less suited to complex B2B, multi-brand or deep ERP integration than enterprise platforms.

Best for: Saudi-focused and Arabic-first brands, especially small and medium sellers that want local payments and shipping working out of the box.

4. Zid

Zid is a Saudi eCommerce platform that combines an online store with a point-of-sale system and WhatsApp integration, on plans for each stage of growth (Lite, Growth and Professional).

Payments. Zid Payments is activated from the store with no setup or monthly charges; you pay a percentage per transaction based on your Zid plan and the card used, from around 1% plus a small fixed fee. Funds reach your bank account every two to three days, and refunds carry no extra charge. Zid Payments is offered to merchants in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and Zid also supports installment providers including Tamara, Tabby, MISPay, Emkan and Madfu. You can use other gateways alongside it.

Strengths

• Online store, POS and WhatsApp in one platform.
• Clear, plan-based payment fees with no setup or monthly payment charges.
• Wide choice of buy-now-pay-later providers.
• Multi-currency selling.

Things to consider

• Zid Payments is available in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; UAE sellers will need a third-party gateway.
• A smaller ecosystem than Shopify for international selling.

Best for: Saudi and Kuwaiti retailers that sell online and in store and want one system for both.

5. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an open SaaS platform popular with mid-sized and enterprise brands, particularly those selling both B2C and B2B.

Payments. BigCommerce integrates with a wide range of payment providers, including Stripe, PayPal and Checkout.com. Under its 2026 pricing, orders paid through its embedded payment providers carry no BigCommerce fee, while orders through other (“open”) providers carry a monthly fee that varies by plan. Plans also have annual sales limits and upgrade automatically as you grow.

Strengths

• Zero platform fees with embedded payment providers.
• Strong built-in B2B features, such as customer groups, price lists and quotes.
• Multi-storefront and headless options for larger brands.
• Open APIs for connecting ERP, PIM and other systems.

Things to consider

• Fees for open payment providers, and plans priced by sales volume.
• GCC methods such as KNET or mada typically need a gateway that supports them, such as Checkout.com, and some setup.
• More configuration than Shopify to get a polished store.

Best for: growing brands with B2B needs or high order volumes, particularly in international markets.

Side-by-side comparison

	Shopify	Maxcommerce	Salla	Zid	BigCommerce
Built-in payments	Shopify Payments	Maxcommerce Pay	Salla payments	Zid Payments	Embedded providers
Main markets	Global, incl. UAE	UAE and GCC	Saudi Arabia, UAE	Saudi Arabia, Kuwait	Global
Local methods	Through apps and gateways	Built in, plus GCC gateways	mada, STC Pay, Tabby, Tamara	mada, BNPL providers	Through gateways
Payment links, QR, recurring	Through apps	Built in	Through apps	Through apps	Through apps
B2B selling	Apps or higher plans	Built in	Limited	Limited	Built in
Best for	Fast launch, big ecosystem	Affordable GCC store with payments	Arabic-first Saudi brands	Online plus in-store retail	B2B and high volume

Fees and features change often, so check each platform’s current pricing before you decide.

Which platform should you choose?

• Choose Shopify if you want the largest ecosystem, a fast launch and Shopify Payments covers your market.
• Choose Maxcommerce if you sell in the UAE or across the GCC and want payments built in from AED 85 a month, local gateways such as KNET or Network International, Arabic and English, or payments through links, QR codes and subscriptions.
• Choose Salla if you are an Arabic-first brand focused on Saudi Arabia and want local payments and shipping ready from day one.
• Choose Zid if you sell in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait both online and in store.
• Choose BigCommerce if you sell B2B as well as B2C at high volume, especially internationally.

Whichever you choose, get a merchant account approved early: most UAE gateways require a trade licence, a UAE bank account and a live website with clear refund and privacy policies before they enable live payments.

How we can help

Shubbak Technologies builds and supports online stores across these platforms, and we built Maxcommerce. We help you pick the right platform and payment provider, set up and integrate your payment gateway, and connect your store with your inventory, accounting and delivery partners. See our eCommerce solutions, or read our wider guide to the top eCommerce platforms for UAE businesses.