SEARCH CATEGORY/COMPANY
SEARCH CATEGORY/COMPANY
The UAE's digital payments market has expanded rapidly as the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) drives the country toward a cashless economy through its Financial Infrastructure Transformation programme. Card, e-wallet, and instant-payment transaction volumes have grown year over year, and Dubai alone hosts hundreds of thousands of licensed merchants requiring compliant payment acceptance infrastructure. Payment services providers in the UAE range from traditional card-acquiring banks to specialized fintech gateways serving e-commerce, retail, and subscription businesses.
A payment services provider (PSP) enables merchants to accept card, bank transfer, digital wallet, or stored-value payments through point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce checkout integrations, or invoicing platforms. PSPs sit between merchants, card networks, and banks, handling transaction processing, settlement, and — in many cases — fraud screening and compliance reporting.
Supply physical card machines and integrated point-of-sale payment hardware for retail, hospitality, and service businesses across the UAE.
Provide online checkout integrations, API-based payment processing, and recurring billing support for UAE-based and regional e-commerce merchants.
Operate prepaid cards, mobile wallets, and stored-value platforms, regulated under CBUAE's Stored Value Facilities Regulation for closed and open-loop products.
DCCIInfo's directory currently lists 37 verified payment services providers across Dubai and the UAE, spanning dedicated payment gateway specialists, prepaid card issuers, and diversified companies offering payment processing alongside other trading or technology services.
As the UAE continues its push toward a cashless economy, demand for CBUAE-compliant payment services providers is expected to keep growing across retail, e-commerce, and hospitality sectors. Merchants should verify a provider's CBUAE licensing status, settlement timelines, and integration compatibility before signing a payment services agreement.
A payment services provider is a company licensed to process card, bank transfer, or digital wallet payments on behalf of merchants in the UAE.
Yes, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulates payment services providers under the Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Regulation.
Fees typically include a per-transaction percentage plus fixed charges, varying by provider, transaction volume, and business type.
A payment gateway captures and encrypts transaction data at checkout, while a payment processor handles the actual transfer of funds between banks.
Yes, foreign-owned businesses registered in the UAE can contract local payment services providers, subject to standard merchant onboarding and compliance checks.
Setup time varies by provider and business type, ranging from a few days for standard e-commerce integrations to longer for high-risk industries requiring additional compliance review.
A stored value facility is a prepaid or digital wallet product regulated by CBUAE that allows users to load and spend funds without a traditional bank account.
Yes, many UAE payment providers support multi-currency processing, settling merchants in AED while accepting international card payments.
Providers typically require a valid trade license, Emirates ID of signatories, and business bank account details to open a merchant payment account.
Companies can submit their listing through DCCIInfo's update form to be included in the UAE payment services provider directory.
© 2026 Digital Commercial Connect
Scroll
