Is Shopify Available in the UAE? What UAE Sellers Need to Open and Run a Store in 2026

Yes, Shopify is available in the UAE. A UAE-registered business can open a Shopify store, and the United Arab Emirates is on Shopify's published list of countries where Shopify Payments is supported, as of October 2026. Shopify shows its UAE plan prices in US dollars and its online card rates in dirhams, starting at 2.9% + AED 1.00 on the Basic plan. Opening the store is the easy part. You still need a license, a bank account and a payment setup that suits UAE shoppers. This page covers what Shopify costs, what it needs from you, and what it does not do for you.

Can you open a Shopify store as a UAE business?

Yes. Shopify's own country page lists the United Arab Emirates among the places where Shopify Payments is available, and it says you can use Shopify Payments if your business is located in one of the listed countries. If your country or business category is not supported, Shopify says you must use a third-party payment provider.

Shopify also says you may need to give personal identification, proof of address and business registration documents when you verify. In practice that means a trade license, your passport and Emirates ID, and a company bank account. The page does not list exact documents for the UAE, so treat the list above as what to prepare, not as Shopify's written checklist.

Shopify Payments is covered in detail in Shopify Payments in the UAE. This page stays on the store itself.

What does Shopify cost for a UAE store in 2026?

Shopify's UAE pricing page lists plan prices in US dollars, as of October 2026.

Source for all rows: Shopify UAE pricing page.

Two points about the table:

• The prices are in dollars, so your dirham cost depends on the exchange rate and on how your card or bank converts it. Shopify does not publish a dirham plan price on that page.
• Shopify advertises a 3-day free trial, then $1 a month for 3 months. Check the current offer before you sign up, because trial terms change.

Apps, themes, a domain and a payment provider are charged on top. Shopify does not publish one total for a typical UAE store, and neither do we.

What are the card fees on Shopify in the UAE?

On the UAE pricing page, Shopify lists these online rates for Shopify Payments, as of October 2026.

Source for all rows: Shopify UAE pricing page.

Worked example, illustrative only. A customer pays AED 200 with a standard card on the Basic plan. The fee is 2.9% of AED 200, which is AED 5.80, plus AED 1.00, so AED 6.80 and you keep AED 193.20. On the Advanced plan the same sale costs AED 5.40 + AED 1.00 = AED 6.40. The saving of AED 0.40 per order is small, so a higher plan only pays for itself at high volume.

What if you use a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments?

Shopify charges an extra fee when a store uses a third-party gateway: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus. That fee comes on top of whatever the gateway charges you.

So a gateway quoting 2.5% on a Basic plan really costs about 4.5% of each sale once Shopify's 2% is added. Do the sum before you compare quotes. The comparison of UAE gateways is in best payment gateway in the UAE.

Do you need a UAE license to sell on Shopify?

Yes. A Shopify store is a sales channel, not a legal entity. The Ministry of Economy says the e-commerce law requires sellers to hold the approvals, permits and licenses for their online business, and to sell only goods and services that are legal in the country. It also says sellers must not sell goods that need special approval until they have it.

Which license fits depends on where you live and what you sell. Start with what license you need to sell online in the UAE. If you are weighing a zone against the mainland, read free zone vs mainland for e-commerce.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with your licensing authority, such as the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism or your free zone.

What does the UAE e-commerce law require of a Shopify store?

The Ministry of Economy's briefing lists these seller duties:

1. Hold the licenses and approvals for your online business.
2. Keep a secure technology infrastructure.
3. Avoid deceptive practices and false product descriptions.
4. Issue a detailed digital invoice for each purchase.
5. Follow the approved conditions for promotions and for sharing customer data.

The federal consumer-protection page adds that e-commerce businesses must give consumers and the authorities details of their licensing entity and product information in Arabic, among other items, and that the invoice must be in Arabic. So set up your Shopify invoice and product pages with that in mind. The full rules are in the UAE e-commerce law explained.

What should you set up around Shopify before launch?

• A company bank account. You need an account in the company's name for payouts. See business bank account for UAE e-commerce.
• Payment methods UAE shoppers use. Card payments are the base. Many stores add buy-now-pay-later; see the Tabby merchant guide and the Tamara merchant guide.
• A cash on delivery decision. Decide whether you will offer it and how you will cover the cost; see cash on delivery for UAE sellers.
• VAT. Register once your taxable supplies pass the threshold. See UAE VAT registration for sellers.

What does Shopify not do for you?

Shopify does not give you traffic, a marketplace audience or a UAE license. It also does not handle any product approvals your category needs. A new store has no reviews and no search ranking, which is why many UAE brands sell on Amazon.ae and noon as well as on their own site. Each channel has its own fees and rules, and you will want one stock count across them.

FAQ

Is Shopify legal in the UAE? Yes. Shopify is a normal software service and the UAE is on its list of Shopify Payments countries. What must be legal is your business: you need the right license and approvals, and you may only sell goods that are lawful in the UAE.

Does Shopify Payments work in the UAE? Shopify lists the United Arab Emirates among its supported countries, so a UAE-located business can apply. You may be asked for identification, proof of address and business registration documents, and Shopify reviews whether your business category is eligible.

How much does Shopify cost in the UAE? Plans on Shopify's UAE page are priced in US dollars, from $32 a month for Basic on monthly billing, or $24 a month billed yearly. Card fees on Basic are 2.9% + AED 1.00. Apps, a domain and any third-party gateway cost extra.

Can I use a UAE payment gateway with Shopify? Yes, if the gateway has a Shopify integration. Shopify then charges an extra 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced for using a third-party gateway. Ask the gateway whether it offers a Shopify app before you apply.

Do I need a trade license to open a Shopify store? Shopify does not publish a rule that blocks you from creating an account without one. The UAE e-commerce law does require a seller to hold the licenses and approvals for online business, and Shopify may ask for business registration documents when verifying payments.

Do I need to charge VAT on a Shopify store? If you are VAT-registered you charge VAT on taxable supplies. Registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports and voluntary above AED 187,500. General information; confirm with the Federal Tax Authority.

Should I use Shopify or sell on Amazon.ae and noon? They do different jobs. A Shopify store gives you your own customer data and brand pages but no built-in audience. Marketplaces bring shoppers but charge referral fees and set the rules. Many brands run both.

What to do next

Confirm your license and bank account first, then price your Shopify plan with the payment provider you actually plan to use. When you also want to sell on marketplaces, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner and Amazon Ads Advanced Partner, manages Amazon.ae account management and noon account management, from catalogue to advertising. For the wider plan, read how to start an online business in Dubai.