Methodology
How we score and rank providers
No vendor pays for placement. Every provider runs through the same two calculations — a monthly-cost estimate and a fit score. Here is how both work and what moves a ranking.
The cost estimate
On the comparison page you enter a monthly card volume and an average transaction size. For each provider we compute:
+ (volume × per-txn rate %)
+ (transactions × fixed fee)
where transactions = volume ÷ avg txn.
Example · Telr (2.49% + AED 0.5, AED 99/mo)
Volume AED 150,000 · avg txn AED 150 → 1,000 transactions
- 99 + (150,000 × 2.49%) + (1,000 × 0.5)
- = 99 + 3,735 + 500
- ≈ AED 4,334
What it deliberately ignores: FX / international card markup, refunds, chargeback fees, and volume tier discounts. Providers with private, negotiated pricing show “Quote-based” rather than a guessed number. Treat it as an apples-to-apples ranking aid, not a contractual quote.
The fit score
The match quiz asks ten quick questions (two are context for your consultation and never scored), then weighs each provider on the factors below. Every rule that fires is shown on your result, and the combined weight decides the ranking — best fit first.
Payment methods
Picking BNPL makes native Tabby / Tamara the single biggest swing in the quiz — providers without it drop sharply. Digital wallets reward full Apple Pay + Google Pay coverage, and GCC schemes (Mada, KNET…) boost providers that reach Gulf shoppers.
Channels
Providers with a first-class payment-link / invoicing product rise. In-person and cross-border channels are recorded for your consultation but not scored — our dataset doesn't yet track POS terminals.
Multi-currency
Providers that settle in more than one currency rise; AED-only settlement pulls a provider down.
Settlement
If cash flow is tight, T+1/T+2 settlement is a strong boost and slow (up to T+5) cycles count against. Negotiated custom cycles stay neutral.
Timeline
Needing to launch right away rewards providers that onboard in days and penalises multi-week onboarding. If you're a month-plus out, timeline stops mattering.
Volume
At low volume, no monthly fee and easy integration win, while enterprise quote-based pricing counts against. At high volume it flips: volume-negotiated pricing usually beats a flat rate.
Business model
SaaS favours a native recurring-billing engine. Marketplaces need split payments — missing them is heavily penalised. Freelancers favour no monthly fee and fast, light onboarding.
Platform
A ready-made plugin for your platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento…) is a solid boost; needing custom work counts slightly against. Custom builds favour a clean API.
Local presence
UAE-based providers get a modest boost for stronger local card acceptance.
Conditional factors only apply when your answer triggers them — if you don't need BNPL, nobody is penalised for lacking it. Every provider is weighed by the same rules; ties are rare and order is stable.
Data & independence
No paid placement
We take no commission from providers to rank them. The score reflects fit for your answers, nothing else.
Indicative, verified per deal
UAE pricing and licensing change often and several providers quote privately. Figures here are realistic placeholders; we re-confirm for your specific case before you contract.
Same rules for everyone
Every provider is scored by the identical rules above — no hand-tuning, no favourites.
Licensing shown as “Verify”
We don’t overstate CBUAE status. Where we haven’t confirmed the exact licence class, we mark it “Verify” rather than claim “Licensed”.
See it in action
Run the comparison or take the 60-second match.