Compare payment gateways in Saudi Arabia: the methods customers use, the kinds of provider, well-known companies and what each says it offers, what to compare, how SAMA fits in and a decision checklist.
Payment gateways in Saudi Arabia are the services that let your online store take a customer's payment and pass the result back to your order system. Saudi shoppers expect mada, cards and Apple Pay, many also use STC Pay or buy now pay later, and some still prefer cash on delivery. This guide explains the methods, the kinds of provider, the well-known companies that serve the Kingdom, what to compare and how SAMA fits in, as of October 2026. We do not quote fees or rank providers: confirm current terms with each company.
In short
Offer the methods your customers already trust, and check each one with the provider you choose, because support varies.
| Method | What it is | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| mada | Saudi Arabia's national debit card network, owned by SAMA | SAMA's circular on online mada payments says domestic e-store transactions go through the national mada system after testing and approval, so pick a provider connected to it |
| Visa, Mastercard and other cards | International card networks | Which brands are included, for example American Express, and 3-D Secure support |
| Apple Pay | A wallet on Apple devices. Apple lists Saudi Arabia as a supported market | Customers need an eligible card from a participating issuer, and your provider must enable it |
| STC Pay | A mobile wallet from Saudi Digital Payments Company, part of stc Group | It is an e-money account, not a bank account. Use a provider that lists it, or ask STC Pay about its merchant terms |
| SADAD | SAMA's national bill presentment and payment system | It is used to pay invoices through bank channels. Ask your provider whether it supports SADAD for stores |
| Bank transfer | A manual payment into your account | You reconcile by hand. The Ministry of Commerce warns shoppers against transfers to personal accounts, so use a business account |
| Buy now pay later | Instalment services such as Tabby and Tamara | Separate approval and terms, and how returns and refunds work |
| Cash on delivery | The customer pays the courier | It is not a gateway. Check when and how the courier pays you: see shipping and cash on delivery in Saudi Arabia |
These words are often mixed up, and the difference decides who you sign with.
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licenses and supervises payment services. Article 4 of the Law of Payments and Payment Services says that a person may not operate a payment system or provide payment services in the Kingdom unless licensed by SAMA. SAMA also owns the national mada and SADAD systems.
A July 2024 SAMA circular draws a line inside e-commerce payments. Providers that only link stores to payment services and give technical support do not currently need a SAMA licence, but they need technical permits from Saudi Payments. They may not contract directly with merchants, register or verify them, or finalise settlement into a merchant's bank account. The circular implies that the company which signs you up and settles to you is a bank or a licensed payment company. It sets duties for banks and providers rather than merchants, so ask SAMA or a lawyer what it means for you.
The list is alphabetical, not a ranking, and it is not complete. Each entry says what the company states on its own site or documentation, read in October 2026. It does not mean we have tested the service. Licences and terms change, so ask each company for current details.
| Factor | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Supported methods | mada, cards, Apple Pay, STC Pay and buy now pay later: live in Saudi Arabia, not just listed |
| Settlement | How many days until money reaches your business bank account |
| Fee structure | Which charges apply: per transaction, set-up, monthly, refund, chargeback, payout. Get the schedule in writing |
| Currency | Settlement in riyals, and what happens with other currencies |
| Refunds and chargebacks | Full and partial refunds from your admin, dispute process, evidence deadlines |
| Capture rules | Checkout.com's documentation says mada payments must be captured in full, with no partial capture |
| Integration | A maintained plugin or module for your platform and version |
| Support | Arabic support, hours and response time |
| Onboarding | The exact document list and approval time |
For onboarding, expect to need your business registration documents, owner identification and a business bank account, since the Ministry of Commerce ties store verification to a commercial bank account. Ask each provider for its own list before you apply.
Shopify's help-centre list of countries for Shopify Payments, checked in October 2026, includes the United Arab Emirates but not Saudi Arabia, so a Saudi store uses a third-party provider that supports Shopify. WooPayments is listed for other countries, so on WooCommerce you install a provider's plugin. Odoo 19 bundles several providers, and for others you look for the provider's own module, or one on the Odoo Apps store that supports your version. Our comparison of Odoo, WooCommerce or Shopify covers the wider choice.
No gateway is needed for cash on delivery, but you handle cash, failed deliveries and delayed remittance.
Yes, if you use a third-party provider that supports both mada and Shopify. Check the provider's Shopify page and confirm that the integration is current.
Yes. Several providers, such as Moyasar and HyperPay, publish WooCommerce plugins that list mada. Check each plugin's last update and compatibility.
Odoo 19 bundles a list of providers that includes Amazon Payment Services. For other Saudi providers, look for the provider's own module or a third-party module made for Odoo 19.
Add it after your core methods work. It is a separate agreement, so compare its terms and its refund handling.
Work through the checklist with two or three providers, then test the chosen one before launch. For the wider plan, read how to start an online store in Saudi Arabia and what an online store costs in Saudi Arabia. If you run WooCommerce, you can browse WooCommerce plugins on DevMarket, and check each listing's support period and update policy.
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