How to start an online store in the UAE: a step-by-step guide
Start selling online in the UAE in clear steps: choose what to sell, get the right license, choose how to build your store, set up payments, then launch.
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Guides to selling online in the UAE.
Plain-English answers for business owners: the license you need, what a store costs, how to take payments and deliver orders, and how to find customers. 28 guides, written by the team that builds online stores for UAE businesses.
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How to start an online store in the UAE: a step-by-step guide
Start selling online in the UAE in clear steps: choose what to sell, get the right license, choose how to build your store, set up payments, then launch.
Getting started
The licenses, first steps and checks for opening an online store, with guides for popular kinds of shop.
E-commerce license in the UAE: which one you need and how to get it
Mainland, free zone, eTrader or a home business license? A plain-English guide to the licenses that let you sell online in the UAE, and how to choose.
The Dubai eTrader license: who can get it, what it allows and how to apply
The Dubai eTrader license lets UAE and GCC nationals in Dubai sell online from home for about AED 1,370. See what it allows and how to apply.
Dropshipping in the UAE: is it legal, and can it work for you?
What dropshipping is, the license you need to do it legally in the UAE, the real costs, delivery times, and when keeping local stock works better.
How to start a perfume business online in the UAE
From oud and bakhoor to your own blends: how to sell perfume online in the UAE, with licenses, sourcing, product photos, sample sets and delivery.
How to start an abaya business online in the UAE
Turn your abaya designs into an online brand: licenses, finding a tailor, sizes and fit, photos, pricing, Arabic and English, and selling across the GCC.
How to take your shop online in the UAE: a guide for shop owners
Own a shop in the UAE? How to start selling online too: your license, one stock count for shop and website, click and collect, delivery and staff.
Online store launch checklist: 40 things to check before you go live
Use this checklist before your online store goes live in the UAE: products, payments, delivery, policies, VAT, speed, SEO and your first orders.
Costs and platforms
What an online store costs, whether to use a ready-made platform or build custom, and how to choose who builds it.
How much does an online store cost in the UAE?
What an online store costs in the UAE: a do-it-yourself platform store or a custom one built for you, plus payment fees, delivery, license and VAT, in AED.
Custom online stores in the UAE: what they are, what they cost and who needs one
What a custom online store is, how it differs from Shopify and other ready-made platforms, what it costs, and the signs your UAE business needs one.
Shopify, WooCommerce or a custom store: which is best for a UAE business?
Shopify, WooCommerce or a store built just for you? We compare cost, fees, payments, Arabic, flexibility and upkeep for UAE businesses, and who each suits.
Amazon, Noon or your own online store: where should you sell?
Amazon.ae and Noon bring shoppers, but they cost fees and control. Compare marketplaces with your own online store, and see how to use both.
Do you need a shopping app? App vs website for UAE online stores
When an app for your online store is worth it in the UAE, what it costs, how notifications bring customers back, and why the website comes first.
How to choose an e-commerce agency in the UAE: 12 questions to ask
Before you hire anyone to build your online store, ask these 12 questions about price, ownership, custom features, timelines and support. Red flags included.
Moving your online store without losing sales or Google rankings
Step by step: move your online store from Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix or another platform to a new store, and keep your products, customers, orders and rankings.
Payments and delivery
Taking payments, Tabby and Tamara, cash on delivery, couriers, VAT and returns.
Payment gateways in the UAE: how to take payments on your online store
How online payments work in the UAE: cards, Apple Pay, Tabby, Tamara and cash on delivery. Compare payment gateways and fees, and learn how to choose.
Tabby and Tamara for online stores: how buy now, pay later works
How Tabby and Tamara work for UAE online stores: what shoppers see, what you pay, when you get paid, and how to add buy now, pay later to your store.
Cash on delivery in the UAE: how to offer it without losing money
Many UAE shoppers still like to pay cash on delivery. See what it really costs your online store, and the simple ways to cut refused and failed orders.
Delivery for online stores in the UAE: couriers, costs and setup
How to deliver orders from your UAE online store: choosing a courier, same-day delivery, cash collection, delivery prices, packaging and returns.
VAT for online stores in the UAE: a simple guide
When your UAE online store must register for VAT, how to show prices with VAT, what goes on an invoice, and where corporate tax fits in. In plain words.
How to write a return and refund policy for a UAE online store (with template)
What to put in your online store’s return and refund policy in the UAE, what the law expects of you, and a free template you can copy and edit.
Marketing and growth
Getting found on Google, selling through Instagram and WhatsApp, and reaching more customers.
Selling on Instagram in the UAE? Why you need your own online store
Taking orders in Instagram DMs? See the limits of selling only on Instagram, and how an online store linked to your account saves time and sells more.
How to sell on WhatsApp in the UAE, and link it to your online store
Use WhatsApp Business to sell in the UAE: catalogues, quick replies, payment links, order updates, and how to connect WhatsApp to your online store.
SEO for online stores in the UAE: how to get found on Google
A plain-English SEO guide for UAE online stores: keywords in English and Arabic, product and category pages, speed, Google Search Console and blogs.
The UAE sales calendar for online stores: every big season, month by month
Plan your online store’s year around Ramadan, Eid, White Friday, National Day, the Dubai Shopping Festival and more, with dates and what to prepare.
How to get your first 100 customers for a new online store in the UAE
Practical, low-cost ways to win the first 100 customers for a new UAE online store: people you know, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google and small ads.
How to build an Arabic and English online store
Why UAE stores should speak Arabic and English, how a two-language store works (right-to-left pages, translation, checkout), and the mistakes to avoid.
Selling to Saudi Arabia and the GCC from your UAE online store
How to sell from your UAE online store to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain: local prices, shipping, duties, VAT and Arabic.