The short answer
A restaurant POS in the UAE is usually a monthly software subscription, not a single big upfront purchase. What you pay depends on three things: how many branches and tables you run, the hardware you use, and whether the vendor charges per feature or by usage. A small single branch cafe pays far less than a multiple branch group, and bringing your own iPhone or iPad instead of buying proprietary terminals lowers the cost further.
What you pay for
- Software subscription, billed monthly or yearly, often per branch.
- Hardware, a tablet or phone, a receipt printer, and a card terminal.
- Payment processing fees, charged by your payment provider, not the POS.
- Setup and training, sometimes one time, sometimes included.
- Add-ons, such as loyalty, QR ordering, or a kitchen display, if the vendor charges extra for them.
Per feature pricing vs pay by usage
This is the biggest hidden difference. Some vendors gate features behind tiers, so loyalty, the kitchen display, or extra reports cost more each month. Others include every feature and charge only for usage, meaning your branches and tables. Pay by usage is easier to predict for a growing restaurant, because adding a feature never raises the bill.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Locked in hardware you must buy from the vendor at a higher price.
- Per feature add-ons that add up quietly every month.
- Long contracts with penalties if you leave early.
- Extra charges for a second branch or for more tables.
How Menu Malak prices it
Menu Malak charges for usage, not features. Every plan includes the full system, QR ordering, POS, kitchen display, loyalty, and reports, and plans differ only by the number of branches and tables. Billing is in AED, you bring your own iPhone, iPad, or Android, and you can cancel any time. See the pricing page for the current plans, or try the live demo first.