Buy now pay later has become a normal way to pay across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially for fashion, electronics, and anything over a couple of hundred dirhams. The two names shoppers recognize are Tabby and Tamara. If you sell online, the question is not whether to offer split payments, it is which one, or both.
Why split payments lift sales
Splitting a purchase into a few interest free installments lowers the moment of hesitation at checkout. Shoppers are more willing to commit to a higher priced item when they see a smaller number today. For many stores this means more completed orders and a higher average order value.
What Tabby is known for
Tabby is widely used across the UAE and Saudi Arabia and is strongly associated with paying in installments, along with a popular shopping app that sends buyers to partner stores. For shoppers, it is a familiar, trusted name at checkout.
What Tamara is known for
Tamara grew from the Saudi market and is very strong there, with a wide base of shoppers who expect to see it at checkout. It offers split payments as well, and like Tabby it carries a recognizable brand that reassures first time buyers.
The honest answer: offer both
Shoppers tend to stay loyal to the app they already use, so offering only one quietly turns away the customers who prefer the other. Unless you have a specific reason to pick a single provider, the safest play is to offer both Tabby and Tamara and let the customer choose. Exact fees and approval terms are set by each provider, so check their current merchant terms.
Do not drop cash on delivery
Even with split payments available, a large share of GCC shoppers still want cash on delivery, especially for a first order from a store they do not know yet. Offer it alongside Tabby, Tamara, and cards so no customer hits a checkout that does not fit them.
How Menu Malak handles this
Menu Malak supports Tabby, Tamara, cards through Ziina, cash on delivery, gift cards, and store credit in one checkout, so you can offer the full set without stitching tools together. You turn on what you want, and customers pay the way they prefer.