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Updated October 2026

POS Machine Comparison UAE: Card Machine Fees Compared

Seven card machine providers operating in the UAE, side by side. What each one is, how they charge, and what you should actually be paying — without the sales pitch.

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UAE POS machine providers compared

Tap See More on any provider for the full detail, including the trade-offs nobody puts in their brochure.

About the rates shown. Merchant discount rates in the UAE typically fall between 1.5% and 3% for Visa and Mastercard, and that is the band shown on each card below. Only Paymob publishes a fixed public rate. The other six price every merchant individually based on your industry, monthly turnover, average basket size and card mix — so anyone quoting you an exact percentage for them before seeing your numbers is guessing. Send us your turnover and we will tell you what is realistic.

Network InternationalN-Genius · Large acquirer

Quote only
1.5–3%Typical rate
QuotePricing model
AcquirerOperates as
Android POSTerminal
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The incumbent. Network processes for a large share of UAE banks, so many merchants who think they signed with their bank are actually running on Network rails. The N-Genius terminal supports more than 25 payment methods including cards, QR, loyalty redemption and instalment plans.

  • Broadest payment method support of any provider here
  • Integrates with existing retail POS systems
  • A published fixed-fee option runs at AED 229 + VAT monthly per AED 10,000 processed
Watch for: pricing is negotiated and opaque, and smaller merchants rarely get the rates larger accounts do. Network and Magnati are being combined under FAB and Brookfield ownership, so ask how that affects your account before signing a multi-year term.

MagnatiFAB carve-out · Brookfield owned

Quote only
1.5–3%Typical rate
QuotePricing model
AcquirerOperates as
POS + onlineChannels
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Carved out of First Abu Dhabi Bank in 2021 and now majority owned by Brookfield. Among the top two UAE players in direct acquiring, with a very large terminal estate and particular strength in government-linked payments.

  • States 100,000+ terminals managed and 700M+ transactions annually
  • Strong in government, healthcare, education and parking
  • 24/7 support in Arabic and English
Watch for: enterprise-oriented. A single-outlet salon or cafe is not the account type this organisation is built around, and the pending Network merger adds uncertainty.

GeideaGeidea Payment LLC · CBUAE licensed

Quote only
1.5–3%Typical rate
QuotePricing model
AcquirerOperates as
POS + softwareTerminal
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The most credible challenger to the incumbents. Saudi-founded in 2008, Geidea now holds its own direct acquiring licence in the UAE rather than operating through a bank.

  • Genuine integrated POS software, not just a payment terminal
  • Particularly strong for restaurants, cafes and multi-outlet F&B
  • Accepts Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and American Express
Watch for: a smaller UAE merchant base than the incumbents, and no published pricing — so you are still in a negotiation.

Mashreq NEOPAYIDFAA Payment Services · Bank owned

Quote only
1.5–3%Typical rate
QuotePricing model
AcquirerOperates as
POS + lendingExtras
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Mashreq moved its merchant acquiring business into a wholly owned subsidiary to compete with the standalone processors. It carries serious volume across retail, government, hospitality and ecommerce.

  • Positioned among the top three UAE merchant acquirers
  • POS-linked lending with repayments aligned to card takings
  • Bank-grade settlement reliability
Watch for: the lending product is genuinely useful, but it also makes switching away harder later. Read the term carefully before taking the financing.

ADCB PaymentsBank acquiring · Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Quote only
1.5–3%Typical rate
QuotePricing model
BankOperates as
POS + onlineChannels
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Merchant acquiring through Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, generally sold alongside a business banking relationship. The appeal is consolidation: one bank for your account, your settlement and your terminal.

  • Single relationship for banking and card acceptance
  • Settlement straight into your ADCB account
Watch for: bundling reduces your leverage. When your terminal, account and facilities all sit with one bank, renegotiating any one of them gets harder. Public detail on terms is also thinner than for the specialist acquirers.

AFSArab Financial Services · Processor

Partner sets rate
1.5–3%Typical rate
Via partnerPricing model
ProcessorOperates as
Android POSTerminal
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AFS is a processor and fintech enabler rather than a consumer-facing brand. Established in 1984, owned by 36 banks and financial institutions, regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.

  • Android smart terminals with contactless, NFC, QR, biometric and wallet support
  • UAE data centre and regional scale behind the technology
Important: in the UAE you usually do not sign with AFS directly. You sign with a partner bank or brand running on AFS infrastructure, and that partner sets your rate — so compare the partner's offer, not AFS itself.

PaymobCBUAE RPS licensed · Published pricing

Published rate
2.9% + AED 1Published rate
PublishedPricing model
PSPOperates as
POS + gatewayChannels
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The only provider here that tells you its price before you speak to a salesperson. Paymob holds a Retail Payment Services licence from the Central Bank of the UAE and publishes 2.9% + AED 1 per transaction with no monthly subscription fee.

  • Transparent published pricing, no negotiation required
  • Fast onboarding and strong ecommerce plugin coverage
  • Terminal around AED 800 one-off, chargebacks around AED 75
Watch for: 2.9% is a convenience price, not a competitive one. Once you are doing meaningful monthly volume a negotiated rate will usually beat it comfortably — which is exactly why the others make you ask.

All trademarks and logos shown are the property of their respective owners and are used here for identification in a comparison. We are a UAE card machine provider, so treat this page as informed rather than neutral. Details are drawn from each provider's own published material and public reporting, and we have marked clearly where a rate is published versus quote-only. Sources: Network International, Paymob, Geidea, AFS, Magnati. Terms change — confirm current pricing directly with any provider before signing.

What a UAE card machine actually costs

The headline percentage is the part everyone quotes and the smallest part of the decision.

%

Merchant discount rate

The percentage taken from every sale, typically 1.5% to 3% in the UAE. Your rate depends on industry risk, average ticket size and monthly volume — not on how hard you push on day one.

+

Fixed fee per transaction

Usually around AED 1 on top of the percentage. On a AED 30 coffee that fixed fee matters more than the rate does. Small basket? Optimise the fixed fee first.

💳

Terminal cost

One-off purchase or monthly rental. Rental looks cheaper and usually is not over three years.

🏦

Setup fee

Anywhere from zero to AED 2,000+ depending on provider and integration.

🌍

International cards

Foreign-issued cards cost more than UAE-issued ones, often by a full percentage point. In tourist areas this changes everything.

⚠️

The number that matters

Your blended effective rate: total monthly fees divided by total card turnover. Make every provider model it on your real numbers.

The costs that are not on the quote

Six things that change your real cost and almost never appear in the headline offer. Ask about every one in writing.

Contract length and exit fee

Three-year commitments are common. Ask what leaving in year one costs.

Settlement timing

T+1 and T+3 are very different for cash flow. Faster settlement sometimes costs extra.

Chargeback fees

Charged per dispute whether you win or lose. Typically AED 50 to 150.

Minimum monthly charge

A floor you pay even in a quiet month. Seasonal businesses get caught constantly.

Premium card rates

Corporate, premium and foreign cards carry higher rates than the headline figure.

PCI and admin fees

Small recurring line items that quietly add up across a year.

How to choose without overpaying

A short process that puts you in a far stronger position than accepting the first offer.

Work out your real numbers first

Monthly card turnover, average transaction value, and your rough split of UAE versus international cards. Without these, no quote is comparable to any other.

Ask for the blended effective rate

Not the headline percentage. Make each provider show total monthly cost on your actual volume, including every fixed fee.

Get at least three quotes

Rates move substantially depending on competition. One quote is not a market price.

Read the exit terms before the rate

A great rate on a three-year lock is worse than a fair rate you can walk away from.

Want this done for you?

Send your monthly card turnover and business type on WhatsApp. We will tell you what you should realistically be paying — and what BetterSwipe can do for you.

  • Free card machine on qualifying accounts
  • Delivery across all seven emirates
  • Terminals live in 7 to 10 working days
  • No obligation, no sales pressure
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Frequently asked questions

Which POS machine provider is cheapest in the UAE?

There is no single cheapest provider, because six of the seven major UAE acquirers price by quote rather than by rate card. Paymob is the only one publishing a standard rate, at 2.9% + AED 1 per transaction, which is competitive for low volume but usually beaten by a negotiated rate once you are processing meaningful monthly turnover.

What is a typical card machine transaction fee in the UAE?

Merchant discount rates for Visa and Mastercard in the UAE generally fall between 1.5% and 3%. Newer businesses sit toward the upper end, plus a fixed fee of around AED 1 per transaction. Rates at the bottom of that band usually require substantial monthly volume and a low-risk business category.

Why do most UAE providers not publish their POS pricing?

Because merchant pricing is risk-based. Your rate reflects your industry's chargeback profile, your average transaction value, your monthly volume and your card mix. A provider publishing one number would either overcharge low-risk merchants or underprice high-risk ones. The practical consequence is that the first quote is rarely the best quote.

Can I get a free card machine in the UAE?

Yes, on qualifying accounts. Providers that waive the terminal cost normally recover it through the transaction rate or a minimum monthly commitment, so always compare total monthly cost rather than treating free hardware as free. See our full FAQ for what qualifies.

How long does it take to get a POS terminal in Dubai?

Typically 7 to 10 working days from a complete application. You will normally need a valid trade licence plus passport, visa and Emirates ID for the owners or partners. Incomplete documents are the single most common cause of delay.

Are Network International and Magnati the same company?

Not historically, but they are being combined. First Abu Dhabi Bank, alongside Brookfield and co-investors, acquired Network International, and the two businesses are being brought together under a single holding entity. If you are signing a multi-year agreement with either, ask how the integration affects your account and support.

Can I switch POS providers without downtime?

Yes. Run the new terminal alongside the existing one for a short overlap, confirm settlement is landing correctly, then return the old hardware within its notice period. The risk is not technical — it is exiting your old agreement early and triggering a termination fee.

More questions about getting set up? Read our full FAQ, see how BetterSwipe works, or get in touch.

Stop guessing what you should be paying

Send us your monthly card turnover and business type. We will tell you what is realistic for your profile — whether or not you end up with us.

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Payment options we support

Accepted payment partners: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB, Discover, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressCUPJCBDiscoverApple PaySamsung Pay
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