The payment gateway landscape in Saudi Arabia is regulated by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). All authorized providers must adhere to strict security standards (PCI-DSS) and integrate directly with the national payment scheme, "mada."
While many gateways offer similar core functions (accepting card payments), they differ significantly in their onboarding requirements, fee structures, and target business sizes.
The following analysis compares the primary providers currently active in the market.
1. Moyasar
Moyasar is a Saudi-based fintech provider known for its developer-friendly documentation and simple onboarding process. It is widely used by local startups and e-commerce stores.
Business Eligibility: Requires a Commercial Registration (CR) or a valid Freelance Certificate (Watheeq) for individuals.
Setup & Monthly Fees: Typically Free. There are no recurring monthly maintenance fees for the standard plan.
Transaction Fees (Standard Plan):
mada: 1.5% + SAR 1.00 per transaction.
Visa / MasterCard: 2.5% + SAR 1.00 per transaction.
Settlement: Automated daily or weekly transfers to all Saudi banks.
Supported Integration: Apple Pay, STC Pay, and standard credit cards.
2. Tap Payments
Based in Kuwait but with a major presence in Saudi Arabia, Tap is popular for its "go-sell" model which allows for rapid account activation.
Business Eligibility: Open to both companies (CR) and individual freelancers (Freelance Certificate).
Setup & Monthly Fees: Free for the "Go" plan.
Transaction Fees (Standard Plan):
mada: Approx. 1.75% + SAR 1.00.
Visa / MasterCard: Approx. 2.5% – 2.9% + SAR 1.00 (Fees can vary based on volume).
Supported Banks: Compatible with all Saudi banks; also supports multi-currency accounts (KWD, AED, SAR, etc.).
Key Feature: Strong support for social commerce; users can generate payment links instantly to share via WhatsApp or Instagram.
3. PayTabs
PayTabs is a regional provider catering to SMEs and larger enterprises. It offers strong support for businesses operating in multiple countries across the MENA region.
Business Eligibility: Primarily focuses on registered businesses (CR).
Setup & Monthly Fees:
Often involves a Startup Plan which may have a small monthly fee or a minimum balance requirement (e.g., maintaining a balance of SAR 188 to avoid suspension).
Enterprise plans require a custom quote.
Transaction Fees:
mada: Market standard (~1.5% - 1.75%).
Visa / MasterCard: ~2.5% - 2.85% + SAR 1.00.
Key Feature: "Social Commerce" dashboard for invoicing and advanced fraud protection tools.
4. HyperPay
HyperPay is positioned as an enterprise-grade solution, often used by large retailers, government entities, and high-volume marketplaces.
Business Eligibility: Geared toward established companies with Commercial Registrations.
Setup & Monthly Fees: Custom Quote. Unlike self-service gateways, HyperPay typically charges a setup fee and an annual maintenance fee, which varies based on the negotiation.
Transaction Fees: Highly variable. High-volume merchants negotiate rates significantly lower than the standard market rate.
Key Feature: Deep integration with major ERP systems and support for complex recurring billing models.
5. MyFatoorah
Originally from Kuwait, MyFatoorah focuses heavily on simplicity and "payment links" for small merchants and Instagram sellers.
Business Eligibility: Accepts Freelancers and CR holders.
Setup & Monthly Fees: Free for the standard account.
Transaction Fees:
mada: Competitive (often around 1.5% - 1.75%).
Credit Cards: Standard market rates (~2.5%).
Key Feature: specialized in "Invoice Links" where a merchant can send a link via SMS/WhatsApp and track payment status immediately. Also offers DHL shipping integration.
6. Geidea
Geidea began as a Point of Sale (POS) provider and expanded into online payments, offering an "Omnichannel" solution (linking physical store sales with online sales).
Business Eligibility: CR holders and Freelancers.
Setup Fees: Generally Free for the online gateway.
Transaction Fees: Standard market rates aligned with mada regulations.
Key Feature: Unified dashboard. A merchant can see sales from their physical shop's payment terminal and their website in the same app.
Summary of Standard Fees
| Gateway | Setup Fee | Monthly Fee | Mada Fee (Approx.) | Visa/MC Fee (Approx.) |
| Moyasar | Free | Free | 1.5% + SAR 1 | 2.5% + SAR 1 |
| Tap | Free | Free | ~1.75% + SAR 1 | ~2.5% - 2.9% + SAR 1 |
| PayTabs | Varies | Varies | ~1.75% + SAR 1 | ~2.7% + SAR 1 |
| HyperPay | Custom | Custom | Custom Quote | Custom Quote |
Note: Fees listed are for standard "starter" plans. Merchants with high monthly transaction volumes (e.g., above SAR 100,000/month) can typically negotiate lower rates with any of these providers.
