Just a couple of years back, the use of credit cards was the standard condition of financing due to its convenience and ease. In a way, credit cards served as a temptation for many to shop and buy things on an impulse only to pay the bills later. However, if one fails to check the bills on time, the consequences of paying additional late fines and interest can skyrocket, which may lead to spiralling debt. 

In recent years, especially after the post-pandemic, the BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) services have been receiving much attention from UAE citizens. Ever since the BNPL service was launched in the UAE market, it has been making a significant impact in the finance market because of the consequences of the global monetary slump post-pandemic. 

Nowadays UAE citizens for buying the best smart TVs, Blenders, Air Conditioners, Fridges, and much more use the BNPL services offered by the different platforms in Buy Now Pay Later in UAE which are provided for the ease of finance services to its consumers to afford best of these.

So What Exactly Is BNPL?

BNPL or Buy Now, Pay Later service is short-term financing, also called Point-Of-Sale (POS) loans. It allows its users to pay their bills on an instalment basis with minimal to no interest rates, which makes the shopping experience more convenient and inexpensive in the whole region as compared to credit cards or other forms. It is also to be noted that some companies require the consumers to pay some portion upfront, while most of them allow us to shop and pay the bills later at our convenience. Many residents of the Emirates are loving this latest financial service due to the fact that most of them offer zero interest and are currently prevalent on e-commerce platforms. 

As the Buy Now Pay Later service is booming in the UAE financial market, let us take a look further into some of the best and most reliable Buy Now, Pay Later UAE brands or services offering companies.

Before listing down the companies, here is the table representing how different platforms for Buy Now Pay Later in UAE charges, late fees, availability and many more.

Postpay Tabby Spotii Cashew Tamara Aramex Smart Paypal Rise
Interest Charged No No No No No No No Yes
Late Fine Charges AED 25 AED 15 AED 25 AED 20 AED 25 AED 10 AED 35 AED 20
Availability UAE KSA, UAE, Kuwait and Egypt UAE & KSA UAE KSA, UAE and Kuwait UAE & KSA UAE, KSA and Egypt UAE & Pakistan

 

Postpay BNPL

It has not been long since Postpay was launched officially by Dani Molina and Tariq Sheikh in 2019. It is among the newer releases of Buy Now, Pay Later services in the UAE that quickly became a premier rank. The brand was established with a drive from other economic associations that charge outrageous fees. When one shops online, they need to simply select the ‘Postpay’ option from the payment choices before placing the orders. Postpay presents a list of payment choices to users with different time intervals, where they can split a single bill into three sections or instalments. What’s more exciting is that they charge no interest fees!

When you visit Postpay’s website, there are several categories where you can shop, such as Fashion, Beauty & Health, Baby & Toys, Sports & Fitness, Entertainment, Education, Travel, Home & furniture, etc. Many renowned brands also feature on the website, some of which are West Elm, Victoria’s Secrets, Bath & Body Works, Boots, Manolo Blahnik, Insta Runway, XDubai, Carter & White, Mother Care, Pottery Barn, and many more! Postpay also offers its exclusive app, which you can download it from either Apple Store or Google Play. When it comes to the limit, Postpay will first study the nature of the user- whether they repay the bills on time or how long they have been using the platform- and accordingly, the limit will be increased. 

The accepted payment methods are Mastercard, VISA Debit and Credit cards, and users can repay in three instalments with 0% interest. However, if users fail to pay on time, there will be a late charge of 25 AED right after the due date passes, and it will increase to 30 AED if users fail again to pay in 10 days. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Instalments: Three-months
  • Late fees: 25-30 AED
  • PCI DSS compliant: Yes
  • Mobile app: Yes

How to contact the team:

Call: +971 (4) 2156555 (UAE)

Email ID: [email protected]

Socials:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Tabby BNPL

Tabby is our next pick of the most reliable BNPL service you can use if you live in the UAE. This platform was also founded in 2019 like Postpay by Hosam Arab, who is the CEO of the company, and Daniil Barkalov, the COO of Tabby. This BNPL service is currently operational in Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. 

One of the unique aspects of Tabby is that it allows users to shop and use their service by using only their mobile number and email ID. They have two choices for the users- to either pay the bills in the course of 14 days or opt for four-instalment wise with zero interest. In point of any delay in the payment, a late fine of 15 AED will be charged fifteen days after the due date pass. Further, if the user still fails to make the payment, the late charge will double twice a week until the outstanding payment is settled. 

Loyally signed with more than twenty partnerships with e-commerce merchants around the emirates, the latest retailer to lock a steal with Tabby is the Apparel Group, where well-known brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Aldo are under the spotlight. There are no spending limitations set, and users are allowed to spend as much as needed. However, the order of approval depends on the customer’s payment records. The most common choices of payment methods offered are Mastercard and Visa. If you want to shop and make the payment seamless, you are also given the option to register for their unique Tabby Card, which is a type of Visa card. It offers the freedom to make payments in instalments with zero interest. And you can link the Tabby Card in your Gpay or Apple Wallet for a one-click checkout. 

Tabby also has an exclusive application that you can download on your iOS or Android mobile device. With more than 2 million loyal users, Tabby caters to 4k+ international and local brands on its website. Some of the dignitary brands supplied on Tabby are Amazon, H&M, IKEA, AliExpress, SHEIN, Foot Locker, LEGO, L’Occitane, GAP, Christian Louboutin, Lacoste, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Ounass, and many more. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Instalments: Four-months
  • Late fees: 15 AED
  • Shariah-compliant: Certified
  • Loyalty Program: Cashback
  • Mobile App: Yes

How to contact the team:

Call: 800 82229

Email ID: [email protected]

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Spotii BNPL

Another newest Buy Now, Pay Later financing avenue you can opt for if you reside in the UAE is Spotii, which is a literal slang term for ‘spot/lend me’. So, it basically translates to ‘lend me some money’. The company was started by a brother and sister duo, Anuscha Iqbal and Ziyaad Ahmed in 2020. In 2021, Spotii company was successfully acquired by Zip, a financial technology company in Australia for a value of $20 million. 

Spotii is loved by many and has considerably loyal customers around the region as it models a zero-interest charge with short-term financing or POS loan system. By utilizing this platform, shoppers are required to settle at least 25% of the total cart amount in advance, and the remaining payment will be distributed into four segments. Given the situation where customers fail to settle the amount by the due date, Spotii will charge 25 AED late fees. A maximum of two late charges can be applied per order, which will be capped at 50 AED or 25% of the total order amount. 

To apply the Spotii payment method seamlessly, shoppers are required to first link their credit or debit card with their email ID and phone number before it gets approved. The best aspect of this BNPL platform is that we can utilize it in both online and offline stores by simply scanning the QR code provided on the website. The company is partnered with several local made brands like Khaadi, MK Kabbani Furniture, Zagzoog Home Appliances, La Reen Abaya, Rwzana, Derma Care, Zahia, Harvey Nichols KSA, Al Tayf Shop, B3 Store, The Victor Closet, and many more. Most of the brands you will find on Spotii are locally driven brands from the UAE and KSA. It offers payment in four instalments, wherein, the first payment is pre-charged during the checkout with no extra interest fee. 

In addition to the above, there is also a Spotii Reward program for loyal customers, where you can earn scores the higher you spend. This can be achieved by simply using the app as often as possible and making the payments in instalments, linking your official ID card, salary certificate, LinkedIn profile, and passport with Spotii. Following the company page on any social account will be an added advantage. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Instalments: Four-months
  • Late fees: 25 AED
  • DMCC Approved
  • Loyalty Program: Spotii Reward
  • Mobile App: Yes

How to contact the team:

Call: +971 4 275 3550 (UAE)

Email ID: [email protected]

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Cashew BNPL

Another BNPL platform in the UAE is Cashew, which was established in 2019 by Ammar Afif, the CEO, and Ibtissam Ouassif, the CPO. Cashew is one financial avenue that confronts the postpaid culture with straightforward, transparent, and versatile financing solutions. The mode of payment is seamless and customers have the option to either settle the amount within 14 days timeline or pay on an instalment basis. The best part about Cashew is, they offer us a timeline to settle the amount even up to a year (12 months). 

To comply with user responsibility and underage protection, Cashew accepts registration from only 21 years and above customers. One must also have a verified email ID, Emirates ID, mobile number, and Debit or Credit card with a minimum validity of 6 months. Cashew is partnered with renowned local outlets like MenaKart, Zero Makeup, Sharaf DG, H15, and Sweet Pea. Shoppers can shop effortlessly with no added fees by simply choosing the Cashew option on the payment page. Once the option is selected, you will be asked to link your card details, then, you need to select the instalment period- which will be divided into 3, 6, and 12 segments. 

Even though there are no added charges from Cashew during the initial payment, if a user delays settling the pending amount on time, the company will charge a late fee of 20 AED every time they fail to pay. You will find shopping categories on the website like Fashion & Accessories, Beauty & Health, Home & Furniture, Electronics, Fitness & gear, Education, and Lifestyle & services. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Instalments: Four, Six, and Twelve months
  • Late fees: 20 AED
  • DED-Licensed
  • Mobile App: Yes

How to contact the team:

Call: +971 4 561 6811 

Email ID: [email protected] 

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Tamara BNPL

Tamara came into existence during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when the rest of the world shifted their lifestyle to stay-at-home. The entrepreneurs behind the company are Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Al Babtain. This finance-based app is developed in Saudi Arabia and it is accessible in the UAE, KSA, and Kuwait. The brand has further expanded its headquarters to Egypt, Germany and Vietnam. The payment app offers up to 4 instalment basis to its users with no additional charges. Tamara BNPL believes in inclusivity and transparent finance solutions. One can apply for the Tamara service by selecting the option during checkout, submitting a valid phone number, and verified email ID, and selecting the instalment period. 

This Saudi-based financial technology startup caters to a broad spectrum of shopping outlets that are popular amongst many customers, such as SHEIN, Namshi, Clara, The Luxury Closet, IKEA, Next, Faces, Level Shoes, etc. For their in-store bill choices, shoppers must provide a phone number to the store agent and settle the bill by clicking on the link they send you via SMS. They also have their exclusive mobile application, which you can download from Apple Store or Google Play. The most commonly accepted payment modes on the app are Mastercard, Mada, Visa, American Express, and ApplyPay. 

Over and above that, Tamara also offers an exciting loyalty reward program called ‘Farah’, where customers can explore exclusive bargains and deals from numerous well-known brands. You just need to have the app installed on the phone and shop from the ‘Farah’ segment. There is also a ‘Refer and Earn’ loyalty program. Given that the Tamara company strongly believes in ‘Shopping should be all fun, no stress’, why don’t you give them a chance if you haven’t yet?

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Instalments: Four-months
  • Sharia-compliant: Certified 
  • Mobile App: Yes

How to contact the team:

Live Chat

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tiktok

Aramex Smart BNPL

Aramex is a leading multinational logistics supplier that also offers the Buy Now, Pay Later service to its customers. This company goes by the tagline “Unbox First. Pay Later” and strives to bridge the void between the West and the East to promote development and prosperity in business and partnership. The firm was established in 1983, however, they have an exclusive branch called Aramex Smart, created just for the consumers of UAE and KSA. 

Through this service, shoppers are given the platform to pay their bills in instalments wise or within 14 days post-purchase. However, customers are required to apply before the service is utilized. There are no additional fees charged, however, a late fine of 10 AED will be employed if the payment is not settled by the due date. The most commonly accepted form of payment is Visa or MasterCard. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • TAPA- Certified 
  • ISO-Certified
  • Mobile App: No

How to contact the team:

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn

PayPal Credit BNPL

PayPal is another pick of ours for an instantaneous and reliable source of BNPL service. PayPal has its own exclusive BNPL service offered globally including the UAE and goes by the name ‘PayPal Credit’. Their Buy Now, Pay Later benefit is one of the highly demanding sources of credit used by millions of consumers all around the world. The payment mode is basically found in almost every e-tailer and online websites, such as Walmart, eBay, Home Depot, Best Buy, USPS, and the like. 

Not only is PayPal payment convenient and straightforward to use, but it also offers many user benefits and rewards to its users. There are no forms of supplementary fees imposed by the company, however, if a customer neglect or fails to settle the impending mortgage in less than 6 months, PayPal will start charging interest fee. 

Features:

  • Interest: 0%
  • Late Fee- Minimal charges after 6 months
  • Mobile App: Yes

How to contact the team:

Live Chat

Call: +353 1 536 4203, +353 1 536 4203

What Is the Eligibility to Apply for a Buy Now Pay Later in UAE for Shopping?

The basic requirement for availing BNPL servies in the UAE is that a candidate needs to be minimum of 18 years of age to be eligible for applying for the BNPL services.

Another basic requirement for this is, person availing this service needs to be a salaried or self employed person who is able to pay the borrowed amount with assurance

Thirdly, it is must for the candidate to have a bank account in The UAE any bank for ease in the KYC (Know Your Customer) documents from where BNPL companies can fetch your credit score and validate your informations with the cibil bureau.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using BNPL

Assets:

  • Using BNPL is a convenient method to balance your finances for shopping progressively.  
  • There are little to no additional charges of interest by using BNPL methods as compared to credit cards. 
  • It is not essential to qualify for good credit scores, nor does it affect it in any way. 
  • Making your payment using BNPL is instantaneous and uncomplicated. 

Liabilities:

  • Once the bills are paid, it can be challenging to track the receipt, especially in the long run. 
  • Most of the BNPL firms may charge late fines if you fail to settle the pending balance by the due date. So, unless you are confident that you can pay on time, this aspect might be a drawback.

Brands Accepting Buy Now Pay Later in UAE

Here is the list of brands where you can use your Buy Now Pay Later limit to shop hassle free on easy installments and get your favourite items in EMIs and more

Wrap Up

Though many brands accept Buy Now Pay Later in UAE and there are less number of companies offering these services to its customers, BNPL services are good and bad for an user depending on his or her usage and ability to repay the debt on time. If a user is unable to pay the EMI on time, he/ she will be charged hefty amount of late fine charges which keeps on increasing the interest rates. But if one is smart enough, they can use BNPL services wisely and make a good use of it.