E-commerce development for Saudi Arabia.

What do Saudi shoppers expect from an online store?

Arabic first, mobile first and familiar ways to pay. Most Saudi shoppers browse and buy on their phones, many search in Arabic, and they expect to pay with mada or a card they already use, or in cash when the order arrives.

Electronic payment is now the norm: according to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), e-payments made up 79% of retail transactions in the Kingdom in 2024. That makes a fast, trusted checkout the single most important part of the store.

• An Arabic storefront designed right to left from the start, not an English site with translated labels.
• Prices in SAR shown with VAT included, and delivery costs clear before checkout.
• mada, credit cards and the wallets your gateway supports, plus cash on delivery where it makes sense.
• Order and delivery updates on WhatsApp, where Saudi customers actually reply.

Which payment gateways work for Saudi stores?

On live stores for Saudi Arabia we've integrated HyperPay, Moyasar, Tap Payments, PayTabs, Amazon Payment Services and Geidea. Each of them offers mada card acceptance alongside Visa and Mastercard; we confirm the exact payment methods for your merchant account during setup.

If you already have a contract with another provider, we can integrate that too. We test every payment path, including refunds and failed payments, before launch.

Should a Saudi store offer cash on delivery?

Often, yes, at least at launch. Cash on delivery lowers the barrier for first-time customers, but it costs more to run: some orders are refused at the door, and cash has to be collected and reconciled.

We set COD up with rules that keep it under control: order-value limits, COD only in cities your courier covers well, and an automatic WhatsApp confirmation before dispatch so unconfirmed orders never leave the warehouse.

Which couriers can the store connect to?

Any courier that offers an API. We connect it to the store so shipping rates are calculated at checkout, labels and tracking numbers are created automatically, and delivery status updates reach the customer without your team copying data between systems.

What does ZATCA e-invoicing mean for an online store?

If your business is VAT-registered in Saudi Arabia, your invoices must meet ZATCA's e-invoicing (Fatoora) requirements. The second phase, which connects invoicing systems to ZATCA's platform, is being rolled out in waves by revenue, and ZATCA notifies each taxpayer of its own deadline.

For the store, that means orders need to flow into an invoicing or ERP system that is integrated with Fatoora, with the right VAT data on every order. We build the store and that connection; your accountant or tax adviser confirms your obligations and deadlines.

What do Saudi e-commerce rules require from the store?

Saudi Arabia's E-Commerce Law applies to online sellers targeting Saudi consumers. In practice the store must clearly show who you are and how to contact you, show full prices including taxes and delivery before purchase, and publish clear policies for returns and refunds. Since 2023, the Ministry of Commerce registers e-stores through the Saudi Business Center's Business platform rather than Maroof.

The Personal Data Protection Law has also been enforceable since September 2024, so the store needs a proper privacy policy and consent for marketing messages. We build the pages, consent flows and checkout to support these requirements; we're not a law firm, so your legal adviser should confirm what applies to your business.

Which platform is best for a Saudi store?

WooCommerce suits brands that want full ownership and flexibility; Shopify suits teams that want managed hosting and a large app ecosystem; Salla and Zid are Saudi platforms that are quick to start with local payments and shipping built in; a custom build suits complex catalogues or high traffic.

We build on WooCommerce, Shopify and custom stacks and migrate stores between any platforms, including from Salla or Zid when a brand outgrows them. Our platform comparison covers the trade-offs in detail.

How do you work with Saudi clients from Doha?

Remotely, and it works well: Qatar and Saudi Arabia share a time zone, so we keep the same working hours. Projects run through video calls, a shared project board and a WhatsApp group with the people who build your store. You see designs and a staging store before anything goes live, and we support the store after launch the same way.