Shopify for UAE brands
The Shopify agency for Dubai and UAE brands
Rolling Pandas is a Shopify agency and Shopify Select Partner for brands in Dubai and across the UAE. We design, build and grow Shopify stores that take dirhams through Shopify Payments, show product information in Arabic as well as English, and work for People of Determination. We've built stores for Bailey & Jools and Be-Uni, and we work with UAE brands remotely, from Varna and Sofia in Bulgaria.
For brands in the UAE on Shopify or moving to it, doing roughly $500k to $10M a year.
Selling in the UAE
Selling on Shopify in the UAE
A UAE Shopify store can now take dirhams through Shopify Payments, charges 5% VAT once registered, ships through a carrier's own account or app, and must give product information in Arabic. Here is what each means for your store, with the official source.
Shopify Payments in dirhams
Since August 2026, Shopify Payments works for UAE merchants on the Advanced plan, after being for Plus only. It's for online sales, needs a company registration number, and pays out in AED to a UAE bank account.
Source:Shopify changelog (opens in a new tab)UAE requirements (opens in a new tab)
Cards and wallets
With Shopify Payments, UAE stores take Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay. A third-party payment provider can run on its own or alongside Shopify Payments.
Source:UAE payment methods (opens in a new tab)Third-party providers (opens in a new tab)
VAT
UAE VAT is 5%. A business must register once its taxable supplies pass AED 375,000, and may register from AED 187,500. A business based outside the UAE has no threshold when no one else pays the tax on its supplies.
Source:VAT on u.ae (opens in a new tab)Federal Tax Authority (opens in a new tab)
Shipping
Shopify doesn't sell shipping labels for locations in the UAE, so stores ship through their carrier's own account or its Shopify app.
Arabic and right-to-left
UAE consumer law asks online stores for product information in Arabic. Shopify's latest Horizon themes support right-to-left languages such as Arabic. With another theme, check it first.
Source:Consumer protection (opens in a new tab)Shopify languages (opens in a new tab)
People of Determination
Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 protects the rights of People of Determination. The National Digital Accessibility Policy asks government sites for WCAG 2.1 Level AA and private companies for their best efforts. Dubai's Law No. 9 of 2022 brings private digital services in Dubai into scope, in phases.
Source:u.ae (opens in a new tab)Accessibility policy (opens in a new tab)Dubai Law No. 9 (opens in a new tab)
Checked on October 27, 2026, on Shopify's Help Center and each government's own pages. General information, not tax or legal advice.
Working together
One or two hours from Dubai
We work with UAE brands remotely, from Varna and Sofia in Bulgaria, across time zones. Dubai is 2 hours ahead of Varna from late October to late March, and 1 hour ahead the rest of the year, because the UAE doesn't change its clocks. Calls are booked at a time that suits you.
The time now
- Dubai--:--
- Varna--:--
- In October 2026 we had our own stand at AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai.
- Weekly priorities are set on Monday, and you review and approve on your schedule.
- Updates on Slack and email.
Our UAE work
Our work for UAE brands
We've built Shopify stores for two UAE brands, Bailey & Jools in Dubai and Be-Uni Professional, and pages in English and Arabic for UPAB and Heroes' Academy at AccessAbilities Expo 2026 in Dubai.
Bailey & JoolsA Dubai bag brand's store, rebuilt from the ground up with a strategic UX/UI design, a custom theme and CRO support. In the founder's words, sales went up 250 to 300% right after launch.Read the case study
Be-UniBe-Uni Professional sells gold titanium curlers and straighteners in the UAE, priced in dirhams. We designed and developed its key custom sections and supported the store's SEO.Read the case study
UPABUPAB's page for AccessAbilities Expo 2026 in Dubai, in English and Arabic, where visitors book a meeting with the team.Read the case study
Heroes' AcademyHeroes' Academy's page for the same expo, in English and Arabic, laid out right to left, inviting organizations to become partners.Read the case studySales increased immediately after the new website went live by 250-300%. The results were very obvious and absolutely amazing! Website is super customer friendly and 100% on brand.
Maria VargianFounder & Managing Director, Bailey & Jools
Services
Where we'd start for a UAE brand
Each service has a page of its own with the detail.
- Shopify website designEvery page designed in Figma for desktop and mobile, in English and, where you need it, Arabic.
- Shopify developmentCustom themes with sections your team edits for every campaign, as Bailey & Jools' team does.
- Shopify CROUX and conversion work after launch, as with Bailey & Jools, starting with the $997 Diagnostic.
- Klaviyo email and SMSWelcome and abandoned cart flows, plus campaigns for every launch and sale.
- Shopify SEO and AI searchSEO for Google and AI answers, as we supported for Be-Uni.
The Rolling Team
Your Shopify team, shipping every week
Once your store is live, The Rolling Team, our Shopify experts on retainer, keeps shipping every week. Plans are in US dollars, priced by scope, not hours, and run month to month.
Focus
from$3,500a month
One department
Grow
from$9,000a month
Up to three departments
Full Team
from$20,000a month
Every department
For a UAE brand, Focus could be design and development for campaigns and launches. Grow adds CRO and Klaviyo email on one roadmap.
Not sure where to start? The $997 Shopify Growth Diagnostic reviews your store in 5 days and shows what to fix first. See the Diagnostic
Common questions from UAE brands
Is Shopify Payments available in the UAE?
Yes. Since August 2026 it works for UAE merchants on the Advanced plan, after being for Plus only. It's for online sales, needs a company registration number and a UAE bank account in AED, and takes Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay. A third-party provider can run on its own or alongside it.
Can a Shopify store be in Arabic?
Yes. Shopify's latest Horizon themes support right-to-left languages such as Arabic, and other themes need checking first. UAE consumer law asks online stores for product information in Arabic. We've designed and built pages in English and Arabic, laid out right to left, for UPAB and Heroes' Academy.
Do online stores in the UAE charge VAT?
VAT in the UAE is 5%. A business must register once its taxable supplies pass AED 375,000, and may register from AED 187,500. A business based outside the UAE has no threshold. Your accountant confirms what applies to you.
Do you have an office in Dubai?
No. We're based in Varna and Sofia, Bulgaria, and work with UAE brands remotely. Dubai is one or two hours ahead of Varna, depending on the season. In October 2026 we had our own stand at AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai.
Which UAE brands have you worked with?
Bailey & Jools, a Dubai bag brand, where in the founder's words sales went up 250 to 300% after launch, and Be-Uni Professional, a hair tool brand. We also built English and Arabic pages for UPAB and Heroes' Academy at AccessAbilities Expo 2026.
What does a UAE brand pay to work with you?
We price in US dollars, as everywhere on our site. A design and build is a fixed price, set after a call by the size of the store. The Rolling Team starts at $3,500 a month for one department, and Grow at $9,000.
Book a call
Let's talk about your UAE store
Book a call. We'll look at your store with you, from payments to the product pages, and say what we would fix first.