E-commerce Development in the UAE

Selling online in the UAE means handling things a generic store template ignores: prices that show 5% VAT correctly, customers who still like cash on delivery, delivery across seven emirates, Arabic and English product pages, and returns that a courier must actually collect. Crafts Software builds online stores and connects them to your stock, accounts and marketing tools.

What a UAE store needs

VAT-correct pricing. Prices shown inclusive or exclusive of VAT as you choose, with a proper tax invoice for each order.
Payments. Cards, wallets and cash on delivery, through gateways that support UAE merchants. See the payments guide.
Delivery rules. Rates and delivery times by emirate and area, courier integration, tracking links and returns.
Arabic and English. Product pages, search and checkout in both languages, each on its own URL.
Stock sync. One stock number across the website, shop and marketplaces, so you never sell what you do not have.
WhatsApp. Order confirmations, abandoned-basket reminders with consent, and support.

Custom store or a platform?

A hosted platform is quick when your needs are standard. A custom or customized store makes sense when you need special pricing, B2B accounts, bundles, subscription orders, integration with your ERP, or a lower running cost. We help you choose honestly, and we have done both. See our e-commerce service for details.

Launch checklist

Product data and photos, payment and courier accounts, tax settings, returns policy, privacy and terms pages, tracking, and a test order from a phone. Our e-commerce launch checklist walks through each step.

Getting traffic

An online store needs visitors. We set up product and category pages that search engines understand, product feeds, conversion tracking and landing pages for ads. Read where to spend first: SEO, Google Ads or social media, and our UAE retail marketing calendar.

Mistakes that cost UAE online stores sales

Hiding the delivery cost until the last step.
No cash on delivery in a market where many buyers still prefer it.
Slow mobile pages and a long checkout form.
No Arabic product names, so Arabic searchers never find you.
Stock counted separately online and in the shop, leading to cancelled orders.
No clear returns and refund policy.

Each of these is easy to fix before launch and expensive to fix after.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a trade licence to sell online?

Generally yes, and the activity must match what you sell. Your licensing authority or free zone can confirm the requirements for e-commerce.

Can the store connect to my POS and accounting?

Yes. Orders, stock and payments can flow into your POS and accounting or ERP, so staff do not retype anything.

Can I sell in other GCC countries later?

Yes. We design pricing, tax and shipping so new markets can be added.

Ready to sell online? Tell us what you sell.