Shahbandr and Tabby Partner to Revolutionise E-commerce Payments in MENA Region

Shahbandr has joined forces with Tabby in a move that could quietly reshape how more than 20,000 online stores handle payments across Saudi Arabia and Egypt. On paper, it’s a straightforward integration. In reality, it speaks to something bigger happening in MENA’s e-commerce space.

Under the partnership, merchants using Shahbandr’s platform will be able to offer Tabby’s buy now, pay later (BNPL) option, allowing customers to split purchases into interest-free instalments. It’s a model that has become almost second nature for many shoppers in the Gulf. In fact, Tabby says nearly two in three adults in Saudi Arabia are already registered on its app — a detail that, if you’re running an online store, is hard to ignore.

Shady Abdelshaheed, Co-Founder and CEO of Shahbandr, described the agreement as a “significant milestone” for the company’s merchants. He noted that Tabby is widely trusted by customers in the Kingdom and said integrating its solution would help boost sales while simplifying financial processes. Abdelshaheed also pointed to Shahbandr’s broader ambition of creating a more connected and intelligent e-commerce ecosystem — and positioned this step as part of that journey.

From Tabby’s side, Abdulaziz Saja, General Manager for Saudi Arabia, said the partnership opens the door for thousands of Shahbandr businesses to tap into an already engaged customer base. The logic is simple: give shoppers flexibility at checkout and conversion rates tend to rise. That said, BNPL only works well when spending remains responsible — I’m not a fan of models that push consumers to overstretch — but in this region, Tabby has so far managed to keep its reputation fairly spot on.

For Shahbandr, which supports entrepreneurs in launching and scaling online stores without needing deep technical expertise, the timing feels right. The company provides a full toolkit: payment and shipping integrations, data analytics, productivity tools, and even support for traditional brick-and-mortar shops looking to go digital. I’ve seen first-hand how confusing that early e-commerce setup can be for founders — a bit of a faff, to be honest — so platforms that bundle everything under one roof often make a real difference.

Currently, Shahbandr serves more than 20,000 active stores across Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It has also been expanding its ecosystem, recently introducing “Video Commerce” services and a generative AI tool called “Shahbandr AI”, designed to help merchants create marketing copy and product descriptions with less effort. Well… I mean, anything that saves founders hours of staring at a blank screen is welcome.

Tabby, for its part, works with over 40,000 brands and small businesses globally, including names like SHEIN, Amazon, Adidas, IKEA, H&M, Samsung and Noon. Headquartered in Riyadh, the fintech operates across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, positioning itself as a financial services app aimed at helping users stay in control of their spending.

On the flip side, partnerships like this are no longer a novelty in the region — they’re becoming the norm. Everyone wants to build an “ecosystem”. But I reckon what sets this one apart is the scale of Shahbandr’s merchant base and the depth of Tabby’s consumer reach in Saudi Arabia. Put the two together and, if executed well, it could definately give smaller merchants a stronger footing in a fiercely competitive online market.

And for readers of Arageek who are building or thinking about launching an e-commerce venture, this is another reminder: payments matter. A lot. Sometimes growth isn’t about flashy campaigns or viral videos. Sometimes it’s about making checkout smoother — and faster — so customers don’t think twice.

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