If you want a Shopify store in the UAE, the first question is the price. The honest answer is that there are three costs, not one: the build, the Shopify plan, and the running costs after launch. This guide gives real numbers for each, so you can plan your budget before you talk to anyone.
All XMA prices below are in AED, ex VAT, and shown as "from". The final price depends on what you need. You can see our wider rates on the pricing page.
What does a Shopify store cost in the UAE?
A Shopify store in the UAE costs three things: a one time build fee, a monthly Shopify plan, and running costs such as payment fees and care. At XMA, the build starts from AED 15,400 ex VAT. The Shopify plan is billed separately by Shopify, in US dollars.
Here is the whole picture in one place.
What does the build cost?
The build is the biggest cost, and it depends on how many products you sell. At XMA it starts from AED 15,400 ex VAT for up to 25 products, AED 22,400 for 26 to 100, and AED 33,600 for 101 to 500. A larger catalogue means more pages and more setup.
Our build is done from start to finish. That means we plan it, design it, build it and set it up, so you do not need to manage several freelancers. We publish a turnaround of 5 to 6 weeks for an e-commerce website.
If you have more than 500 products, there is no fixed price. That is a custom job, and we quote it after we see the catalogue.
What is not in the build price
Some things are separate lines on our rate card. They are not hidden, but they are not folded into the "from" price either:
- Payment gateway setup
- Cash on delivery and local payment methods
- Shipping rules, zones and tax setup
- Product pages with variants, such as size, colour or metal
- Enhanced e-commerce tracking
Most UAE stores need at least payments, delivery and tax rules. So when you compare quotes, ask each agency which of these are inside the price and which are extra. A low headline number often leaves them out.
What does the Shopify plan cost?
Shopify charges a monthly plan on top of the build. As of October 2026, its pricing page lists Basic from USD 19 a month, Grow from USD 54 and Advanced from USD 299 on yearly billing. Paying month by month costs more: USD 27, USD 72 and USD 399.
Shopify also lists a higher tier called Plus, which starts at USD 2,300 a month. Most new stores do not need it.
As of October 2026, Shopify lists a 3 day trial for new stores, then USD 1 a month for the first 3 months. Check the current terms on their site before you sign up, because they change.
These prices are in US dollars, so your AED cost moves a little with the exchange rate. Source: Shopify pricing page, as of October 2026.
Which plan should you pick?
Start with the smallest plan that does what you need. You can move up later. Note that the fee on outside payment providers falls as the plan rises, so a store with high sales may save money on a higher plan. A new store with a small catalogue rarely needs the top tiers on day one. If you are unsure, tell us what you sell and we will say which plan fits.
What are the running costs after launch?
After launch you pay for the plan, payment fees, and anything you add. Shopify lists a fee on sales made through outside payment providers: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus, as of October 2026. Card fees from your payment provider are set by that provider.
Other costs to plan for:
- Care. Someone has to keep the store updated and backed up. Our Basic care plan starts from AED 1,050 a month ex VAT and covers uptime, backups, updates and security. It does not include content changes.
- Apps. Shopify apps often have their own monthly price. Add only what you need.
- Traffic. A store with no visitors sells nothing. Ads and search work are a separate budget.
We do not guarantee sales, leads or a return on ad spend, and nobody honest can. A store is a place to sell. It still needs visitors.
Shopify store or a normal website: which costs less?
A normal service website costs less to build than a store. At XMA a service website starts from AED 8,000 ex VAT, against AED 15,400 for a store. But if you want to take orders online, you need a store. A brochure site cannot do that.
- You sell products with a price and a cart. You need a store.
- You sell a service and take enquiries. A service website is enough.
- You do both. A store can hold service pages too.
We cover this choice more on our websites service page, where a service website is built in 3 to 4 weeks.
How do you compare quotes?
To compare quotes fairly, ask five things: how many products are included, what the payment setup covers, how long it takes, who owns the store, and what happens after launch. Two quotes with the same total can hide very different scope.
Use this short list:
- How many products are in the price?
- Are payments, cash on delivery, shipping and tax set up, or extra?
- How many weeks to launch?
- Is the store in my own Shopify account?
- What does support cost after launch?
If an agency will not answer these in writing, treat that as your answer.
What is a fair budget to start with?
For a first store with a small catalogue, plan for the build from AED 15,400 ex VAT, the extras you need, the Shopify plan, and a few months of running costs. Then keep a separate budget for ads, because the store alone will not bring buyers.
Your own number will differ. The quickest way to get it is to send us your product count and what you need set up. See the full details on our Shopify stores service page, or check the pricing page for the rest of our rate card.
FAQ
How much does a Shopify store cost in the UAE?
At XMA, a Shopify store build starts from AED 15,400 ex VAT for up to 25 products. On top of that you pay Shopify a monthly plan, listed in US dollars, plus payment fees.
Does the build price include the Shopify plan?
No. The build is a one time fee to XMA. The Shopify plan is billed by Shopify to you each month, in US dollars, as of October 2026.
How long does a Shopify build take?
XMA publishes 5 to 6 weeks for an e-commerce website, built from start to finish.
Are payment gateways and cash on delivery included?
No. Payment gateways, cash on delivery, shipping and tax rules and product variants are separate lines on our rate card. We list them on your quote.
What if I have more than 25 products?
The price steps up by catalogue size. From AED 22,400 ex VAT for 26 to 100 products, and from AED 33,600 ex VAT for 101 to 500.
Can I run the store myself after launch?
Yes. If you want help, our website care plan starts from AED 1,050 a month ex VAT and covers uptime, backups, updates and security.
Is VAT added to your prices?
Yes. Every AED figure here is ex VAT. UAE VAT of 5% is added on the invoice.
