- Every successful business has a story, one that includes the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way.
At AskTopsy, we’ve helped over 100+ business owners launch thriving online stores. However, one particular project, launching a Shopify store in Dubai, UAE, taught us one of our most significant lessons yet.
It’s a story about persistence, research, and never giving up, even when things seem impossible.
The First Attempt: Everything Looked Perfect… Until It Wasn’t: Our First Project in Dubai was for a client who owned a food business. She wanted to sell her freshly made meals online using Shopify and reach customers across the UAE.
It sounded simple enough. We’d already launched several successful Shopify stores for business owners in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and beyond.
We started the process but encountered a roadblock when selecting a payment gateway for accepting online payments.
We couldn’t find a suitable payment gateway that worked.
For those not familiar with the term “payment gateway”, it is the tool that allows your customers to pay you securely online. Without it, your online store can’t receive payments.
We tried every option available, but none worked for her setup. We were unable to move forward since the website could not collect payments without a payment gateway, and we would not be able to launch the website.
That was one of the most difficult calls we’ve had to make to a client. The entire website creation process has to be put on hold.
However, rather than breaking us, that setback prepared us.
The Second Chance: A Dubai-Based Hair Vendor Reached Out Early this year, a new client reached out to us: a Dubai-based hair vendor who wanted a website for her growing business.
She sold high-quality wigs and luxury hair extensions, but she was tired of handling orders via Instagram and WhatsApp DMs.
She wanted something more professional, an online store where customers could easily see all her available products, place orders, and pay online without stress.
Discovering What Works: The Payment Gateway Issue Resolved. This time, with more experience and updated knowledge, we explored several payment gateways. We contacted support teams, reviewed their requirements, and compared options suitable for businesses in the UAE.
After thorough research, we found two that met every requirement:
Completely compatible with Shopify
Accepts payments in AED (Dirhams)
Easy onboarding for business owners
That was Ziina Gateway for the pay-now option and Tabby Gateway for the pay-later option; both are reliable solutions for businesses in the UAE looking to sell online
When we found this, we knew we had finally cracked the code for setting up a Shopify store in Dubai.
The Launch: From Frustration to Freedom
With the payment gateway sorted, everything else fell into place smoothly.
We built a stunning, user-friendly Shopify store for our client’s hair brand. The design was elegant, and the layout made shopping easy and enjoyable for her customers.
We also ensured the store worked seamlessly on mobile, as we knew that most Dubai shoppers prefer to make purchases directly from their phones.
When everything was ready, we launched. And this time, everything worked perfectly.
Her customers could easily view her products, add to cart, and pay securely in AED. With her website, she can now handle multiple orders effortlessly and continue selling even when she’s not online, helping her business grow steadily.
The Results: What Made This Launch Unique
Within weeks, she was receiving orders and payments without a single technical hitch.
Here’s what changed for her business:
No more back-and-forth with DMs: Customers could order directly from her store. Payments in AED, no stress: The payment gateway worked smoothly for every customer. Sales around the clock: Even while she slept, her Shopify store was making sales. Professional brand image: Her store reflected the quality of her products.
That’s the beauty of having an automated online system that works. You stop chasing customers and start focusing on growth.
The Lesson: Building a functional website is more important than just building a website.
As a business owner, you need to know that launching an online store isn’t just about uploading products and picking a theme. It’s about making sure every system, from payment to shipping, is aligned and functional.
In the UAE, Shopify store owners face one common challenge: finding a payment gateway that supports local currencies and banks. Once that’s solved, the rest becomes much easier.
Why Business Owners in Dubai Choose Shopify
If you’re a business owner in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, Shopify is one of the best ways to take your business online.
Here’s why:
It’s easy to manage even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Payments in your local currency are accepted.
You can connect your store with Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
You get real-time reports to track your sales.
And when you work with a team like AskTopsy, you don’t have to worry about the complicated parts. We handle everything from setup to launch so you can focus on your business.
The Bigger Picture: Helping Business Owners Automate Their Sales Process This experience reminded us why we do what we do.
At AskTopsy, we don’t just build websites; We help business owners build automated, 24/7 online stores that increase sales, save time, and grow their business.
Whether you sell hair, fashion, beauty products, handmade items, or run any type of e-commerce business in Dubai, UAE, we can help you build a Shopify store that runs smoothly, accepts payments easily, and helps grow your brand’s online visibility.
Conclusion
Our first attempt to launch a Shopify store in Dubai didn’t go as planned, but that failure led us to a solution that now helps business owners succeed with ease.
Today, we can confidently say: launching a Shopify store in Dubai is no longer a challenge.
If you’re ready to stop selling only through DMs and start selling with a website that works for you even when you are not online, it’s time to take that step.