Mamo vs Telr: UAE Payment Gateway Showdown

TL;DR

• Monthly fees: Mamo's Growth plan has no monthly fee. Telr charges AED 249, 199 or 99 a month below AED 50,000 in monthly volume.
• Card fees: Mamo charges 2.7% + AED 0.80 (Premium) or 2.9% + AED 1 (Growth). Telr's rates fall from 2.45% + AED 1 to 2.25% + AED 0.50 as volume grows.
• Settlement: Mamo offers same-day settlement for +0.5% or +0.75%. Telr doesn't publish a standard schedule.
• Beyond payments: Mamo adds free corporate cards with up to 2% cashback, expense management and payouts. Telr has no corporate cards or expense tools.
• Where Telr leads: at AED 50,000+ a month, its 2.25% + AED 0.50 with no monthly fee is the lower rate. Both support Jaywan, Tabby, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and mada.

Why Are UAE Businesses Comparing Mamo and Telr?

Telr is one of the most established payment gateways in the UAE. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Dubai, it has built a strong reputation among UAE e-commerce merchants, backed by CBUAE regulation, local integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, and dedicated regional support. For many UAE businesses setting up online payment acceptance, Telr is a familiar first choice.

Mamo launched with a different brief: not just to accept payments, but to replace the multiple financial tools that UAE SMEs typically stitch together, a payment gateway here, a corporate card there, expense software somewhere else, global payout tools on top. Mamo is DFSA-regulated and brings payment collection, corporate cards with cashback, expense management, and global payouts into one integrated platform.

This comparison gives you a straightforward side-by-side across the metrics that matter: fees, settlement speed, payment method coverage, corporate cards, integrations, and what each platform delivers beyond basic card acceptance.

How Do Transaction Fees Compare Between Mamo and Telr in the UAE?

What Does Telr Charge UAE Businesses?

Telr uses a tiered volume model with both a monthly platform fee and per-transaction rates. All fees are subject to 5% UAE VAT. Verified from telr.com/pricing, October 2026:

The Startup plan covers transactions up to AED 9,999/month within the flat AED 249 fee. At higher volumes, percentage-plus-flat rates apply alongside a decreasing monthly fee. Volume pricing is available for merchants exceeding AED 500,000/month, contact Telr directly for enterprise rates.

What Does Mamo Charge UAE Businesses?

Mamo charges no monthly platform fee except on the premium plan, which is only AED 99 per month. Pricing is per transaction only:

All fees subject to 5% UAE VAT.

What Does the Total Cost Look Like for Mamo vs Telr?

For a business processing AED 40,000/month in local card transactions at an average transaction size of AED 500 (80 transactions/month):

• Telr Small plan: AED 99 monthly fee + (2.35% × AED 40,000) + (80 × AED 0.50) = AED 99 + AED 940 + AED 40 = AED 1,079/month
• Mamo Premium: AED 99 monthly fee + (2.7% × AED 40,000) + (80 × AED 0.80) = AED 99 + AED 1,080 + AED 64 = AED 1,243/month

At AED 50,000+/month, Telr's monthly fee drops to AED 0 and the transaction rate falls to 2.25% + AED 0.50, making Telr more cost-competitive at high volumes.

The right fit depends on your volume, transaction size, and whether you need the additional capabilities Mamo provides.

Which UAE Payment Methods Do Mamo and Telr Support?

Both Mamo and Telr cover the core UAE payment stack well, this is one area where the two are closely matched.

What Payment Methods Does Telr Accept?

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
• Mada (Saudi-issued cards)
• Tabby (BNPL)
• Jaywan (UAE's national card scheme, launched on Telr in 2026)
• 120+ currencies across 30+ languages

Telr launched Jaywan support for its UAE merchants in 2026, enabling customers using UAE's national card scheme to pay through Telr-powered checkouts.

What Payment Methods Does Mamo Accept?

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
• mada (Saudi-issued cards)
• Jaywan (UAE's national card scheme)
• Tabby (BNPL, built in, no separate third-party integration required)

Both gateways cover Jaywan, Tabby, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and mada, so the two are closely matched on payment methods.

What Are the Settlement Timelines for Mamo vs Telr?

How Long Does Telr Take to Settle Funds to UAE Bank Accounts?

Telr does not publish a standard settlement timeline on its pricing page. Settlement schedules can vary by account type and volume tier, confirm directly with Telr before committing if settlement speed is critical to your business.

Does Mamo Offer Same-Day Settlement in the UAE?

Yes. Mamo offers flexible settlement from 0 to 5 business days. Same-day settlement is available for an additional +0.5% (Premium plan) or +0.75% (Growth plan) on top of transaction fees. From the Mamo dashboard, select individual payments to settle early, choose the destination UAE bank account, and the funds move that day. For retail, tourism, or any business where daily cash flow matters, this is a material operational advantage.

Do Mamo or Telr Offer Corporate Cards for UAE Businesses?

This is the clearest product gap between the two platforms.

Does Telr Have a Corporate Card Product?

No. Telr is a payment collection gateway. It does not offer a corporate expense card, spend controls, or expense management tools for UAE businesses.

What Corporate Cards Does Mamo Provide?

Mamo offers unlimited free virtual and physical corporate cards for your entire team, no issuance fees.

Every Visa Mamo Card includes:

• 8% cashback on all non-AED spend for the first 3 months or up to AED 7,500 (limited-time offer, no tiers, no points, credited straight to your Mamo balance)
• up to 2% unlimited cashback on non-AED spend ongoing (ads, SaaS, travel)
• up to 0.5% unlimited cashback on AED spend
• Per-card spend limits and category controls, adjustable in real time
• Automated expense tracking: every transaction captures currency, cost, category, and tax code
• Receipt upload via dashboard or WhatsApp
• Accounting integrations: QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Wafeq, Odoo

In concrete terms: a business spending AED 50,000/month on non-AED transactions earns AED 1,000/month at the standard 2% rate, AED 12,000/year back to your Mamo balance. During the 8% promotional period, that is AED 4,000 returned per month.

“Mamo is more than just payments. We have issued about five corporate cards which have helped us streamline our office expenses as well as all marketing spends for Meta, Google, etc.”

Fahim Khan,

Senior Accountant, Parasol Card Services

How Does Customer Support Compare: Mamo vs Telr?

What Support Does Telr Offer UAE Merchants?

Telr provides dedicated local support across all plans, along with real-time dashboard access, instant payment confirmations on mobile and email, and an anti-fraud system. As a UAE-headquartered company since 2014, Telr has established regional expertise and local compliance knowledge.

What Support Does Mamo Offer UAE Businesses?

From the day you sign up, Mamo assigns an account manager to your business, available throughout onboarding and for ongoing operational questions. Support is provided in Arabic and English, and account verification typically completes in 2-3 business days.

“Mamo gave us something we couldn't get elsewhere: speed, flexibility, and real partnership.”

Lilit Avetikyan,

CEO, Voyex

How Do Mamo and Telr Compare on E-Commerce and Accounting Integrations?

Both gateways cover the core e-commerce platforms. Mamo extends further into finance and accounting tools:

Is Mamo or Telr Better for Regulatory Compliance in the UAE?

Both platforms carry UAE regulatory credentials, under different regulators:

• Mamo: Regulated by the DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority), the regulator for the DIFC financial free zone; also a registered payments facilitator with Visa and Mastercard, PCI-DSS certified with quarterly audits
• Telr: Regulated by the CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE), the mainland regulator; PCI-DSS compliant; 99.99% uptime guarantee

For businesses operating within or contracting with DIFC entities, or those where DFSA licensing is a specific procurement requirement, Mamo's regulatory standing is a direct differentiator. For mainstream UAE mainland businesses, both regulatory frameworks are recognised and respected.

Which Businesses Should Choose Mamo, and Which Should Choose Telr?

When Is Telr the Right Choice for UAE Businesses?

Telr is a strong fit if you:

• Are a UAE e-commerce merchant seeking an established, locally-regulated payment gateway with a long regional track record
• Process AED 50,000+/month in local card transactions and want to benefit from Telr's no-monthly-fee Medium tier
• Need a straightforward, well-documented gateway with GCC regional coverage and proven uptime

When Is Mamo the Right Choice for UAE Businesses?

Mamo is the stronger choice if you:

• Need more than payment collection: corporate cards, expense management, global payouts, and payment acceptance in one platform
• Want unlimited free corporate cards with up to 8% cashback and automated expense tracking without adding a second tool
• Need same-day settlement, available at an additional +0.5% (Premium) or +0.75% (Growth) on top of transaction fees
• Prefer DFSA regulation for procurement, compliance, or DIFC-adjacent business reasons
• Want an assigned account manager from day one, in Arabic and English

Frequently Asked Questions: Mamo vs Telr

Is Telr regulated in the UAE?

Yes. Telr is regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and is PCI-DSS compliant with a 99.99% uptime guarantee.

Does Telr charge a monthly fee?

Yes, for volumes below AED 50,000/month. Plans range from AED 249/month (Startup, up to AED 9,999 volume) to AED 0/month (Medium, AED 50,000+). Per-transaction rates apply from Entry tier and above. All fees subject to 5% UAE VAT.

Does Mamo have a monthly fee?

Mamo's Growth plan has no monthly fee. The Premium plan costs AED 99/month.

Does Telr support Jaywan and Tabby?

Yes. Telr launched Jaywan support in 2026 and offers Tabby BNPL integration for UAE merchants.

Does Telr offer corporate cards?

No. Telr is a payment collection gateway and does not include a corporate expense card product.

Can I switch from Telr to Mamo?

Yes. Mamo's onboarding team supports the transition. Account verification takes 2-3 business days, and e-commerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, API) can be live within the same week.

Telr is one of the UAE's most established payment gateways, CBUAE-regulated, well-integrated with e-commerce platforms, and now supporting Jaywan and Tabby across its merchant base. For businesses that need straightforward online payment acceptance with a locally-rooted provider, it delivers reliably.

Mamo occupies a different position: a complete financial platform for UAE SMEs. If you need payment collection, corporate cards with up to 8% cashback, expense management, global payouts, and same-day settlements in one DFSA-regulated platform, with an assigned account manager from day one, Mamo goes further than any gateway-only product.