A UAE Shopify store has four costs: the Shopify plan (about AED 145–1,465 a month), the theme (free to AED 1,100 one-off, or custom), apps (AED 0–600 a month) and setup (DIY, freelancer or agency). Most small stores spend AED 9,900–29,000 to launch with an agency.
Shopify says “from $39 a month”. Your first real month cost you AED 2,600. Here’s where it went.
The four costs
Plan, theme, apps and setup. People budget for the plan and forget the other three, which is why the first month feels like three times the headline price.
Shopify plan prices in AED
✓ Shopify bills in US dollars and changes plans and prices. The AED figures here convert at 3.67 and were last checked October 2026. Confirm on shopify.com.
| Plan | Roughly (AED / month) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 145 | New stores |
| Shopify | 400 | Growing stores |
| Advanced | 1,465 | Higher volume, advanced reporting |
| Plus | 8,450 | Brands with wholesale and automation |
Payment fees in the UAE
Fees depend on how customers pay: a gateway such as Stripe or Telr (about 2.5–2.9% plus a small fixed fee), Apple Pay through the same gateway, and Tabby or Tamara (agreed with each provider, usually higher than cards).
✓ Shopify Payments availability in the UAE and BNPL merchant fees change. Ask each provider for a current quote before you price your products.
Theme: free, premium or custom
- Free theme: AED 0, fine to start, many stores look alike.
- Premium theme: roughly AED 350–1,100 one-off, configured properly.
- Custom theme: AED 14,500+ for a design built around your products, with fewer apps needed.
Apps: what you need and what you don’t
Most stores we rebuild go from 15–25 apps to 5–9. Bundles, size charts and upsells can be built into the theme. That alone often saves a few hundred dirhams a month and loads faster on phones.
DIY, freelancer or agency
| Route | Typical cost (AED) | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | 0 + your time | Arabic RTL, VAT and shipping set-up take longer than expected |
| Freelancer | 3,000–12,000 | Availability, no team behind them |
| Agency | 9,900–69,000 | Hidden extras, so ask for a fixed price |
Shipping and cash on delivery
Carrier rates, COD fees and returns matter as much as the theme. Set shipping zones for all seven emirates and decide whether COD is worth its failed-delivery rate.
Our packages
Launch store AED 4,950 (3–4 weeks), custom theme AED 14,500 (6–8 weeks), Plus, headless or custom apps AED 34,500. Prices exclude 5% VAT.
Questions
Yes. Set AED as the store currency; Shopify itself bills your plan in USD.
Yes, a licence that covers e-commerce. See our guide on selling online in the UAE.