Online payment links on invoices reduce DSO by 20-30 days. Zoho Books integrates with major UAE payment gateways. Here is how to set up Stripe, Telr, and Network International, the three most common for UAE SMEs.
Stripe
Settings → Payments → Online Payments → Stripe → Connect. Log in with your Stripe credentials and grant Zoho access. Zoho creates a webhook automatically, confirm it appears in your Stripe dashboard under Developers → Webhooks.
Default fees: 2.9% + AED 1 per transaction for UAE-issued cards, higher for international. Stripe pays out to your AED bank account in 7 business days standard, 2 days on premium plans. The reconciled deposits appear in Zoho via the bank feed; Zoho matches them to the invoices automatically.
Telr
Telr is the largest UAE-domiciled payment gateway, popular for its Arabic interface and local bank acquiring. Settings → Payments → Online Payments → Telr → Enter Store ID and Authentication Key (from your Telr dashboard).
Telr supports multi-currency and Mada (Saudi). Settlement is daily to your local bank account. Fees vary 1.9-2.9% depending on volume. For UAE-only businesses, Telr is often cheaper than Stripe; for international businesses, Stripe is broader.
Network International (Network Direct)
Network International is the major UAE bank-network acquirer. Setup requires your Network merchant number and a configuration file from your bank. Settings → Payments → Online Payments → Network → Upload Configuration.
Network typically offers the lowest rates for high-volume UAE businesses (1.5-2% MDR). Settlement is T+1 to your bank. The trade-off: less developer-friendly than Stripe, more setup complexity. For businesses processing > AED 500K monthly, the savings often justify the setup effort.
Reconciliation tips
All three gateways pay out net of fees, so the deposit in your bank account is less than the invoice total. Zoho's matching engine handles this, it matches the gross invoice to the net deposit and books the difference to a Payment Processor Fees expense account.
Run a monthly gateway reconciliation: total payments collected through Stripe vs total deposits from Stripe in your bank, allowing for timing. Variance > 1% suggests a missed payment or a stuck refund. Investigate and clear monthly.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. For situations that involve specific facts, talk to your accountant, or hire one of ours from the marketplace.