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Tabby in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

Pay laterUAESaudi ArabiaKuwaitLast checked

The short answer

Tabby lets you split a purchase into instalments instead of paying the full price at the till. Tabby says its Pay in 4 option has no interest and no fees if you pay on time. Late fees depend on the country and the product, so read the current terms before you buy.

Quick facts

What it is
A buy now, pay later app that splits purchases into instalments (source: Tabby UAE)
Pay in 4
4 interest-free payments with no fees, as advertised on Tabby's UAE site (source: Tabby UAE)
Longer plans
Up to 12 monthly payments, as advertised on Tabby's UAE site (source: Tabby UAE)
Late fees in Saudi Arabia
Removed on Pay in 4 from 16 December 2023 (source: Tabby: removes late fees on Pay in 4 in Saudi Arabia)
Regulator note
Tabby's help page says Tabby Payments LLC, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, runs Tabby Cash. Pay Later and the card are run by Tabby LLC. (source: Tabby help centre)
Countries
Tabby's help page says it is active in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait (source: Tabby help: about Tabby)
Help line (UAE)
Toll-free 800 822 29, 9am to 10pm (source: Tabby help centre)

How Tabby split payments work

Tabby is a payment option you pick at checkout, online or in some shops. Instead of paying the full amount at once, you split it into smaller payments. Tabby's UAE site describes its Pay Later product as splitting an order into 4 interest-free payments with no fees, or into up to 12 monthly payments.

Tabby's own help page says Tabby is active in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Amounts and plans differ by country, so use the offer shown in your own app.

Tabby also sells other products, such as a Tabby Card and a cash account. This guide is about the split payment product, called Pay Later or Pay in 4. The Tabby Card is a separate product with its own terms.

The Tabby help centre lists topics for Pay Later such as managing due dates, fees and refunds. Tabby sends reminders before a payment is due, and you can see upcoming payments in the Tabby app.

  1. Choose Tabby at checkout at a shop that accepts it.
  2. Pick the plan that is offered to you, for example 4 payments.
  3. Log in or sign up and confirm your details. Tabby decides whether to approve each purchase.
  4. Pay the first instalment, then pay the rest on the due dates shown in the app.

Fees and late fees

Tabby advertises Pay in 4 as interest-free with no fees. That applies when you pay on time. If you miss a payment, the outcome depends on your country and the product.

In Saudi Arabia, Tabby announced that it removed late fees on its Pay in 4 solution from 16 December 2023. Tabby said this applies to all Pay in 4 purchases in Saudi Arabia and followed a fatwa issued by the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom.

For the UAE, we could not open an official Tabby page that states the current late fee amounts for Pay Later, so we do not quote any. Check the terms shown at checkout and in the Tabby app. For the Tabby Card, Tabby's help page says a collection charge is added to your active statement if you miss a payment, and points to the Tabby Card Key Facts Statement for the full fee details.

Where you can use Tabby

Tabby works at partner shops, online and in store. Its UAE site mentions in-store payment with Apple Pay. Fashion, electronics, home and travel shops are the sort of places that offer split payments, but each shop chooses whether to accept Tabby.

The best way to check is to look for Tabby at the checkout, or look in the Tabby app. Spending limits and which plans you see can differ by shop and by customer, so check the offer shown to you.

Tabby, your card and cashback

Tabby takes your instalments from a payment card that you add. That means the card you save in Tabby is the card that pays each instalment. We could not find an official Tabby statement about whether card cashback or card rewards apply to instalment payments, so we do not promise either way.

Your card issuer sets the cashback rules. Check your card's terms for what counts as an eligible purchase, and whether a payment to a third party such as Tabby earns a reward. Also check whether a minimum monthly spend applies, as that can change your rate.

Tips for using Tabby

  • Treat each instalment like a bill. Put the due dates in your calendar.
  • Keep enough money in the linked card account before each due date.
  • Do not stack many Tabby purchases at once. It gets hard to track what you owe.
  • Check the total of all your open plans each month, so one big shop does not crowd out your rent or bills.
  • Open the app a day before each due date to see the exact amount.
  • If you return an item, ask the shop and check that Tabby updates your plan.
  • Read the terms for your country before you buy. Fees and rules can change.

Is Tabby in Qatar?

Some shops in Qatar show Tabby at checkout. We could not confirm Tabby's availability or terms in Qatar from an official Tabby page, so this guide does not cover Qatar.

How to pay with Tabby at checkout

  1. Select TabbyAt checkout, choose Tabby as the payment method.
  2. Choose your planPick the plan Tabby offers you, such as 4 payments.
  3. ConfirmLog in or sign up and confirm the order.
  4. Pay on timePay each instalment by its due date in the Tabby app.

How Fawz helps

Fawz is not released yet, and you can join the waiting list. When it is out, it suggests which of your cards or memberships to use at the till, so you can see whether the card with the best cashback is the one to pay with.

Fawz also tracks minimum monthly spend and caps, so you can see if a payment is helping you reach a higher cashback rate. Fawz never stores card numbers or bank logins and never reads SMS.

Join the waiting list

Questions people ask

Does Tabby charge interest?

Tabby advertises Pay in 4 as interest-free with no fees. Longer plans of up to 12 monthly payments are also offered on its UAE site, so check the cost shown for the plan you choose.

Are there late fees on Tabby in Saudi Arabia?

Tabby announced it removed late fees on Pay in 4 in Saudi Arabia from 16 December 2023. Missing payments can still stop you buying with Tabby until dues are paid, according to Tabby's help material.

What are Tabby late fees in the UAE?

We could not confirm current amounts from an official Tabby page. Check the terms in the Tabby app or at checkout before you buy.

Is Tabby available in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait?

Tabby's help page says it is active in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Which shops accept it varies, so look for Tabby at checkout. We have not checked the Kuwait fee rules, so read the terms shown to you.

Can I use Tabby in store?

Tabby's UAE site mentions in-store payment with Apple Pay. Not every shop accepts it.

Do I earn card cashback when I pay Tabby instalments?

We could not find an official answer. Your card's own terms decide this, so check them or ask your bank.

How do I contact Tabby in the UAE?

Tabby's help page lists chat in the app, email, +971 4 559 5300 and toll-free 800 822 29, from 9am to 10pm.

Sources

  1. Tabby UAEtabby.ai
  2. Tabby: removes late fees on Pay in 4 in Saudi Arabiatabby.ai
  3. Tabby terms and conditionstabby.ai
  4. Tabby help centretabby.ai
  5. Tabby help: about Tabbytabby.ai
  6. Tabby: how are late fees applied (Tabby Card)tabby.ai

Last checked . Terms change, so check the current terms before you rely on an offer.

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