Key takeaways
- Core features: product and stock management, a cart and payment gateway, order and customer management, discount codes, order-status notifications and technical SEO for product pages.
- Payment providers check that your site is complete (contact details, terms, refund policy) and that you hold a valid trade licence before they activate a gateway.
- The cost is not only the build: budget for gateway fees, SMS, a server that matches your traffic, product photography and data entry.
- A custom store on Shahin Group's e-commerce plan takes 30 to 40 working days, and integrating one payment gateway and one SMS provider is included in the base price.
Which features does an online store need?
- Product pages with photos, price, stock, variants (colour, size) and a full description
- Categories, search and product filters
- A cart, address entry and a choice of shipping method
- An online payment gateway and, if needed, cash on delivery
- Sign-in with an SMS code and a customer account for order tracking
- An admin panel for products, stock, orders, customers and discount codes
- Automatic notifications when an order is placed and shipped
- A sales dashboard and best-seller reports
- Technical SEO for product and category pages, fast loading and a complete mobile experience
Payment gateway and licensing, step by step
- 1Make sure your trade licence covers e-commerce; in Dubai, home-based sellers can use the DET eTrader licence.
- 2Launch the site with complete information: an about page, contact details, terms and conditions and a refund policy.
- 3Apply to a payment provider (for example Network International, Telr or Stripe in the UAE) with your licence and bank details.
- 4Connect the gateway to the store and test a payment and a refund.
- 5Connect an SMS or messaging provider for order notifications.
- 6Register for VAT once your taxable sales pass the mandatory threshold (AED 375,000 a year in the UAE).
Provider requirements and fees change; confirm the documents each provider needs before you apply.
What is the cost of an online store made of?
| Cost item | One-off or recurring | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Store design and development | One-off | Depends on features, page templates and admin complexity |
| Product entry and photography | One-off | Time-consuming for large catalogues; plans include a limited initial entry |
| Server, domain and SSL | Yearly | The first year is included in Shahin Group's plans |
| Payment gateway fees | Per transaction | Set by the payment provider |
| SMS and messaging | By usage | Sender ID and message credit |
| Support, advertising and SEO | Monthly | Needed for steady sales after launch |
Hosted platform or custom store?
Hosted store builders and WooCommerce suit a quick start with a small catalogue, but as orders grow they often slow down and depend on many plugins. A custom store costs more upfront but gives you full control over speed, security, SEO and sales logic (for example wholesale pricing, subscriptions or accounting integration). Our "WordPress vs custom website" guide compares the two in more detail.
Common mistakes when launching a store
- Poor photos and incomplete product descriptions
- Hiding shipping costs until the last step of checkout
- No clear returns policy or customer support channel
- A long checkout with unnecessary form fields
- Launching without an advertising and SEO plan; a store with no visitors makes no sales
Frequently asked questions
What features does an online store need?
Product and stock management, categories and search, a cart and payment gateway, customer accounts, order management, discount codes, order notifications and technical SEO for product pages.
How do I get a payment gateway for my store?
With a trade licence that covers e-commerce and a complete website, you apply to a payment provider; once approved, the gateway is connected to the store and tested.
How long does it take to build an online store?
On Shahin Group's e-commerce plan, 30 to 40 working days; the exact timeline goes into the proposal after the discovery call.
How much does an online store cost?
It depends on features, catalogue size and integrations. The starting price of the e-commerce plan is on the website design page, and the final price is fixed in the contract after discovery.
Are the payment gateway and SMS included in the price?
On Shahin Group's e-commerce plan, integrating one payment gateway and one SMS provider is included; gateway fees and SMS credit are paid by the client.
How many products are entered at launch?
The e-commerce plan includes the initial entry of up to 30 products; you can add the rest yourself from the admin panel.
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