Starting a Shopify store in Egypt: the 2026 guide.
I build Shopify stores for brands in Egypt and abroad. This is the guide I’d give a friend: what it really costs, which payment gateways work, how cash on delivery works, and how to launch without surprises.
Pick the platform for where you’re going.
| Platform | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Brands that want room to grow: custom design, a huge app ecosystem, selling in Egypt and abroad, Shopify Plus later. | Monthly plan in USD. Shopify Payments isn’t available in Egypt, so online payments go through a local gateway plus a Shopify fee (below). |
| EasyOrders, ExpandCart | Quick, Arabic-first stores for selling inside Egypt. | Check how far the design, apps and international selling go before you commit. |
| Salla, Zid | Arabic-first stores built mainly around Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. | Mostly designed for Gulf markets. |
| WooCommerce | Full control on WordPress with no platform fee. | You handle hosting, security, updates and plugins yourself. |
My view: if you’re selling seriously, planning to grow, or selling outside Egypt, Shopify is usually the better long-term choice. If you’re testing a small idea for Egypt only, a local platform can be a cheaper start.
The monthly bill, line by line.
$39 / $105 / $399 a month
Basic, Grow and Advanced billed monthly. Billed yearly it’s $29, $79 and $299 a month. Prices are in USD; check shopify.com/pricing for today’s offer.
2% · 1% · 0.6%
Shopify Payments isn’t available in Egypt, so you’ll use a local gateway, and Shopify adds this fee on those payments (Basic, Grow, Advanced). Cash on delivery pays no Shopify fee.
From the gateway, per payment
Each gateway charges its own fee. Paymob, for example, publishes 2.75% + EGP 3 per transaction with no monthly fee.
Depends on your store
Most stores pay for a few apps each month. Paid themes are a one-time cost, and your domain is renewed yearly.
Estimate your monthly running cost.
Change any number. The gateway fee defaults to Paymob’s published rate; replace it with your gateway’s. Courier and cash-collection fees for cash on delivery aren’t included.
Payment gateways that work with Shopify in Egypt.
Paymob
Cards and wallets, with a Shopify integration. Published rate: 2.75% + EGP 3 per transaction, no monthly fee.
Kashier
Official Shopify app (launched November 2025) for cards, wallets and ValU. It has very few reviews so far, so test it on a staging store before launch.
Fawry
Lets customers pay at Fawry outlets or online. It connects to Shopify through third-party apps such as CartDNA’s.
Cash on delivery
Built into Shopify as a manual payment method, with no Shopify transaction fee. Most Egyptian stores keep it on.
If your company is registered in the UAE, Shopify Payments is available there. Otherwise, choose one card gateway with a proper Shopify integration, add Fawry if your customers pay cash at outlets, and keep cash on delivery.
Keep COD, cut the fake orders.
- Turn it on in Settings → Payments → Manual payment methods.
- Confirm every order by WhatsApp or SMS before it ships. It’s the simplest way to cut refused deliveries.
- Use Shopify Flow to tag risky orders, such as first-time buyers with large baskets, for a manual check.
- Let your courier collect the cash and transfer it to you.
Couriers with Shopify apps.
Bosta and Mylerz both have Shopify apps that sync your orders and create shipments from inside Shopify, and Bosta advertises next-day transfers of your cash-on-delivery money. Other couriers connect through apps or their APIs.
Arabic and right-to-left, done properly.
- Add Arabic as a store language and use a theme that supports right-to-left.
- Translate the checkout, emails and SMS notifications, not just the pages.
- Check mixed text like prices, sizes, SKUs and phone numbers, which often flip the wrong way.
- Test on real phones. Most Egyptian shoppers buy on mobile.
Before you open the doors.
- Payments tested with real small orders, card and COD.
- Shipping zones, rates and courier app connected.
- Policies published: shipping, returns, privacy, terms.
- Domain connected, with Google Search Console and analytics set up.
- Speed checked on mobile.
- A test order followed from checkout to delivery.
I build Shopify stores for Egypt and beyond.
My Shopify Store Launch package covers everything in this guide: theme, pages, Egyptian payments and cash on delivery, shipping, Arabic and English, and launch. It usually takes 90–110 hours, about 14 days, for $1,080–$1,320.
Shopify in Egypt: quick answers.
Can I use Shopify in Egypt?
Yes. You can run a Shopify store from Egypt, sell in EGP, and take payments through local gateways and cash on delivery. Shopify Payments itself isn’t available in Egypt, so card payments go through a gateway such as Paymob or Kashier.
How much does a Shopify store cost per month in Egypt?
The Basic plan is $39/month, or $29/month billed yearly, plus any paid apps and your domain. On online card payments you pay the gateway’s fee (Paymob publishes 2.75% + EGP 3) and Shopify’s third-party fee of 2% on Basic. Cash on delivery orders pay neither.
Does Shopify charge a fee on cash on delivery orders?
No. Shopify doesn’t charge its third-party transaction fee on manual payment methods, which include cash on delivery.
Which payment gateway should I use for Shopify in Egypt?
Use one card gateway with a proper Shopify integration, such as Paymob or Kashier. Add Fawry if many of your customers pay cash at outlets, and keep cash on delivery on.
Can my Shopify store be in Arabic?
Yes. Shopify supports Arabic storefronts with right-to-left layouts. You can run Arabic only, or Arabic and English together.
How long does it take to build a Shopify store?
The stores I build usually take 90–110 hours, about 14 days. A fully custom build takes up to 150 hours.