Is There In-App Payment on WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia? Practical Alternatives in 2027
WhatsApp Pay works in India, Brazil and a few markets, not Saudi Arabia or the Gulf as of September 2026. Alternatives: mada links, Apple Pay, BNPL, COD.
No. As of September 2026, in-app payment on WhatsApp (WhatsApp Pay) is not available in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf; it is offered in limited markets such as India and Brazil, and Meta documents business payment APIs for India, Brazil and Mexico. The practical alternative is a payment link from a Saudi gateway that accepts mada and Apple Pay, a Tabby or Tamara installment link, or cash on delivery with order confirmation, all handled inside the chat.
01Where is in-app payment on WhatsApp available?
| Market | What is available | Status as of September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| India | Person-to-person transfers and business payments via UPI | Available |
| Brazil | Payments for individuals and businesses, plus business APIs including Pix and payment links | Available |
| Mexico | A business payment API documented by Meta | Available to businesses per the documentation |
| Singapore | Business payments via approved payment partners, according to providers | Limited |
| Saudi Arabia and the Gulf | No in-app payment on WhatsApp | Not available, no announced date |
Sources: Meta's developer documentation index for payment APIs (India, Brazil and Mexico), and the Infobip and YCloud blogs on WhatsApp payments, 2025 and 2026. We found no Meta announcement of payments launching in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf as of 30 September 2026.
If you receive a message offering to "activate WhatsApp Pay" in Saudi Arabia, or asking for your card details inside a chat in WhatsApp's name, it is most likely a scam.
02Alternative 1: a payment link from a Saudi gateway
The easiest route today: create a payment link or invoice for the correct amount from a licensed payment gateway and send it in the chat. The customer opens the payment page, pays with mada, Apple Pay or card depending on the methods enabled on your account, and returns to the chat.
- Manually: a staff member creates the link from the gateway dashboard and pastes it. Suitable for a small number of orders.
- Automatically: the gateway creates the link via API and sends a notification when payment succeeds, so the customer gets an automatic confirmation.
- No code: tools such as Make or n8n connect the gateway to your chats.
Ask the Modeer 360 team about connecting the payment gateway you use, and about sending the payment link from inside the chat.
03Alternative 2: installments with Tabby and Tamara
For mid- and high-priced products, a "buy now, pay later" option increases uptake because the customer sees the first installment, not the full amount. You create the payment link from your Tabby or Tamara merchant dashboard, and the customer receives it by message or you send it in the chat.
04Alternative 3: cash on delivery with confirmation
Many customers still prefer cash on delivery, and the problem is refused shipments. The answer is not to remove the option but to confirm the order on WhatsApp before shipping and offer prepayment with a small perk. Calculate how much confirmation saves you:
05The in-chat payment journey, step by step
- The customer asks: the AI agent answers about the product, price and delivery in a single message.
- Order confirmation: product, quantity, address and total amount including shipping.
- Choosing a payment method: payment link, installments or cash on delivery, as buttons.
- Sending the link: for the correct amount with a clear expiry time.
- Payment confirmation: a confirmation message with the order number as soon as payment succeeds.
- A gentle reminder: if the link is not paid within a few hours, one message only.
| Method | Collection speed | Merchant fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment link (mada, Apple Pay, cards) | Instant | Gateway fees as agreed | Most orders |
| Tabby and Tamara installments | The merchant receives the money within days, depending on the provider | Usually higher, as agreed | Mid- and high-priced goods |
| Cash on delivery | After delivery | The carrier's collection fees | New and hesitant customers |
| Bank transfer | Depends on the customer | No gateway fees | Large orders and businesses |
06Ready-made templates for in-chat payment
In Modeer 360 the AI agent closes the order and asks about the payment method, the staff member sees the full order in the customer profile, and confirmations go out as approved utility templates.
Key takeaways
- In-app payment on WhatsApp is not available in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf as of September 2026.
- It is officially available in markets such as India, Brazil and Mexico.
- The alternative: a payment link with mada and Apple Pay, installments, or cash on delivery with confirmation.
- The whole sale happens in the chat; only the payment happens on the gateway page.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsApp Pay available in Saudi Arabia?
No. As of September 2026, in-app payment on WhatsApp is not available in Saudi Arabia, and Meta has not announced a launch date.
How do I receive a payment from a customer on WhatsApp?
Send them a payment link for the correct amount from a licensed payment gateway, or an installment link from Tabby or Tamara, then send the payment confirmation in the same chat.
Can I ask for card details in the chat?
Do not. Card details are entered only on the gateway's secure payment page, never typed into the chat.
Does Modeer 360 send the payment link automatically?
Ask the Modeer 360 team about connecting the payment gateway you use, or use a webhook and tools such as Make to create the link and the confirmation.
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