Shahbandr, Saudi Arabia’s integrated e-commerce platform, has formed a strategic alliance with fintech provider Tamara to deliver buy-now-pay-later services across its merchant network. The collaboration will extend flexible payment solutions to more than 18,000 online retailers using Shahbandr’s platform.
The partnership represents a significant expansion of payment options for merchants operating within Shahbandr’s software-as-a-service framework. Through this arrangement, Tamara’s installment payment technology will become available to all stores hosted on the platform, potentially increasing transaction completion rates and customer satisfaction.
Direct Fee Collection Model
Under the new agreement, Shahbandr will receive its service charges directly from Tamara rather than through traditional merchant collection methods. This approach aims to streamline financial operations and accelerate revenue recognition for the platform provider.
“Tamara is a trusted partner, highly regarded by customers in the Kingdom. Integrating its solutions into our platform will boost store sales and greatly simplify financial processes” ~ Shady Abdelshaheed, Co-Founder and CEO of Shahbandr.
Enhanced Merchant Capabilities
The integration provides Shahbandr merchants with access to AI-powered analytics tools alongside flexible payment processing capabilities. Merchants can now offer customers multiple installment options without requiring additional technical implementations or separate vendor relationships.
Mansour Al-Obaid, Partner and Development Advisor at Shahbandr emphasized the strategic nature of the collaboration “Our partnership with Tamara is another step toward realizing our vision of building a comprehensive and intelligent e-commerce ecosystem“
Market Positioning and Operations
Shahbandr operates as a comprehensive e-commerce solution provider, helping retailers and entrepreneurs establish personalized online stores and marketplaces. The company was established by Shady Abdelshaheed, who serves as CEO, and Tamer Sharkas, the Chief Technology Officer.
Tamara brings established fintech credentials to the partnership, currently serving customers across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. The company provides buy-now-pay-later services alongside broader financial technology solutions for both regional and international brands.
Integration Benefits
The partnership delivers multiple advantages for participating merchants. Enhanced conversion rates result from expanded payment flexibility, while operational complexity decreases through consolidated payment processing. Store owners gain access to advanced analytics tools without additional software investments.
For customers, the integration means access to familiar payment options across a broader range of online retailers. The standardized approach to installment payments may encourage higher transaction values and increased purchase frequency.