Stripe requirements for sitters in the UAE
If you offer pet sitting in the United Arab Emirates, Stripe onboarding works a little differently from other countries. This article explains the main differences, so you know what to expect before you start. For the general steps, see Stripe onboarding.
You need a registered business
In the UAE, Stripe does not offer the "Individual" option. Payouts can only go to a registered business, such as:
- Sole establishment
- Free zone establishment
- LLC
- Free zone LLC
When you apply to become a sitter in the UAE, you will have to confirm that you hold, or will obtain before going live, any licence or permit needed to offer commercial services in the UAE. Stripe will ask you for this during onboarding.
At the moment, there is no alternative onboarding or payout method for individual sitters in the UAE.
What Stripe will ask for
The exact fields depend on your type of business, but in general Stripe asks for:
- Business details: your business name, address, phone number and registration number
- Business documents: your trade licence and a proof of bank account. LLCs also need to provide their Memorandum of Association
- Personal details and ID: for the person setting up the account and, depending on your business, its owners and executives. This usually means a passport, plus an Emirates ID for UAE nationals and residents, and a residence visa for foreign residents
- Business profile: your website and a short description of your services. Use your Petme sitter profile link, as explained in Stripe onboarding
- Bank details: the business bank account where you'll receive your payouts
The person who sets up the Stripe account must be authorised to act on behalf of the business. For a sole establishment or free zone establishment, this is the owner.
Before you can get paid
You must set up your Stripe account before you receive your first booking. If your Stripe account is not set up, the money from your bookings cannot be paid into your Stripe account, and we might not be able to add it later. In that case, we will have to pay you by bank transfer, which can come with extra fees, so you would receive less money.
Stripe must verify your documents before you can receive payouts, so make sure everything you upload is complete, valid and easy to read.
Keep your trade licence and ID documents up to date in Stripe. When one of them expires, Stripe will ask you for a new version, and your payouts can be paused until you provide it.
Need help?
What Stripe asks for depends on Stripe and on UAE regulations, and Petme can't change these requirements. We're also not able to give legal, tax or licensing advice. If you're not sure which licence or business structure is right for you, please contact the relevant UAE authorities or a local professional. For questions about your Stripe account or the documents Stripe asks for, contact Stripe support.
For any other questions about Petme, contact Petme support.