Tabby & Tamara for Saudi Hotels: More Direct Bookings

Tabby & Tamara for Saudi Hotels: More Direct Bookings

Pay in 4 for Your Hotel Rooms: How Saudi Hotels Use Tabby and Tamara to Win Direct Bookings Back from OTAs

Saudi guests have changed how they pay. They split furniture, phones, flights and school fees into instalments with Tabby and Tamara, and they now expect the same option when they book a family holiday in Abha, a Riyadh Season weekend or a long stay in a furnished apartment. When your hotel website cannot offer "pay in 4", many of those guests do not change their payment method. They change where they book, and the reservation goes to an online travel agency that keeps a commission on every night.

This guide explains how buy now, pay later for hotel bookings in Saudi Arabia works, why the hotel is still paid upfront, how Tabby and Tamara help independent hotels and furnished-apartment operators win direct bookings back from OTAs, and what to look for in a hotel PMS so every instalment payment lands on the guest folio automatically.

Quick answer: Saudi hotels can offer Tabby and Tamara instalments on their own payment links and booking websites. The guest splits the stay into smaller payments, usually 4 interest-free instalments, while the provider approves the guest and pays the hotel through its own merchant account. With a connected PMS such as Fandaqah, the payment is captured and recorded on the reservation automatically, so the hotel gets a direct booking without paying an OTA commission.

Why Buy Now, Pay Later Matters for Hotels in Saudi Arabia

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) has become one of the fastest-growing payment habits in the Kingdom. The two leading providers are both regulated by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and are growing quickly:

  • Tabby received its Saudi BNPL licence in 2025 and, in June 2026, secured consumer and SME finance licences from SAMA, allowing Saudi customers to finance larger purchases of up to SAR 50,000 in up to 12 monthly payments, alongside its standard split into 3 or 4 interest-free payments.
  • Tabby's Saudi revenue grew 33% to SAR 427 million in Q1 2026, according to its preliminary financial statements.
  • Tamara, founded in Saudi Arabia in 2020, reported a Q1 2026 net profit of SAR 123.4 million, up 378% on the same quarter of 2025.
  • Travel sites across the region already offer Tabby and Tamara for flights and hotels, so Saudi travellers are used to seeing these buttons at checkout.

For hotels, the logic is simple. A three-night family stay during a school holiday can cost as much as a new phone. When the guest sees four smaller payments instead of one large one, the decision becomes easier, and the booking happens sooner.

The hidden cost: OTA commission on every night

Online travel agencies bring visibility, but they charge commission on each booking, commonly in the range of 15% to 25% depending on the contract and the promotion programmes the hotel joins. On top of the commission, the OTA often owns the guest relationship: the email address, the loyalty and the next booking. Every guest who books direct instead is a guest you keep.

Note: BNPL does not replace OTAs. They remain an important source of new guests. The goal is to make your own direct channels, such as your website, WhatsApp, phone and returning guests, as easy to pay through as any OTA, so guests who already know you have no reason to book elsewhere.

How Tabby and Tamara Work for Hotel Bookings

From the guest's point of view, paying with Tabby or Tamara takes less than a minute. From the hotel's point of view, it should require no extra work at all. Here is how the flow works inside Fandaqah PMS:

  • Step 1, the link or the booking: staff send a payment link from the reservation by SMS, WhatsApp or email, or the guest books on the hotel's website.
  • Step 2, the choice: under the card fields, the guest taps "Tabby, split in instalments" or "Tamara, split in instalments".
  • Step 3, the provider checkout: the guest completes the instalment plan on Tabby's or Tamara's own secure checkout, in Arabic or English.
  • Step 4, approval: the provider approves or declines the purchase based on its own checks and limits.
  • Step 5, back to the hotel page: the guest returns to the same payment link and sees a clear success or failure message.
  • Step 6, capture and record: Fandaqah confirms the order with the provider, captures the payment automatically and adds a "Billed Online" receipt to the folio. The reservation is confirmed, and the guest receives an SMS and email receipt.

Does the hotel get paid upfront with Tabby and Tamara?

Yes. The guest pays the provider in instalments; the hotel is paid by the provider through its own Tabby or Tamara merchant account, according to the settlement terms the hotel agreed with that provider. The credit decision and the collection risk sit with the BNPL provider, not with the hotel. In Fandaqah, payments settle directly into the hotel's own provider account, not through a third-party wallet.

Tip: use instalments for deposits, not only full stays

In Fandaqah, the instalment checkout is created for the exact amount on the payment link. That can be a deposit, a part payment or the full stay. Requesting a deposit through Tabby or Tamara secures the booking early, which is especially useful for long stays, peak-season weekends and event dates when no-shows are expensive.

A Worked Example: What One Direct Booking Is Worth

Consider a family booking three nights at a hotel in Jeddah during the summer holiday at SAR 800 per night, a total of SAR 2,400.

Scenario What the guest pays What it means for the hotel
Booked through an OTA at 18% commissionSAR 2,400About SAR 432 goes to the OTA, and the guest relationship stays with the OTA
Booked direct with Tabby or Tamara4 payments of SAR 600Hotel pays only the merchant fee it agreed with the provider, keeps the guest's details and owns the next booking

Your own numbers depend on your OTA contracts and the fee terms you negotiate with each provider. Fandaqah's Online Payments register shows total fees, VAT on fees and the net amount for every Tabby and Tamara payment, so you can compare the real cost of each channel with your own data rather than with estimates.

Features and Benefits of Tabby and Tamara in Fandaqah PMS

Offering a BNPL button is easy. Making sure every instalment payment is confirmed, captured, recorded, reconciled and reported without staff effort is the hard part. Fandaqah PMS connects directly to both providers through its own secure payment service:

  • Side by side with card payments: Tabby and Tamara buttons appear under the card fields, whether the hotel's card gateway is HyperPay (Mada, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay) or Alinma Pay. Both providers can be connected at once.
  • Three places to sell: the guest payment page, the hotel's own booking website and partner booking channels.
  • Your own merchant account: the hotel enters its own Tabby merchant code and secret key or Tamara API token, and money settles directly to the hotel.
  • Automatic capture: staff never have to log in to a provider portal and press "Capture". Tamara orders are approved, authorised and captured in one step, and Tabby orders are captured as soon as they are authorized.
  • Receipt on the folio: each payment becomes a "Billed Online" deposit receipt with the provider's order reference, and pending promissory notes are marked fulfilled.
  • Reservation confirmed automatically: an unnumbered reservation receives its number when the payment is recorded, and the change is reported onward like any other reservation update.
  • Never recorded twice: the browser return and the provider's webhook often arrive in the same second; Fandaqah makes sure only one receipt is created.
  • Late approvals handled: if approval is still pending when the guest returns, the provider's webhook completes the payment later without staff action.
  • Clear decline messages: when Tabby declines, the guest sees whether the amount is above the limit, below the minimum or not approved, with a suggestion to pay another way; Tamara shows its own reason.
  • Finance-ready reporting: Tabby and Tamara appear in the Online Payments register with fees, VAT on fees and net amounts, are exportable to Excel and are counted as their own methods in the Night Audit payment reconciliation.
  • Secure by design: credentials are stored encrypted, webhooks are authenticated and every payment step is logged.
  • Bilingual and mobile first: the payment page, its messages and the provider checkout open in Arabic or English on the phone screens where guests open SMS and WhatsApp links.
"Guests can spread the cost of a stay, yet the hotel is paid upfront into its own merchant account. Capture and folio entry happen automatically, so the books match the provider without anyone touching its portal."

Practical Use Cases: Pay in 4 Across Saudi Arabia

Summer family stays in Abha and Taif

Families travelling to the cooler southern and western mountains often book several rooms or a large suite for a week. That is a significant sum in the middle of the summer holiday. A payment link with Tabby and Tamara lets the family secure the booking now and spread the cost, instead of waiting or searching for a cheaper option on an OTA.

Riyadh Season and event weekends

During concerts, sports events and season festivities, rates rise and demand is high. Hotels can send instalment-ready payment links to guests who enquire through WhatsApp or Instagram, turning a conversation into a confirmed, paid reservation within minutes.

Monthly stays in furnished apartments

Operators in Khobar, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah host project workers, relocating families and students for weeks or months. Offering the first month's deposit through Tabby or Tamara removes a common objection, while the operator receives the money upfront and the receipt appears on the folio automatically.

Ramadan, Eid and Umrah trips

Extended families travelling to Makkah and Madinah or visiting relatives during Eid book larger units and longer stays. Instalments make those bookings easier to commit to early, which helps the hotel plan occupancy and staffing in advance.

Returning guests and loyal corporate travellers

Guests who stayed with you before should never need an OTA to book again. A personalised payment link sent from the reservation, with card, Apple Pay, Tabby and Tamara on one page, is often faster than any booking app.

Comparison: OTA Booking vs Direct Booking With and Without BNPL

Criteria OTA booking Direct, card only Direct with Tabby and Tamara (Fandaqah)
Cost to the hotelCommission, often 15% to 25%Card processing feeAgreed provider fee, shown with VAT and net amount
Instalments for the guestDepends on the OTANoYes, Tabby and Tamara
Guest relationshipOwned by the OTAOwned by the hotelOwned by the hotel
Booking confirmationVia channel managerAutomatic on paymentAutomatic on payment
Folio and accountingReconciled with OTA statementsReceipt on folioReceipt on folio, Night Audit and Online Payments register
Conversion for high-value staysHighLowerHigher, payment is easier to commit to

Alert: know where refunds are handled. With Tabby and Tamara, approval, settlement, refunds and disputes are between the hotel and the provider. Refunds are processed in the provider's merchant portal, not in the PMS. Agree your cancellation and refund policy before you go live, show it clearly on the payment page and train staff on the provider portal so a refund request never stalls.

How to Add Tabby and Tamara to Your Hotel: A Quick Setup Checklist

  • Open your merchant accounts with Tabby and Tamara and agree your fee and settlement terms.
  • Ask Fandaqah to enable the providers for your hotel. Until then, the Connect button asks you to contact the administration.
  • Connect in Settings, Integrations: enter your Tabby merchant code and secret key or Tamara API token, accept the disclaimer and save. The webhook is registered automatically.
  • Enter your fee terms so the Online Payments register calculates fees, VAT on fees and net amounts correctly.
  • Test the flow with a small payment link, then promote "Pay in 4" on your website, WhatsApp replies and social media.

Tip: tell guests before they reach checkout

Guests who do not know you accept instalments will still book through an OTA. Mention "Pay in 4 with Tabby or Tamara" next to your rates, on room pages, in WhatsApp quick replies and in your Google Business profile. The best conversion lift happens when the option is visible before the guest starts comparing prices.

Future Trends: Digital Payments, Direct Bookings and Saudi Vision 2030

Under Saudi Vision 2030, two trends are meeting: a fast-growing tourism sector and a fast-maturing fintech sector. The Ministry of Tourism reported about 123 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2025, roughly 6% more than the year before, and more than 6,120 licensed accommodation facilities with around 616,000 rooms in Q1 2026. At the same time, the Kingdom has pushed hard toward a cashless economy, and BNPL is now part of everyday spending.

  • Larger, longer instalment plans: new SAMA licences allow providers to finance higher-value purchases over longer periods, which suits long stays, family trips and event packages.
  • More competition for every booking: as room supply grows, independent hotels need lower acquisition costs and stronger direct relationships to protect margins.
  • Conversational booking: guests increasingly book through WhatsApp and social media, where a payment link with instalments closes the sale instantly.
  • Connected data: every payment that lands on the folio also feeds accounting, Night Audit and government reporting, so digital payments and compliance grow together.
  • Regulated growth: BNPL in Saudi Arabia operates under SAMA supervision, which builds trust with guests and hotels alike.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tabby and Tamara for Hotels

Can I book a hotel with Tabby or Tamara in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, at hotels that accept them. Guests choose Tabby or Tamara at checkout or on the hotel's payment link, complete the instalment plan on the provider's secure page, and the booking is confirmed once the provider approves the payment.

Does the hotel get paid upfront when a guest uses Tabby or Tamara?

Yes. The guest repays the provider in instalments, while the provider pays the hotel through its merchant account according to the hotel's agreed settlement terms. The provider carries the repayment risk.

How do I add Tabby and Tamara to my hotel website?

Open merchant accounts with both providers, then connect them in a PMS that supports them. In Fandaqah, you enter your credentials under Settings, Integrations, and the buttons appear on your payment links, your booking website and partner channels once the provider is enabled for your hotel.

Can guests pay a deposit with Tabby or Tamara instead of the full stay?

Yes. In Fandaqah, the instalment checkout is created for the amount on the payment link, which can be a deposit, a partial payment or the full stay. Only that amount is approved and recorded.

How do Saudi hotels reduce OTA commission?

By making direct booking as easy as booking through an OTA: a fast mobile payment page, Mada and Apple Pay, instalments with Tabby and Tamara, WhatsApp payment links and automatic confirmation. Returning guests in particular should always be invited to book direct.

What happens if Tabby or Tamara declines a guest?

Nothing is recorded and the guest returns to the payment page with a clear message. They can try again, choose the other provider or pay by card, Mada or Apple Pay on the same page.

Which hotel PMS in Saudi Arabia supports Tabby and Tamara integration?

Fandaqah PMS connects directly to both Tabby and Tamara through its own payment service, alongside HyperPay or Alinma Pay, with automatic capture, folio receipts, Night Audit reconciliation and Online Payments reporting.

Conclusion: Make Your Own Channel the Easiest Way to Book

Saudi guests already split large purchases with Tabby and Tamara, and BNPL in the Kingdom is growing fast under SAMA supervision. Hotels that offer "pay in 4" on their own payment links and websites remove a key reason guests turn to OTAs, keep more of every booking and own the guest relationship.

The difference between a button and a real result is what happens after the guest pays. With Fandaqah, every instalment payment is confirmed with the provider, captured automatically, recorded on the folio, reported in Online Payments and reconciled in Night Audit, while the hotel is paid upfront into its own merchant account. That is how direct bookings grow without adding work for your team.

Start Taking "Pay in 4" Direct Bookings This Season

Fandaqah PMS brings Tabby, Tamara, Mada, Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay together on one bilingual payment page, with every payment recorded on the folio automatically. Book a free demo and see a live instalment payment land on a reservation in minutes.

Book your free demo at Fandaqah.com

Tags

  • Tabby and Tamara for hotels
  • Buy now pay later Saudi Arabia
  • Pay in 4 hotel booking
  • Hotel direct bookings
  • OTA commission
  • Hotel payment link
  • Mada and Apple Pay
  • Hotel PMS Saudi Arabia
  • Furnished apartments
  • Saudi Vision 2030
  • Fandaqah
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