Provider details checked 1 October 2026.
What is KNET, and why do Kuwaiti shoppers expect KNET payment?
KNET is Kuwait’s national debit card scheme, and for many Kuwaiti shoppers it is the first payment method they look for at checkout. A WooCommerce store that only accepts international credit cards will lose customers who prefer to pay with their KNET debit card. Accepting KNET on WooCommerce means connecting your store either directly to KNET through your bank, or through a payment gateway that includes KNET as a method. Both routes use a hosted payment page, so the shopper pays on a secure page and returns to your store.
In practice, the shopper chooses KNET at checkout, is sent to a secure KNET page to enter their card details, and is returned to your store with the result, which your site must confirm before it marks the order as paid. This guide is based on each provider’s own documentation and on the integration checks I run on WooCommerce stores.
Your options for KNET payment: direct or through a gateway
| Route | What it involves | Good when |
|---|---|---|
| Direct KNET integration through your bank | You register with KNET through your bank and receive your own credentials. A plugin such as Meetanshi’s WooCommerce KNET Payments describes using the official KNET API and the CBK KNET API, and asks for your KNET terminal details | You only sell in Kuwait and want KNET without a third-party gateway |
| A gateway that includes KNET | One account and one plugin, with KNET alongside cards and other methods | You sell in several Gulf countries, or want cards and Apple Pay on the same integration |
Gateways that document or list KNET for WooCommerce include:
- PayTabs. Its WooCommerce article lists “Knet – KN Pay” for Kuwait. The plugin is a vendor download.
- Tap Payments. Its WooCommerce page documents KNET, with cards enabled by default. The plugin comes from Tap’s GitHub repository.
- Payzah. Its WordPress.org plugin is built for KNET and credit cards in Kuwait (plugin v1.8.15, updated 25 February 2026, 40+ active installs).
- MyFatoorah. Its WordPress.org plugin (v2.2.11, updated 17 February 2026, 2,000+ active installs) appears in searches for KNET. Confirm the methods available to your account.
- FaltaPay. Its listing says it accepts mada, KNET, Benefit, STC Pay, Apple Pay and cards, through HyperPay or Tap Payments.
Methods and fees depend on your merchant account, so confirm KNET is enabled on yours before you build. For the wider picture, see my guide to WooCommerce payment gateways for the Gulf.
What you need before you start
- A registered business in Kuwait and the documents your bank or gateway asks for. Requirements differ by provider, so ask them for the list.
- A merchant account with KNET enabled, and the credentials your route gives you. For a direct integration, that includes your KNET terminal details. For Tap, the keys come from your Tap dashboard.
- A WooCommerce store with a valid SSL certificate. The direct-integration plugin above states an SSL certificate is required, and any gateway redirect needs one.
- A staging copy of the site to test on.
Setting up KNET payment in WooCommerce
- Set the currency to Kuwaiti dinar (KWD). In WooCommerce settings, choose the currency, then set the number of decimals to three. KWD uses three decimal places, and prices that round differently in WooCommerce and the gateway will cause failed or mismatched payments.
- Install the plugin for your route. Install from WordPress.org where the plugin is listed there. For vendor downloads such as Tap’s, upload the ZIP through Plugins, then Add New, then Upload Plugin.
- Add your credentials. Enter the keys or terminal details your provider gave you. Tap’s page tells merchants to copy the secret and publishable keys for both sandbox and production from the dashboard.
- Choose the return page. Pick the page shoppers land on after payment. Make that page show the real order status, not an assumption.
- Check the callback. Your server has to receive the gateway’s confirmation. Make sure your firewall, CDN or security plugin does not block it.
- Match order statuses. Decide what status an order has when payment succeeds, fails, is cancelled or times out, and test each.
- Turn on test mode and run the tests below before you switch to live.
Testing and going live
Run each of these in the provider’s test mode:
- A successful KNET payment, and confirm the order is marked paid and the email is sent.
- A failed payment and a cancelled payment, and confirm stock and order status.
- A shopper who closes the payment page or loses connection, and confirm the order does not stay “paid” by mistake.
- A refund, if your route supports refunds from WooCommerce.
Then go live with a small real order, check it end to end, and keep logging on for the first few days.
Arabic checkout and speed
Many Kuwaiti stores serve Arabic and English. Check the checkout, error messages, emails and the gateway’s payment page in Arabic and in right-to-left layout. I cover this in my Arabic RTL WooCommerce checklist. Payment plugins can also add heavy scripts, so test checkout speed on a phone. See my WordPress performance optimization service.
Frequently asked questions
Can WooCommerce accept KNET payments?
Yes. You can connect to KNET directly through your bank with a KNET plugin, or use a gateway that includes KNET, such as PayTabs, Tap or Payzah.
Do I need a bank account in Kuwait?
A KNET direct integration goes through your bank and a gateway usually needs a merchant account, and the exact requirements depend on the provider. Ask the provider for the documents list first.
Why do my KNET payment totals look wrong?
Kuwaiti dinar uses three decimal places. Set WooCommerce to three decimals and check that the plugin and the gateway round the same way.
Can I accept both KNET and cards?
Yes. Most gateways in this guide accept KNET and international cards through the same integration.
How do I test a KNET payment before going live?
Use the provider’s test or sandbox mode, and run success, failure, cancellation and timeout cases before accepting real payments.
Need help with a Kuwait WooCommerce store?
See my page for a WordPress developer in Kuwait and my WooCommerce developer service, or tell me about your project.
