The front store of a pharmacy in Dubai or Lahore sells much the same things as one in Houston: OTC medicines, vitamins, skin care, baby care and gifts. What changes is everything around the sale — tax display, currency, language, payment habits and the regulator. This guide covers what a POS has to get right in the UAE and Pakistan, the two non-US markets the GetPharmacyPOS family serves.
The UAE: VAT-inclusive, bilingual, card-and-wallet
Prices include VAT
In the UAE, the price a consumer sees should include VAT. The standard rate was 5% at the time of writing (check the Federal Tax Authority for current guidance). Set products up with VAT-inclusive prices, and make sure the receipt shows the VAT amount and your tax registration number.
Arabic and English on one receipt
Most UAE pharmacies serve Arabic and English speakers, and many serve Urdu, Hindi and Tagalog speakers too. A receipt layout that prints Arabic and English together is the norm. Arabic must be laid out right to left properly — numbers, totals and alignment included.
Payments
Cards on the processor’s terminal, Apple Pay through that terminal, and cash. Gift cards and loyalty points work as payment methods inside the POS.
Regulators
Pharmacies are licensed by the Dubai Health Authority in Dubai, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi and the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the other emirates. Online sale of medicines and some OTC categories is regulated; check before listing them in an online store.
Working week
The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Plan supplier deliveries, staff rotas and support hours around it.
Pakistan: PKR, sales tax, Urdu and mobile wallets
Prices plus applicable sales tax
Retail prices are commonly shown plus applicable sales tax, and the rules differ by product and by province. Set tax rates and groups per product and let the POS total them correctly. Some retailers are required to integrate their POS with the tax authority’s system; GetPharmacyPOS does not include that integration, so check whether it applies to you.
Urdu receipts in Nastaliq
Urdu is right to left and is traditionally written in the Nastaliq style. A receipt or screen that renders Urdu in a generic Arabic font is readable but looks wrong to customers. Use a Nastaliq-capable font where the printer supports it, and keep English alongside for product names.
Payments
Cash remains common. Cards run through the processor’s terminal; JazzCash and Easypaisa mobile wallets and bank transfers are widely used and can be recorded as payment methods.
Regulators
Medicines are regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and provincial drug rules. Expiry tracking and correct labelling of medicines matter for inspections; see our OTC expiry routine.
Working week
Sunday is the weekly holiday, with a Friday prayer break in the early afternoon.
WhatsApp: the channel that matters in both
In both markets, customers message the pharmacy on WhatsApp to check stock, ask for prices and arrange delivery. A front store that publishes its catalogue online (an auto-generated store from the POS) can answer those messages with a link instead of a photo of a shelf. Never discuss prescriptions or health details over a channel your rules do not allow.
A UAE and Pakistan checklist for any POS
| Need | UAE | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | AED | PKR |
| Price display | VAT included | Plus applicable sales tax |
| Receipt language | Arabic + English | Urdu + English |
| Right-to-left layout | Required | Required (Nastaliq preferred) |
| Payments | Cards, Apple Pay, cash | Cash, cards, JazzCash, Easypaisa, bank transfer |
| Weekend | Saturday–Sunday | Sunday |
GetPharmacyPOS handles currency, tax display, receipt languages and right-to-left layouts today on the front store. See Countries and Languages, or read this page’s sister guide on front-store retail.