Shipping zones, free thresholds, and pickup points explained
Set governorate and emirate-based rates, free shipping thresholds, and local pickup on your Mrfqy store.
Flat-rate shipping looks simple until you lose money on Aswan orders or surprise customers in Ajman with fees they did not expect. Arab e-commerce needs zone-based shipping — by governorate in Egypt, emirate in UAE, or region in Saudi Arabia — plus clear free-shipping thresholds and optional pickup. Mrfqy ships with these controls built in so your checkout stays honest and profitable.
Building shipping zones that match reality
A shipping zone is a geographic group that shares the same rates and carriers. In Egypt, you might group Greater Cairo, Delta governorates, Upper Egypt, and remote areas separately — each with different Bosta or Aramex pricing. In UAE, split Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Northern Emirates, and remote zones.
Mrfqy's zone editor uses the same governorate and emirate lists your customers select at checkout. There is no mismatch between 'where I live' and 'what shipping costs' — a common bug in generic international platforms adapted poorly for the Arab world.
Start with three to five zones rather than thirty micro-zones. You can refine later when order data shows which regions need special handling.
Rate types: flat, weight, and carrier-calculated
Mrfqy supports flat rates per zone ('50 EGP to Alexandria'), weight-based tiers ('+10 EGP per extra kg'), and live carrier-calculated rates when APIs are connected. Flat rates are fastest to launch; carrier-calculated rates are most accurate for variable parcel sizes.
Combine a base flat rate with a weight surcharge for fashion and home goods stores where order weight varies widely. Electronics stores with predictable SKUs often do fine with flat zone pricing.
Always include VAT or exclude it consistently in displayed shipping — UAE and Saudi stores especially need clarity on whether shipping is VAT-inclusive.