https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

UPI Goes Global: NPCI Scales Up UPI Adoption in UAE, Strengthens India-UAE Digital Payment Ties

Digital Diplomacy: Indian Travellers Can Now Pay via UPI in UAE at Key Retail Outlets. India’s UPI Deepens Economic Connectivity with UAE
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: In a significant move toward strengthening financial connectivity and digital cooperation, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) — the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) — is expanding the reach of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This strategic initiative is expected to enhance digital payment convenience for millions of Indian travelers and the diaspora, while contributing to the UAE’s broader cashless economy vision.

Pushing Digital Boundaries Across Borders

With over 7 million Indian visitors traveling to the UAE annually, UPI’s cross-border expansion addresses a critical need: enabling seamless and familiar payment options abroad. NIPL is working closely with UAE regulators, acquirers, and sector stakeholders to push UPI adoption in high-frequency verticals like:

  • Retail
  • Hospitality
  • Transportation
  • Entertainment
  • Essential Services

Secure, Real-Time Payments in Indian Rupees

The platform facilitates real-time payments in Indian rupees, with transparent exchange rates and safeguards such as:

  • Transaction limits
  • Two-factor authentication
  • International usage controls as per RBI norms

This ensures that Indian users enjoy secure, compliant, and user-friendly transactions while abroad.

Aligning with the UAE’s Digital Economy Vision

The UAE government is actively pushing for 90% of all transactions to go digital by 2026. NIPL’s ongoing efforts align with this vision by offering a robust and scalable solution for digital payments, especially catering to India’s largest outbound tourist group.

“The experience of the Indian diaspora and travellers to the UAE will never be the same again after the complete integration of UPI with the UAE’s digital payments architecture,” said Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai.

Expanding Merchant Acceptance Across UAE

Over the past few years, NIPL has forged major partnerships in the UAE, including:

  • NeoPay (Mashreq)
  • Network International
  • Magnati

These collaborations have led to the rapid rollout of QR-based UPI acceptance at various merchant outlets. Today, flagship businesses like Dubai Duty Free and Lulu Hypermarket accept UPI payments, allowing Indians to pay directly from their Indian bank accounts via mobile apps.

Ritesh Shukla: UAE Expansion Proves Global Confidence

Commenting on the development, Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NPCI International, stated:

By enabling seamless, secure, and real-time payments, we are empowering businesses and consumers alike. Our efforts support the UAE’s vision of a cashless economy and set new standards for cross-border financial connectivity. We remain committed to deepening our partnerships and driving the next wave of digital transformation.”

UPI’s Global Rise

UPI processes over 18 billion transactions monthly and has become one of the world’s most advanced digital payment infrastructures. The UAE is among a growing list of countries recognizing the scalability, resilience, and innovation of India’s digital payment ecosystem.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
BrahMos-II Missile Deal
India’s Next Big Defence Leap: Russia-Backed BrahMos-II Missile Deal Set for Launch Approval Soon
Special Campaign 5.0
Full Compliance with GFR 2017: Obsolete Assets Cleared, Shastri Bhawan Unlocks Valuable Office Space in Special Campaign 5.0
INS Sutlej
Mapping the Future: INS Sutlej’s 35,000 sq mile Survey Boosts India–Mauritius Maritime Ties
PTC industries
Atmanirbhar Bharat Takes Flight: PTC Industries Powers India’s Aerospace Dreams with Indigenous Turbine Blades
NAKSHA Programme LBSNAA
NAKSHA Urban Land Survey: LBSNAA Trains District Collectors on GIS Platform
HAL Tejas
Historic Leap! HAL Tejas Leads India’s First-Ever Manned-Unmanned Combat Over Arabian Sea
Department-of-Pension-and-Pensioners-Welfare-DoPPW-1
Central Govt Clarifies ₹25 Lakh Gratuity Limit: Applies Only to Central Civil Servants, Not PSUs or Banks
govt_assam_resized
Assam Bureaucratic Reshuffle: 4 IAS Officers Transferred; Dr. John Berchmans Appointed Addl Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
BrahMos-II Missile Deal
India’s Next Big Defence Leap: Russia-Backed BrahMos-II Missile Deal Set for Launch Approval Soon
Special Campaign 5.0
Full Compliance with GFR 2017: Obsolete Assets Cleared, Shastri Bhawan Unlocks Valuable Office Space in Special Campaign 5.0
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT