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.
