NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the overseas arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is expanding UPI acceptance across the UAE. The move aims to make payments simpler for Indian tourists and the large Indian diaspora.
NIPL is working with UAE regulators, acquirers, and partners to enable UPI in sectors such as retail, hospitality, entertainment, transport, and essential services. Travellers can pay directly in Indian rupees, with real-time exchange rates and security features like two-factor authentication and RBI’s cross-border controls.
India’s Consul General in Dubai, Satish Kumar Sivan, said, “The experience of the Indian diaspora and the Indian travellers to UAE will never be the same again after the complete integration of UPI with UAE’s digital payments architecture.”
Sanjay Tripathy, CEO and Co-founder of BRISKPE, said, “Real-time, seamless transactions are reshaping the way Indians travel, study, and do business internationally, making cross-border payments faster, safer, and more convenient than ever, especially in vibrant markets like the UAE, Mauritius, Vietnam, and France. This move to extend UPI acceptance by NPCI International is a leap forward for the global Indian community.”
Over seven million Indians visit the UAE every year, making them its largest group of international visitors, according to India’s Ministry of Tourism.
Major merchants such as Dubai Duty Free and Lulu Hypermarket already accept UPI. More outlets are expected to join through NIPL’s partnerships with NeoPay (Mashreq), Network International, and Magnati.
Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NPCI International, said the expansion shows growing global trust in India’s digital payment system.
“We are empowering businesses and consumers, supporting the UAE’s vision of a cashless economy, and setting new standards for cross-border payments,” he said.
UPI currently handles over 18 billion transactions every month in India. Dubai aims to reach 90% digital transactions by 2026, and wider UPI acceptance will support that goal while boosting convenience for millions of Indian travellers.
–With PTI inputs
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