Indian Travelers Can Now Use UPI for Payments in the UAE

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 04 July 2024, 02:23:38 PM IST

Indian Travelers Can Now Use UPI for Payments in the UAE
In a significant boost to digital payments, Indian travelers and NRIs can now use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for transactions in the UAE. This development follows a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and Network International, a major digital commerce company in the Middle East and Africa.
The collaboration enables UPI payments through QR codes at Point of Sale (PoS) machines across UAE. "The increasing acceptance of UPI payments among UAE merchants will not only facilitate Indian travelers but also foster innovative digital payment solutions internationally", said NPCI International CEO Ritesh Shukla.
As per the NPCI, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to welcome approximately 9.8 million Indian travelers in 2024, with 5.3 million heading to the UAE alone.
UPI, already accepted in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, France, and Bhutan, continues its global expansion. This international push is driven by the collaborative efforts of the Government of India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and NPCI International.
June saw a record 13.9 billion transactions on the UPI platform, marking a 49% year-on-year increase. The average daily transaction count stood at 463 million, with an average daily transaction value of Rs 66,903 crore. The surge in UPI usage is attributed to the integration of RuPay credit cards with UPI and the platform's expansion into foreign markets.
This strategic move not only aligns with the Indian government’s vision of promoting UPI globally but also enhances the convenience and accessibility of digital payments for Indian users abroad.

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