Indian travelers can now use UPI for payments at Dubai Duty Free and other locations in the UAE through a strategic partnership
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has partnered with Magnati, a Middle Eastern payment solutions provider, to expand Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance in the UAE. The collaboration enables Indian travelers to make seamless UPI-based QR payments at Magnati’s point-of-sale (POS) terminals, beginning with Dubai Duty Free, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Seamless cross-border payments for Indian tourists
With over 12 million Indians visiting Dubai and the UAE annually, this initiative simplifies payment experiences for Indian tourists and supports merchants in catering to a growing consumer base. Currently, UPI payments are accepted at NEOPAY terminals, Al Maya Supermarkets, and LuLu stores, with plans to extend into retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets.
Expanding UPI’s global footprint
Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NIPL, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with Magnati offers Indian travelers a seamless and familiar payment experience at premier destinations like Dubai Duty Free. It reflects our vision of creating a global digital payments network for Indians.”
Magnati’s managing director, Salim Awan, added, “Our partnership demonstrates a commitment to cross-border payment solutions, providing convenience to Indian travelers and NRIs while fostering innovation in digital payments.”
Global acceptance and future plans
UPI payments are currently accepted in seven countries, including Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, France, and the UAE. By 2025, NIPL aims to extend UPI acceptance to 4–6 additional countries, focusing on regions like Qatar, Thailand, and Southeast Asia.
Additionally, NIPL is assisting nations like Peru, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago in developing domestic real-time payment systems modeled on UPI’s success. Since its inception in April 2020, NIPL has focused on transforming global payments through technological innovations, licensing, and consulting services.
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