UPI Payments Now Accepted For Indian Tourists At Over 60,000 UAE Outlets
Indian tourists and NRIs in the UAE can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at over 60,000 outlets. This popular payment method, used by more than 350 million people in India, processed 14.04 billion transactions in May 2024 alone.
This initiative ensures seamless and secure transactions for Indians across Network International’s vast merchant network in the UAE. The network has over 200,000 POS terminals across 60,000+ merchants in sectors including retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets among others.
The introduction of UPI in the UAE was announced by Network International Partners and National Payment Corporation India International (NPCI) this week. This collaboration aims to enhance digital payment solutions for Indian visitors and residents.
The announcement was made at an event in Dubai attended by representatives from Network International, NPCI International, and Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to the UAE. This partnership aims to deepen UPI's presence in the region.
Expanding UPI Acceptance
UPI allows multiple bank accounts to be merged into a single mobile app, enabling immediate money transfers. It is recognised by banks across India, making it a convenient option for many users.
The roll-out will cover various sectors including retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets. Notable locations like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are among the participating merchants.
The number of Indian tourists travelling to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is projected to increase to 9.8 million in 2024, with the UAE anticipating 5.29 million arrivals from India. The growth is driven by various factors including business and leisure.
By enabling UPI acceptance through its POS terminals, the network will provide a QR-based safe and secure method for facilitating cross-border payments. This will allow Indian tourists and NRIs with Indian bank accounts to use UPI for payments across Network’s POS terminals in the UAE.
Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International, stated: "Our partnership with Network International will deepen UPI's presence in the UAE. By growing UPI payment acceptance across merchants in the UAE, we are not only providing Indian travellers with a seamless and familiar payment experience but also promoting the use of innovative digital payment solutions internationally."
Nandan Mer, Group CEO of Network International, added: "We are delighted to partner with NPCI International Payments Limited to strengthen the payments ecosystem for Indians visiting or working in the UAE. By enabling customers to pay in their preferred method, we are one step closer to realising our vision to empower businesses and merchants with the latest payment technologies."
Jamal Al Nassai, Group Managing Director for Merchant Services – Middle East and North Africa at Network International, commented: "The launch of this partnership is a milestone for our extensive merchant network. As the leading acquirer in the region, Network will leverage its 30-years' legacy of technological innovation to enable acceptance of UPI-based payment apps."
This initiative marks a significant step towards creating a more connected global payment ecosystem. It reflects a commitment to technological advancement and fostering international interoperability in digital payments.
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