NPCI scales up UPI adoption in UAE to strengthen digital ties

Dubai | NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is enhancing its presence in the country by expanding Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance.

Through sustained collaboration with the UAE-based partners, the company is committed to delivering seamless, secure digital-payment experiences that generate lasting value for consumers, merchants and the wider economy.

To accelerate adoption, NIPL is working closely with regulators in the UAE and acquirers to enable UPI in high-frequency sectors including retail, hospitality, entertainment, transportation and essential services.

The platform supports real-time payments in Indian rupees, shows transparent exchange rates and complies with safeguards such as transaction limits, two-factor authentication and international usage controls issued by the Reserve Bank of India.

This ongoing effort supports the UAE's vision of a cashless economy, while enhancing cross-border payment experiences for the millions of Indians who travel between the two countries each year.

The government of Dubai has announced a goal of achieving 90 per cent digital transactions by 2026.

UPI, India's real-time, account-to-account payment system, enables instant, secure transactions through mobile applications. Handling over 18 billion transactions monthly, it has grown into one of the world's leading digital payment infrastructures.

The UAE is one of India's busiest travel and remittance corridors.

According to India's Ministry of Tourism over seven million Indians visit the UAE annually, making them its largest group of international visitors. Enabling travellers to pay with the mobile applications they use in India boosts convenience and gives the UAE merchants access to a digital-savvy customer base.

“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,” Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India, Dubai said.

Over the past few years, NIPL has laid a solid foundation for UPI in the UAE through collaborations with leading financial institutions and payment solution providers. Partnerships with NeoPay (Mashreq), Network International, and Magnati have enabled QR-based UPI acceptance across a rapidly growing merchant network.

Flagship outlets such as Dubai Duty Free and Lulu Hypermarket are already accepting UPI Payments, allowing Indian customers to settle purchases straight from their Indian bank accounts.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International said the expansion in the UAE demonstrates growing global confidence in India's digital payment innovations.

"By enabling seamless, secure, and real-time payments, we are empowering businesses and consumers alike, supporting the UAE's vision of a cashless economy, and setting new standards for cross-border financial connectivity. We remain committed to deepening our partnerships and driving the next wave of digital transformation," Shukla said.