NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has detailed its progress in expanding Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across the UAE and unveiled the next phase of its strategy to deepen the platform’s integration. 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.
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. An open, interoperable architecture and rigorous security framework allow UPI to adapt smoothly to regulatory environments beyond India, including the UAE.
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 result is greater efficiency, better cash management, and lower operational costs for businesses.
His Excellency Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India, Dubai said, “The experience of 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. I am glad that NIPL is making aggressive, concerted efforts with merchant establishments, payment solution providers and banks in UAE to ensure that this seamless experience is available to Indian clientele at the earliest. The complete integration of digital payments platforms of India’s UPI and UAE’s AANI will truly revolutionise our bilateral financial transactions ecosystem and will be a feather in the ceremonial cap of firsts that India & UAE have been producing in our economic partnership over the past decade.”
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.
Mr Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International said, “At NPCI International, we are proud to accelerate the adoption of UPI in the UAE, a milestone that not only brings unparalleled convenience to millions of Indian travellers and residents but also strengthens the digital bridge between the two vibrant economies. Our expansion in the UAE is a testament to the 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.”
To accelerate adoption, NIPL is working closely with regulator 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.
The Government of Dubai has announced a goal of achieving 90 percent digital transactions by 2026, and aligned with this vision, NIPL is enhancing its presence in the country by expanding 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.
