Good news for Indians travelling to Qatar as UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments will now be accepted in the Gulf nation. Indian travellers will be able to carry out UPI payments seamlessly at major tourist attractions and Qatar Duty Free outlets. Qatar Duty Free is the first merchant to go live on UPI.
What is UPI and how does it function?
Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI simplifies the payment process by using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) or UPI ID, eliminating the need to share sensitive bank account details like account numbers or IFSC codes.
“NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) in partnership with Qatar National Bank has enabled the acceptance of QR code-based UPI across Qatar via point-of-sale (POS) terminals for merchants acquired by QNB and powered by NETSTARS’ payment solution,” NIPL said in a statement.
Incorporated on April 3, 2020, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) functions as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system UPI and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India.
UPI’s global reach expanding
“Indians are the second largest group of international visitors to Qatar,” the statement said, adding the partnership will help them to make real-time transactions across the country, limiting the need to carry cash and currency exchange hassle. “The acceptance of UPI in Qatar promotes interoperability and expands UPI’s global reach.”
Countries where UPI is already accepted
UPI payments are already accepted in countries like Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the UAE.
NPCI aims to further enhance acceptance of UPI globally
Speaking on the partnership, Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “We aim to enhance the acceptance of UPI globally and create a truly interoperable global payment network. The partnership with QNB is a step towards this journey. It will help millions of Indian travellers make seamless, secure digital transactions and reduce their dependence on cash. As UPI makes its mark, we are focused on driving interoperability and making cross-border payment experiences hassle-free for users.”
Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer, QNB, said “We are excited to introduce UPI in Qatar and proud to be at the forefront of innovating the payment landscape. This milestone not only enhances the convenience for Indian travellers but also brings significant benefits to the Qatari market by promoting cashless transactions, boosting retail and tourist sectors, and strengthening interoperability in the payments ecosystem.
Importantly, it will also enable local merchants to thrive by attracting more customers and providing them with seamless digital payment options, he added.