UPI Launches in Qatar Through NPCI and QNB Partnership for Instant Payments

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has expanded internationally, going live in Qatar through a partnership between NPCI International Payments (NIPL) and Qatar National Bank (QNB). This move enables Indian travelers to make instant, QR code-based payments at key retail and tourism locations, reducing reliance on cash and currency exchange.

UPI Acceptance Across Qatar

NIPL and QNB have enabled QR code-based UPI acceptance at POS terminals for QNB-acquired merchants.

• Qatar Duty Free became the first merchant to go live with this service.

• Indian tourists can now make real-time UPI payments at major shopping destinations, tourist attractions, and retail outlets.

This expansion is particularly significant as Indians are the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar, making UPI a convenient payment option for cross-border travelers.

Benefits for Indian Travelers

The rollout of UPI in Qatar provides multiple advantages for Indian visitors:

• Cashless payments: Eliminates the need for carrying physical currency.

• Instant transactions: Payments are processed in real time.

• Ease of use: QR codes enable quick and seamless payments at multiple merchant locations.

This ensures a safe, secure, and convenient payment experience, enhancing the overall travel and shopping experience for Indian tourists.

Statements From Key Officials

NPCI International

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NIPL, emphasized that the partnership strengthens global UPI acceptance, promoting a truly interoperable payment network. It aims to enable seamless and secure cross-border transactions for millions of Indian travelers.

Qatar National Bank

Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer, QNB, highlighted that the adoption of UPI will:

• Promote cashless transactions

• Increase merchant transaction volumes

• Support the growth of Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors

Qatar Airways & Duty Free

Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer, Qatar Airways Group, stated that Qatar Duty Free aims to provide Indian travelers with a seamless, secure, and cashless transaction experience while embracing innovative payment solutions.

Impact on Qatar’s Retail and Tourism Sectors

The introduction of UPI is expected to:

• Boost merchant sales by enabling faster and more convenient transactions

• Encourage digital adoption among local businesses

• Improve the overall shopping experience for international tourists, particularly Indians

• Support Qatar’s retail and tourism growth through modern payment infrastructure

The initiative aligns with Qatar’s push toward digitalization in payments and reflects a trend of increasing cross-border payment interoperability.

India’s Digital Payment Footprint Abroad

The move reinforces India’s global digital payment footprint:

• Demonstrates the international adoption of UPI

• Provides secure, fast, and convenient payment solutions for Indian travelers

• Enhances the reputation of India’s fintech ecosystem and its exportable digital payment technologies

For Indian tourists, this expansion ensures a familiar and trusted payment method abroad, reducing the friction of currency exchange and cash handling.

Conclusion

The launch of UPI in Qatar via NPCI and QNB marks a milestone in India’s cross-border digital payment strategy. It benefits Indian travelers by offering real-time, secure, and cashless payments while supporting local merchants and the tourism and retail sectors. This collaboration demonstrates the potential for UPI’s global scalability and highlights the growing importance of interoperable payment networks in enhancing international travel and commerce.