UAE Expands Digital Reach with Indian UPI Integration

Indians traveling to the UAE will soon be able to have a cashless and cardless experience as India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is fully integrated with digital payments in the UAE. At an event hosted at the Consulate General of India in Dubai, Consul General Satish Kumar Sivan stated, “Indian travellers will soon experience the UAE with just a mobile phone and passport; No cash, debit, or credit cards needed.”

UPI and AANI Integration Will Transform Travel Experience

Indian visitors will find day-to-day payments for shopping and dining to transportation and hotel stay easy and seamless with the integration of India’s UPI and the UAE’s AANI platform.“This is a significant milestone that will change the experience for our 5.5 million visitors coming from India in 2024, and many more in the years to follow”, Sivan added.UPI Payment at 60,000+ Outlets in UAE

The event was hosted by NPCI International Payments Limited, the global arm of NPCI. 

Ritesh Shukla, the CEO of NIPL, presented that UPI payments are accepted at 60,000+ outlets in the UAE, as a result of partnerships with leading local payment providers such as Magnati, Network International, Al Etihad Payments, and Mashreq’s NeoPay.

No Cash, No Cards — Just Scan & Pay

With UPI integration into the UAE’s digital payments network, Indian travellers can use services like PhonePe, Google Pay, or Paytm for ALL transactions. This applies to:

• Shopping in malls and stores
• Paying in restaurants and cafes
• Settling hotel bills
• Even buying things from the Duty-Free at Dubai International Airport

Ritesh Shukla shared his experience with UPI, where he was able to pay via UPI during his entire day in Dubai, from breakfast to coffee.

Milestone in India-UAE Digital Relations

“This is more than just convenience,” said Sivan.”It is also a feather in the cap of India-UAE economic cooperation, representing another ‘first’ in our relationship, which has grown immensely.”With robust digital infrastructure and shared objectives, the two nations are building an exciting bridge of fintech innovation that begins with everyday payments for the Indian diaspora and visitors. 

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