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Following UPI success in UAE, Indian tourists can now pay in rupees in Qatar

Initiative set to cater to a vast segment of tourists and expats in both countries

Following UPI success in UAE, Indian tourists can now pay in rupees in Qatar

A 500 Indian Rupee note

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Indian tourists and expats in Qatar can now enjoy the convenience of using their own currency across a wide range of retail outlets, dining establishments, duty-free shops, hotels and tourist attractions. This follows the successful launch of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments in the UAE earlier this year.

With Indians forming the second largest group of international tourists in Qatar, the announcement carries substantial weight for the country's hospitality and tourism sectors.

A partnership between NPCI International and Qatar National Bank (QNB) will make it possible to use popular UPI apps like PhonePe, Google Pay or Paytm for payments across the country, once it's live.

With QNB’s extensive network of over 5,000 ATMs and presence in 28 countries, UPI payments are expected to gain widespread acceptance quickly.

Speaking on the development, Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief – Partnerships and Business Development, NPCI International, said, “We are happy to collaborate with QNB to bring UPI payments to Qatar. We believe that enabling UPI acceptance in Qatar will offer substantial benefits to the large number of Indians visiting the country, simplifying their transactions, and ensuring a hassle-free travel experience abroad. Additionally, merchants in Qatar will greatly benefit from UPI, gaining access to a wider customer base and more efficient payment and collection processing.”

Commenting on this, Adel Ali Al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice President, QNB Group Retail Banking, said, “We are thrilled to embark on this pioneering journey with NIPL to bring UPI payments to Qatar, setting a new standard in innovation in the region. With this new digital payment solution acceptance, we are revolutionizing the way transactions are conducted, enhancing the travel experience like never before. We are confident that the strategic initiative will not only elevate the travel and hospitality sectors but also empower local merchants to thrive in a dynamic and increasingly digital marketplace.”

How can you spend Indian Rupees in UAE?

By downloading their preferred UPI-enabled app onto their smartphones, users can effortlessly make payments at Mashreq NEOPAY terminals located throughout the country. These terminals, widely accessible in retail stores, restaurants, and popular tourist destinations, generate a unique QR code. To complete a transaction, users simply scan this code using their UPI app, authorizing the payment with their UPI PIN. This innovative system allows for quick, secure, and transparent payments directly from Indian bank accounts, all conducted in Indian Rupees (INR), offering transparency and convenience.

This is for both Indian NRIs in UAE and tourists from India.

Process

  • Download the PhonePe app
  • Tap on your profile photo and navigate to ‘International’
  • Once you see your Indian bank accounts, activate them.
  • You’re all set to pay INR at more than 1,000 merchant outlets.

Facilitating rupee-based spending could be a catalyst for wider economic cooperation between India and the UAE, with the gold and jewelry industry serving as a key driver of this growth. Additionally, it can also drastically reduce costs for businesses by eliminating expensive wire transfers and foreign exchange fees in international trade.

UPI has proven to be a game-changer for India. The service is currently being used by the UAE, France, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal and more.

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