NPCI international partners with Qatar National Bank for UPI payments in Qatar
With UPI integration, Indian tourists can use their preferred payment method at various locations, including retail stores, tourist attractions, hotels, and duty-free shops.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with Qatar National Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East and Africa, to introduce QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments in Qatar.
This initiative aims to facilitate UPI payment acceptance across QNB’s merchant network, benefiting Indian travellers, the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar.
With UPI integration, Indian tourists can use their preferred payment method at various locations, including retail stores, tourist attractions, hotels, and duty-free shops.
"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," Adel Ali Al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice President of QNB Group Retail Banking, said in a statement.
"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," Ali-Malaki added.
Last week, NIPL announced the expansion of UPI adoption in the United Arab Emirates.
It partnered with Dubai-based payment company Network International to enable QR code-based UPI payments through the Network's POS terminals in the UAE and cross-border payments. This partnership will help Indian tourists and NRIs make transactions across Network International's extensive merchant network, which includes over 200,000 POS terminals and over 60,000 merchants.
In a statement, NPCI International said that UPI acceptance will be rolled out progressively, covering a wide range of establishments from retail stores and dining outlets to tourist and leisure attractions, including Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.
Edited by Jyoti Narayan
