UPI Expands To Qatar, Will Help Indians With Easy Payments Overseas

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has now launched in Qatar with the tie-up of NPCI International Payments Limited and Qatar National Bank, facilitated by technology provider NETSTARS. The first merchant to accept UPI payments in Qatar is Qatar Duty Free, at Hamad International Airport.

Convenience For Indian Travellers

With this launch, Indian tourists to Qatar are able to pay directly from UPI apps on their mobile devices. Payments can be done by scanning QR codes at the point of sale. This eliminates the need to carry cash or change currency.

Indians are the second largest international traveller group to Qatar. The availability of UPI is expected to facilitate transactions from this segment, especially in retail and travel-related outlets. Starting with duty-free shops, the facility will be extended to other traders affiliated with Qatar National Bank in due course.

The effort has been led by NPCI International, the overseas subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Qatar National Bank has facilitated its merchants to accept payments through UPI, while NETSTARS has offered the payment technology to underlie the system.

Qatar Duty Free is the first retail partner to launch UPI, thereby enabling Hamad International Airport passengers to use the payment mode at its counters.

Impact On Consumers And Businesses

For Indian tourists, paying with UPI provides a safe and comfortable mode of transaction overseas. It also breaks the reliance on cards and hard currency. For retailers and tourism businesses, acceptance of UPI gives them a chance to cater to a wider consumer base.

Volumes of transactions are likely to increase as Indian tourists opt to spend through UPI on a day-to-day basis. Payment processing at a faster rate may also enable outlets to manage customer footfalls better.

Significance Of The Development

The emergence of UPI in Qatar contributes to India's expanding global footprint of its digital payments system. It reflects how a homegrown platform is being used for cross-border applications. The launch in Qatar enhances the digital payment footprint of India while providing the traveller with more choices in terms of expenditure abroad.

For inbound travellers in Doha, the service provides value at the outset in the airport and paves the way for further adoption across the country.