Is UPI available in Gulf countries? How Indian expats can use UPI across banks and apps: All you need to know | World News – The Times of India

The Unified Funds Interface (UPI) has quickly gained world consideration for revolutionizing digital funds in India, and its enlargement is now making waves within the Center East, particularly throughout the GCC nations. UPI, which permits for immediate and safe transactions throughout a number of financial institution accounts, has been rolled out in nations just like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, offering each Indian nationals and vacationers with a seamless cost expertise.

UPI’s rising footprint: GCC nations be part of the worldwide community

UPI, a system developed by the Nationwide Funds Company of India (NPCI), has turn out to be one of the crucial profitable fintech improvements, boasting over ₹20 trillion in transactions by September 2024. Initially launched in India in 2016, UPI has enabled customers to ship and obtain cash in actual time with out sharing delicate checking account particulars. As a part of its bold internationalization technique, NPCI’s worldwide arm, NPCI Worldwide Funds Ltd (NIPL) has been driving UPI’s enlargement globally, with the aim of creating the cost system obtainable in 20 nations by FY29.Up to now, UPI has been rolled out in 12 nations, together with the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, and others. Within the GCC, UPI is presently obtainable in 4 nations: the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. As extra banks present assist, further nations are anticipated to hitch the UPI community quickly.Since 2022, UPI has expanded past India, initially reaching choose Center Jap nations. With latest launches in Qatar and Oman, the GCC area is now a key participant in UPI’s worldwide development, providing important advantages to thousands and thousands of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian vacationers.

UAE: A key participant in UPI’s Center Jap enlargement

The UAE grew to become the primary nation within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to roll out UPI funds. In 2022, UPI grew to become obtainable by way of the NeoPay app, enabling Indian expats to hyperlink their worldwide cell numbers and carry out transactions with out the necessity for an Indian SIM card. Just lately, in 2025, an essential replace was made, permitting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) within the UAE to entry UPI with out the need of getting an Indian cell quantity. This milestone considerably improved the digital cost expertise for the Indian diaspora and vacationers within the UAE, providing acquainted and handy cost strategies. Notably, UPI funds are accepted throughout stores, supermarkets, transportation companies, and vacationer spots like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Indian vacationers—who make up a good portion of the UAE’s guests—are anticipated to succeed in 5.29 million in 2024 alone. For them, UPI brings an prompt and safe cost answer with out the necessity for money or worldwide playing cards, streamlining cross-border transactions.

In 2023, Oman grew to become the seventh nation to embrace UPI and RuPay, following Singapore, Nepal, the UAE, Bhutan, Malaysia, and France. The launch in Oman was marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NPCI, NIPL, and the Central Financial institution of Oman (CBO) on October 4, 2022. This collaboration permits for real-time cross-border funds and using RuPay playing cards throughout Oman’s ATM networks, POS terminals, and e-commerce platforms. With a big variety of Indian nationals residing and dealing in Oman, UPI’s introduction affords an environment friendly, cost-effective approach for remittances to stream between India and Oman, an important characteristic for Indian expatriates.

Qatar: Enabling seamless funds for Indian vacationers

Qatar’s integration of UPI funds started in 2023, permitting Indian vacationers and residents to pay at stores, vacationer sights, and different industrial institutions utilizing UPI-powered apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. In July 2024, the Nationwide Funds Company of India (NPCI) introduced a partnership with Qatar Nationwide Financial institution (QNB), marking a significant step in the direction of UPI acceptance at QNB’s service provider community. This partnership ensures that Indian guests to Qatar can take pleasure in a well-known and handy cost expertise.Qatar’s tourism trade, which sees a number of Indian guests, is about to get much more handy with UPI funds. On September 16, 2025, Industrial Financial institution of Qatar teamed up with NPCI Worldwide Funds Restricted (NIPL) to carry UPI QR code funds to its retailers. This makes paying simpler for Indian vacationers and strengthens Qatar’s push for a cashless economic system.

Saudi Arabia has been one other essential addition to the UPI community, with NRIs within the kingdom already capable of hyperlink Saudi (+966) cell numbers to their Indian financial institution accounts. This technique facilitates cross-border remittances and on a regular basis transactions via the UPI platform. Moreover, Indian expats residing in Saudi Arabia can hyperlink their worldwide cell numbers to their NRE/NRO accounts, making it simpler for them to make use of UPI apps reminiscent of PhonePe and Google Pay.

One of the interesting facets of UPI for NRIs within the GCC is that it allows them to make transactions while not having an Indian cell quantity. By linking a world cell quantity to their NRE or NRO account, customers can switch funds to and from their Indian financial institution accounts via a wide range of UPI-enabled apps, together with PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and BHIM. Right here’s how one can arrange UPI with a world cell quantity:

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NPCI’s worldwide arm, NPCI Worldwide Funds Ltd (NIPL), is driving the worldwide enlargement of UPI and RuPay. As of September 2025, UPI is reside in 12 nations, together with main buying and selling companions like Singapore, Australia, the USA, and the UK. NIPL’s partnerships with establishments like QNB and Community Worldwide within the Center East are pushing UPI deeper into world cost methods. With a concentrate on cross-border remittances and smoother experiences for worldwide vacationers, UPI is rapidly turning into a key participant in world fintech. These collaborations are serving to promote India’s digital funds whereas supporting the expansion of real-time cost methods worldwide.