India collaborates with this Islamic nation! Soon you’ll be able to make payments using GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, and other UPI platforms in…, here’s how it will benefit you

UPI Expands to Qatar, Highlighting India’s Digital Edge
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has now been introduced in Qatar, allowing Indian visitors to pay digitally during their stay.

This new facility has been rolled out through a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Qatar National Bank (QNB). For Indian tourists, this means the convenience of cashless transactions—payments can be made simply by scanning UPI QR codes at QNB-enabled outlets using Netstars’ payment solutions. The service is debuting at Qatar Duty Free stores and will be gradually extended to other merchants across the country.

Indians Can Now Pay in Qatar Using UPI
According to NIPL, Qatar Duty Free outlets are the first merchants to activate UPI payments. Through the partnership with QNB, UPI will be accepted widely via QR-based point-of-sale systems, making transactions easier for Indian travelers, who make up the second-largest group of foreign tourists in Qatar.

Why This Matters for Travellers
The availability of UPI in Qatar allows Indians to pay instantly at shops, attractions, and other retail points, cutting down the need for cash or money exchange. It also strengthens Qatar’s retail and tourism industries by driving more transactions through QNB’s merchant network.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NIPL, said:
“Our vision is to expand UPI acceptance worldwide and build a globally interoperable payment network. The tie-up with QNB is a major step in that direction. It will give millions of Indian travellers the ability to make secure, seamless digital payments abroad, reducing reliance on cash. As UPI grows internationally, our focus remains on enabling smooth cross-border payment experiences.”