The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was officially launched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

New Delhi: Good news for UPI users outside India as the NCPI  In February 2024, an agreement was signed between India and the UAE to interlink their national payment platforms, UPI (India) and AANI (UAE), enabling seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This initiative aims to facilitate more efficient payment processes and enhance financial connectivity between India and the UAE.

UPI Launched In UAE

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was officially launched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi. This launch marked the interlinking of India’s UPI with the UAE’s instant payments platform, AANI, enabling seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. The agreement to link UPI with AANI was signed during PM Modi’s visit to the UAE, where several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged, including the interlinking of domestic debit/credit cards – RuPay from India and JAYWAN from the UAE. This initiative not only facilitates digital transactions but also enhances financial connectivity and cooperation between India and the UAE.

How To Use UPI For Payments In UAE

To use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for payments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through PhonePe, follow these steps:

1. Travel to the UAE: Users traveling to the UAE can make payments using UPI at Mashreq’s Neopay terminals.
2. Download the PhonePe App: Ensure you have the PhonePe app installed on your mobile device.
3. Make a Payment: At the Neopay terminals in retail stores, dining outlets, tourist attractions, and leisure spots, initiate the payment process using the UPI option on the PhonePe app.
4. Complete the Transaction: Follow the prompts on the app to complete the transaction. The account debit will occur in Indian rupees, showing the currency exchange rate.
5. Enjoy Seamless Transactions: With this partnership between PhonePe and Mashreq, users can conveniently transact through UPI, a familiar payment method, enhancing the digital payment experience for travelers in the UAE.

By following these steps, users can easily make UPI payments in the UAE using the PhonePe app at designated Neopay terminals, facilitating cross-border transactions between India and the UAE.

UPI Payments In Other Countries

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments are accepted in several countries beyond India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Here is a list of countries where UPI payments are accepted:

• France: UPI payments were implemented in France on February 2, 2024, through a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lyra, a leading French entity specializing in secure online payments.
• Sri Lanka: UPI payments were launched in Sri Lanka on February 12, 2024, allowing Indians visiting Sri Lanka to make digital payments through QR codes using their UPI apps.
• Mauritius: Mauritius became another country where UPI payments are accepted, with local businesses in Mauritius now able to accept UPI payments and the use of RuPay cards facilitated by local banks through the MauCAS card network.
• Singapore: UPI payments are accepted in Singapore, enabling users in both countries to make cross-border transactions.
• Bhutan: Bhutan was the first country beyond India to enable UPI transactions through the BHIM app, starting on July 13, 2021.
• Nepal: UPI is supported in Nepal, allowing Indians visiting Nepal to make digital payments using UPI apps and send money to India with a UPI ID through mobile banking.
• United Kingdom: Efforts are underway to bring UPI services to the United Kingdom, expanding the reach of this digital payment system.
• Other Southeast Asia Countries: NIPL has signed agreements to enable QR-based UPI payments in 10 Southeast Asia countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.