Indian travellers can now make hassle-free UPI payments at major tourist points in Qatar, including Qatar duty-free outlets after a partnership was announced between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Qatar National Bank (QNB).
A statement by the NPCI said that its international payments arm has entered into a partnership with the QNB that enables the acceptance of QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across Qatar via point-of-sale terminals for merchants acquired by QNB and powered by NETSTARS' payment solution.
"We aim to enhance the acceptance of UPI globally and create a truly interoperable global payment network. The partnership with QNB is a step towards this journey," said NPCI International MD and CEO Ritesh Shukla.
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Indians are the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar, it said, adding that this partnership will help them make real-time transactions across the country, thereby reducing the need to carry cash and eliminating currency exchange hassles.
Moreover, it is expected to benefit Qatar's retail and tourism sectors as UPI acceptance will increase transaction volumes of merchants acquired by QNB, further helping them scale their businesses, it added.
The partnership will help millions of Indian travellers make seamless, secure digital transactions and reduce their dependence on cash, Shukla said.
Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer, QNB, said this milestone not only enhances convenience for Indian travellers but also brings significant benefits to the Qatari market by promoting cashless transactions, boosting retail and tourism sectors, and strengthening interoperability in the payments ecosystem.
Importantly, it will also enable local merchants to thrive by attracting more customers and providing them with seamless digital payment options, he added.
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