Dubai Duty Free to accept UPI payments from Indian shoppers

Dubai: Magnati has partnered with NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the international arm of India's National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to expand Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across the UAE.

The collaboration allows Magnati’s point-of-sale (POS) terminals to accept QR-based UPI payments, catering to the growing number of Indian travellers in the region.

Initially, the focus will be on facilitating UPI payments at Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport, with plans to extend the service to retail, hospitality, transportation, and more supermarkets in the future. At present, UPI payments are available at NEOPAY terminals, Al Maya Supermarkets, and LuLu Hypermarkets.

UPI, a widely adopted real-time payment system in India, processed over 15 billion transactions in November 2024 alone. This mobile-first and cost-effective payment solution offers simplicity, safety, and reliability, making it a preferred choice for digital payments worldwide. With this agreement, UAE merchants can now provide Indian travelers and residents with a seamless, familiar payment experience.

This partnership also aims to facilitate cross-border payments, strengthening economic ties between India and the UAE. Leaders from Magnati, NIPL, and Dubai Duty Free highlighted the significance of this collaboration in advancing digital payment networks, enhancing merchant offerings, and creating smoother shopping experiences for customers.

By integrating UPI, Magnati continues to position itself as a key enabler of innovative payment solutions in the UAE.