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Qatar Duty Free Becomes First Merchant
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Indian travellers can now use UPI seamlessly at Qatar Duty Free and other major tourist destinations
NPCI International Payments Ltd, in collaboration with Qatar National Bank (QNB), has enabled QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across Qatar through point-of-sale terminals for merchants acquired by QNB and powered by NETSTARS’ payment solution, reported thehindu.com.
Indians represent the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar, and this new facility allows them to make secure UPI payments at tourist attractions and retail outlets across the country. The move promotes interoperability, expands UPI’s global reach, and is expected to boost Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors by increasing transaction volumes for QNB-acquired merchants.
Qatar Duty Free is the first merchant to go live on UPI, offering Indian visitors real-time, cashless transactions and reducing currency exchange hassles
Ritesh Shukla, MD and CEO of NPCI International, said, “We aim to enhance UPI acceptance globally and create a truly interoperable global payment network. The partnership with QNB is a step towards this journey.” He added that this initiative will help millions of Indian travellers reduce reliance on cash while making seamless and secure digital transactions.
Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer at QNB, noted that the milestone not only enhances convenience for Indian travellers but also benefits the Qatari market by encouraging cashless payments, supporting retail and tourism growth, and enabling local merchants to thrive with better customer engagement through digital payments.