Qatar Becomes 8th Nation to Adopt India's UPI Payment System

Indian visitors to Qatar can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for digital transactions. As per the news reports, the service has started at Qatar Duty Free outlets and will expand to more merchants across the country. This makes payments possible directly through QR codes, avoiding the need for cash.

Partnership Behind the Rollout

The service has been introduced through an agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Qatar National Bank (QNB). Payments will be enabled at point-of-sale (POS) terminals managed by QNB and supported by NETSTARS’ technology. Indians are the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Qatar, making the rollout significant for travellers.

Countries Where UPI Is Accepted

With Qatar’s inclusion, UPI acceptance has now spread to eight countries. These are Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and now Qatar. Each country has enabled UPI through partnerships with local banks or payment systems.

UPI Usage in India

Domestically, UPI continues to record large volumes. In August 2025, it processed over 20 billion transactions with a total value nearing ₹25 lakh crore. Daily transaction levels have doubled over the past 2 years, with government plans aiming for 1 billion transactions per day in the near future.

Read More: Investors Can Use UPI Apps for Mutual Fund and Insurance Investments Up to ₹10 Lakh!

About UPI

UPI is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It allows instant transfers using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) or UPI ID, without requiring account numbers or IFSC codes. NIPL, established in April 2020, manages the international operations of UPI and RuPay.

Conclusion

Qatar is the latest addition to the list of countries accepting UPI. The development adds to UPI’s growing global presence while continuing its strong growth within India.

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