Indian visitors travelling to the UAE and Singapore can now book experiences and make online payments using their preferred Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps at two of the world’s premier destinations. The move is aimed at making international travel planning and payments easier by reducing currency-related friction.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced strategic partnerships with the UAE on 29th July 2026 and Singapore on 9th September 2026 to enable UPI for online bookings.
For the UAE, UPI acceptance has been enabled for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, in partnership with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment. It is the first attraction in the UAE to implement UPI for e-commerce. In Singapore, UPI acceptance has been expanded to Resorts World Sentosa in collaboration with FOMO Pay, a leading payment institution. The development follows Singapore welcoming 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2025.
The integration enables online purchases at At the Top, Burj Khalifa and attractions at Resorts World Sentosa, including Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Finance, the initiative addresses the growing demand for trusted cross-border payment experiences. It also strengthens the digital and economic bridge between India, the UAE and Singapore by providing Indian travellers with familiar payment options.
Key Highlights of the Integration
The new e-commerce partnerships build on existing collaborations, including the QR-based merchant payment network, and extend UPI convenience to online bookings for major global attractions.
Millions of digitally savvy Indian tourists visiting these destinations can now plan and complete transactions from India, reducing currency-related friction and simplifying international travel planning and bookings.
The collaborations also underline the growing role of India’s indigenous digital payment systems in global customer experiences and cross-border financial connectivity.
The Ministry of Finance said it remains committed to fostering international partnerships that promote digital innovation, streamline cross-border commerce and project India’s technological prowess onto the global stage.
UPI Accepted in 10 Countries
UPI is currently accepted in 10 countries: Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece. This enables Indian travellers to make payments abroad through UPI.
Uzbekistan is set to become the 11th country on the list following a commercial agreement announced on 30th August 2026 during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan.
Earlier Initiative
The ticketing facility for the Eiffel Tower through India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched on 26th January 2024.
-PIB Inputs
