The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s homegrown digital payments system, is steadily expanding its global reach—and the Gulf region is emerging as a major hub for its adoption. For millions of Indian expats and tourists across the GCC, UPI now offers a familiar, instant and secure way to make payments without depending on cash or international cards.
UPI’s footprint in the GCC
UPI, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is currently live in four Gulf countries—UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. More are expected to follow as banks and payment networks integrate the system.
- UAE: The first GCC nation to launch UPI in 2022, with payments accepted at malls, supermarkets, and transport services. Since 2025, NRIs can link UAE mobile numbers directly to their NRE/NRO accounts, removing the need for an Indian SIM card.
- Oman: Adopted UPI and RuPay in 2023 through a pact with the Central Bank of Oman, enabling cross-border remittances and RuPay card acceptance at ATMs, POS and online.
- Qatar: Rolled out UPI acceptance in 2023; in 2024 NPCI partnered with Qatar National Bank and in 2025 with Commercial Bank of Qatar, bringing UPI QR payments to merchants across the country.
- Saudi Arabia: NRIs can link Saudi (+966) numbers to Indian bank accounts, allowing both remittances and local transactions via UPI apps like Google Pay and PhonePe.
How NRIs can use UPI in the Gulf
One of the biggest advantages for Indian expats is that UPI now works with international mobile numbers.
Steps to set up UPI abroad:
- Open an NRE/NRO account with an Indian bank that supports UPI.
- Register your international mobile number (e.g., +971 for UAE).
- Download a UPI-enabled app such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm or BHIM.
- Link your account, verify with OTP/biometrics, and start making payments.
Supported apps
- BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm
- FedMobile (Federal Bank)
- iMobile (ICICI Bank)
- BHIM IndusPay (IndusInd Bank)
- SIB Mirror+ (South Indian Bank)
- BHIM AU (AU Small Finance Bank)
Banks supporting international numbers
AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, Canara Bank, City Union Bank, DBS, Equitas, Federal Bank, HDFC, ICICI, IDFC First, IndusInd, Kotak Mahindra, PNB, South Indian Bank, SBI, Yes Bank.
Why it matters
For NRIs, UPI means instant remittances, easy payments in India, and seamless use abroad. For Indian tourists—who make up millions of visitors to the Gulf—it provides a secure, cashless option at shopping malls, restaurants, taxis and tourist sites.
The bigger picture: UPI’s global ambitions
As of September 2025, UPI is live in 12 countries including the US, UK, Australia, Singapore and France. Through its global arm NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), India aims to make UPI available in 20 countries by FY29.
By focusing on cross-border remittances, merchant acceptance, and travel convenience, UPI is not only easing life for Indian expats but also positioning itself as a global fintech model for real-time payments.
