Indian visitors to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore can now conveniently use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for online bookings at prominent tourist attractions. This significant development, announced by India's Ministry of Finance, follows strategic partnerships spearheaded by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the global arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Seamless Payments in the UAE
In the UAE, UPI-enabled online transactions have been integrated for 'At the Top, Burj Khalifa,' the iconic observation experience in Dubai. This initiative is a collaboration between NIPL, NEOPAY, and Emaar Entertainment, marking the Burj Khalifa as the first tourist attraction in the UAE to adopt UPI for e-commerce.
UPI Arrives at Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa
Similarly, in Singapore, NIPL has partnered with FOMO Pay, a leading payment institution, to extend UPI acceptance across Resorts World Sentosa. This integration allows Indian tourists to use their preferred UPI applications for booking attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark. This move is particularly timely, as Singapore welcomed 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2025, underscoring the demand for familiar and user-friendly digital payment solutions.
Expanding Global UPI Acceptance
These latest integrations are part of India's broader strategy to expand its digital payments infrastructure internationally. UPI is currently accepted in 10 countries, including Singapore, the UAE, France (where Eiffel Tower ticketing became UPI-enabled in early 2024), Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece. Uzbekistan is anticipated to become the 11th country to adopt UPI following a commercial agreement announced in August 2026.
The expansion significantly simplifies the booking process for Indian tourists abroad, allowing them to use a trusted payment method rather than relying on international card details or unfamiliar local systems.