NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has announced a partnership with QNB to enable QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments across Qatar through the QNB merchant network. This comes after the UAE got UPI QR payment last week.
This partnership will provide Indian tourists the option to use their preferred payment method across retail stores, tourist attractions, leisure sites, duty-free shops and hotels. Indians rank as the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar in FY 2023.
By adopting UPI payments, merchants in Qatar will also be able to offer a faster and more convenient payment and checkout process, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and opening up numerous opportunities for businesses across the country.
This, in turn, will open up new opportunities for merchants to attract and serve the growing number of international travellers visiting Qatar, further boosting sales and business growth.
Commenting on this, Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief – Partnerships and Business Development, NPCI International said:
We are happy to collaborate with QNB to bring UPI payments to Qatar. We believe that enabling UPI acceptance in Qatar will offer substantial benefits to the large number of Indians visiting the country, simplifying their transactions, and ensuring a hassle-free travel experience abroad. Additionally, merchants in Qatar will greatly benefit from UPI, gaining access to a wider customer base and more efficient payment and collection processing.
Adel Ali Al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice Present, QNB Group Retail Banking, said:
We are thrilled to embark on this pioneering journey with NIPL to bring UPI payments to Qatar, setting a new standard in innovation in the region. With this new digital payment solution acceptance, we are revolutionizing the way transactions are conducted, enhancing the travel experience like never before. We are confident that the strategic initiative will not only elevate the travel and hospitality sectors but also empower local merchants to thrive in a dynamic and increasingly digital marketplace.