Indian travellers visiting the United Arab Emirates may soon no longer need to carry cash, bank cards, or physical payment instruments, as efforts to expand the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) gain momentum across the Gulf nation.
Speaking at an event in Dubai on Thursday, Satish Kumar Sivan, the Consul General of India in Dubai, outlined a vision of seamless digital integration that would allow Indian nationals to rely solely on their passports and smartphones for payments abroad.
“Everything will be made easy,” Sivan said, explaining that the goal is to digitally consolidate identity and personal finance tools. While technical details and a rollout timeline were not disclosed, the envoy described the concept as a long-term initiative that is steadily advancing.
The announcement comes as India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) continues its push to expand the international reach of UPI, the homegrown instant payment platform that has transformed digital transactions in India.
The UAE is one of the first countries where UPI acceptance is being widely implemented. Indian visitors can now use their preferred UPI-enabled apps to make payments at leading retail chains such as Lulu and Dubai Duty Free, with transactions debited directly from Indian bank accounts.
The next phase of the initiative aims for full interoperability between India’s UPI and the UAE’s local payment platform, AANI. Officials say this integration will deepen cross-border digital financial connectivity, supporting smoother travel, commerce, and remittances between the two nations.
“This isn’t just about convenience — it’s about transforming the cross-border payment experience for millions of Indians who live in or travel to the UAE,” said a representative from NPCI International, which is spearheading the global rollout of UPI.
India and the UAE have seen growing cooperation in the fintech sector, with UPI playing a central role in efforts to modernize bilateral financial infrastructure. The initiative is expected to particularly benefit the large Indian diaspora living in the UAE and the increasing number of Indian tourists and business travellers frequenting the Gulf state.
As global economies move toward cashless ecosystems, India’s drive to make UPI a global payment standard marks a significant step in reshaping how citizens manage their finances abroad. If realised, the vision could position Indian travellers at the forefront of a new era of frictionless, identity-linked digital commerce.
