Indian travellers visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may soon be able to make payments and manage finances without the need for cash, cards, or other traditional payment methods, according to Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai.
Speaking at an event on Thursday celebrating the growing adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the UAE, Sivan outlined a future in which travellers could rely entirely on their passports, with all key financial tools integrated into a seamless digital system.
“Everything will be made easy,” he said, noting that the initiative is part of a broader push to simplify international mobility and cross-border financial transactions for Indian citizens. Though he did not provide a specific timeline, Sivan described the effort as a “work in progress,” aiming to consolidate identity and personal finance capabilities into a single digital ecosystem.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in the international expansion of UPI, India’s real-time mobile payment platform developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Through its global arm, NPCI International, the organisation has been actively pursuing partnerships to broaden UPI acceptance outside India.
In the UAE, major retailers such as Lulu Group and Dubai Duty Free have already adopted UPI-enabled payment systems. This allows Indian visitors to use their existing mobile apps to make purchases directly from their Indian bank accounts, eliminating the need for currency exchange or foreign credit cards.
The next phase of the initiative involves deeper integration between UPI and the UAE’s local payment system, AANI, managed by Al Etihad Payments. The aim is to create an even more interconnected digital payments framework, enhancing ease of use and financial accessibility for both residents and tourists.
The move is seen as a step forward in strengthening India-UAE economic ties while enhancing convenience for the growing number of Indian tourists and business travellers. India is the largest source of international visitors to the UAE, with over 2 million Indians travelling to the Gulf nation annually.
Industry experts view this collaboration as part of a global trend toward interoperable, secure digital payment systems that transcend borders. For Indian travellers, this could soon mean a future where carrying a passport alone is enough to access funds, make purchases, and navigate financial transactions abroad.
