Burj Khalifa enables UPI bookings

Indian travellers can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to book tickets online for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, after NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) enabled UPI acceptance on the attraction's official website in partnership with UAE-based payments firm NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment.The move makes the iconic Dubai attraction the first in the UAE to accept UPI for e-commerce transactions.The rollout expands UPI's use in the UAE beyond in-store QR code payments to online travel bookings, allowing Indian visitors to complete ticket purchases before they travel.

It also reflects NPCI International's push to expand the global acceptance of India's digital payments ecosystem and strengthen cross-border payment options for Indian travellers.Also Read: HSBC wins $5.5 billion of NRI deposits via leveraged strategyNIPL, the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has been working with NEOPAY since 2022 to enable QR-based UPI payments across the latter's merchant network in the UAE.

The latest integration extends that partnership to e-commerce, allowing users to pay through UPI while booking experiences on the official At the Top, Burj Khalifa website.Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO of NPCI International, said the initiative makes it easier for Indian travellers to use "a payment method they know and trust" while planning their visit, even before arriving in the UAE.

He said the partnership will expand UPI acceptance in the country and make payments more convenient for Indian visitors.Also Read: Nepal eases post-demonetisation curbs on Indian currency; allows Rs 200, Rs 500 notesAt the Top, Burj Khalifa is among Dubai's most visited tourist attractions and receives a significant number of visitors from India every year.

Travellers can now choose their preferred experience and complete payment using UPI before reaching the UAE.Calling it a milestone for digital commerce between India and the UAE, NEOPAY CEO Vibhor Mundhada said the company has become the first in the GCC to enable UPI acceptance for e-commerce transactions, helping merchants serve millions of Indian consumers who prefer digital payments.An official spokesperson for Emaar Entertainment said India is "one of our most important international markets" and that introducing UPI as a payment option makes "the customer journey simpler" for Indian guests.The announcement comes as NPCI International continues to expand UPI's overseas footprint through partnerships with banks, payment providers and merchants across multiple countries, making digital payments more accessible for Indians travelling abroad. ...