UPI debuts in Qatar, boosts remittances for expats

DOHA: India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), officially expanded to Qatar on Monday, marking a significant step towards serving the large Indian expatriate community and travellers in the Gulf nation. Until now, UPI payments were accepted only at select duty-free shops in Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

With its formal rollout, the facility is now available across retail shops in Qatar. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted its benefits for the 830,000 Indian expatriates living in Qatar, a community that comprises 27% of the country's total population.

The minister added that the new payment option will make remittances faster and reduce transaction costs, ultimately bringing the Indian diaspora closer to their home country through the power of UPI.