UPI Now Live in Qatar: Piyush Goyal Inaugurates India's Payment System; Here's All You Need To Know

India's very own UPI has now been officially launched in Qatar. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated UPI at Lulu Hypermarket in Doha, making it accessible at point-of-sale (POS) terminals across the country through Qatar National Bank's (QNB) merchant network. Qatar becomes the eighth country to adopt UPI, joining Bhutan, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, France, Nepal, and the UAE.

UPI Operational Across Qatar

The initial UPI rollout was at duty-free outlets in Hamad International Airport in September 2025. UPI is now available in major retail locations, including Lulu Group stores. The system will help Indian travellers, expatriates, and residents as well in Qatar with real-time digital transactions. Users can now carry out faster remittances back to India, which will make cross-border money transfers more convenient.

The service in Qatar is powered by a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and NETSTARS, a Japanese payment gateway provider.

"Proud to launch Bharat's own #UPI at Lulu Hypermarket in Doha, Qatar. This launch is a game-changer for digital connectivity and ease of payments, reflecting India's commitment to facilitating cross-border commerce and leveraging 'Digital India' initiatives. Operational at Qatar National Bank POSs covering large areas of the Qatari market, this initiative will help Indian travellers, further boosting trade and tourism between the two countries." said Piyush Goyal in his Twitter post.

How to Use UPI in Qatar

Using UPI in Qatar is very similar to its usage in India, with a few specifics related to international payments:

1. First of all, you need to check UPI app compatibility. You can use any UPI-enabled app supporting international transactions, such as Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm.

2. Next, you should look for UPI QR codes at major retail outlets tied to QNB's merchant network.

3. Open your UPI app, scan the merchant's QR code, enter the payment amount, and authenticate via UPI PIN. Transactions are processed in real time with immediate confirmation.

4. Cross-border payments are settled efficiently through NPCI International Payments Limited, QNB, and partner service providers, ensuring smooth foreign exchange handling.

Additional Benefits of UPI in Qatar

• Fast Money Transfers to India: UPI will now allow expatriates and travellers to send money back home quickly and cost-effectively.

• Merchants and users generally do not need to pay additional fees for using UPI in Qatar, which is much better than traditional card payments

• For retailers and businesses, UPI adoption simplifies cross-border trade payments along with reduced transaction costs.