Indian travelers can now book tickets for Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa using the Unified Payments Interface. Managed by the National Payments Corporation of India, this expansion simplifies cross-border payments by removing the need for international credit cards. This development is part of a broader strategy to establish Indian digital payment infrastructure in global markets.
Indian tourists traveling to major leisure destinations in the UAE and Singapore can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to book tickets online. This expansion enables seamless transactions at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and various attractions within Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, including Universal Studios Singapore and the Singapore Oceanarium. The National Payments Corporation of India, through its international subsidiary, has collaborated with regional payment partners to integrate this system directly into the e-commerce platforms of these destinations.
For the UAE rollout, the system operates through a partnership involving NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment, marking the first time the Indian payment protocol has been enabled for a commercial attraction in the Emirates. In Singapore, the integration is supported by FOMO Pay, which facilitates secure ticket payments for popular tourist spots. These moves aim to reduce the reliance on traditional credit cards and currency exchange processes, which often involve transaction friction for outbound travelers.
The initiative is a significant step in the broader effort to export India’s digital public infrastructure. By making the payment system accessible in high-traffic tourism corridors, the government is building global recognition for the domestic payment rail. This strategy follows the pilot launch at the Eiffel Tower in France earlier in 2024. The payment protocol is now operational in ten countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Greece. The Finance Ministry has also indicated that Uzbekistan is set to become the next jurisdiction to adopt the technology, following a commercial agreement finalized in August 2026.
For investors and market observers, this expansion highlights the systematic effort of the National Payments Corporation of India to compete with established global payment networks in the cross-border digital commerce space. While the current focus remains on travel and retail, the wider adoption of this infrastructure signifies a shift toward creating a competitive alternative for international payments. The success of these integrations will depend on ongoing partnerships with local payment institutions and the volume of adoption by Indian travelers. Moving forward, observers will be tracking the addition of new jurisdictions and the potential for the system to move beyond tourist-focused applications into broader commercial transactions.