Introduction
India’s pioneering digital payment platform, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has taken another global leap — this time to Qatar. In a significant move to promote cross-border digital transactions, the LuLu Group, one of the Middle East’s largest retail chains, has officially started accepting UPI payments across its stores in Qatar.
This initiative allows Indian tourists, expatriates, and business travelers to make payments instantly using Indian bank-linked UPI apps, marking another milestone in India’s journey toward globalizing its fintech ecosystem.
What Is UPI and Why It Matters
UPI, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is one of the world’s most advanced and successful real-time payment systems. It enables instant money transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions directly from users’ bank accounts via mobile applications.
Its success in India has been phenomenal — processing billions of transactions every month and revolutionizing how Indians handle money. Now, by entering new international markets, UPI aims to simplify payments for Indian travelers and strengthen India’s fintech footprint worldwide.
UPI Goes Global: Qatar Joins the List
The rollout of UPI at LuLu stores in Qatar is part of NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)’s ongoing effort to expand the UPI network globally.
With this integration, shoppers at LuLu Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, and Express stores in Qatar can now scan a QR code at the billing counter and pay directly from their Indian UPI apps such as PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, or BHIM.
The payment is processed in Indian Rupees, automatically converted into Qatari Riyals, ensuring a smooth, fast, and transparent experience for both the customer and the merchant.
Benefits for Indian Shoppers and Businesses
- Seamless Payments Abroad
Indian tourists can now shop in Qatar without worrying about currency exchange or international cards. A simple UPI scan completes the payment within seconds. - Cost-Effective Transactions
UPI eliminates foreign transaction fees typically associated with credit or debit cards, offering a cheaper alternative for travelers. - Promotes Financial Inclusion
The move helps Indian expatriates in Qatar and the wider Middle East easily manage cross-border transactions with direct bank connectivity. - Boost to Indian Fintech Exports
India’s growing UPI network demonstrates the country’s global leadership in digital payments technology, creating new opportunities for international collaboration.
LuLu Group: A Key Partner in the Middle East
LuLu Group International, headquartered in Abu Dhabi and led by Yusuff Ali M.A., operates more than 250 stores across the Gulf region, including major outlets in Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
By adopting UPI, LuLu becomes one of the first major retail groups in the Gulf to offer an India-based digital payment system, highlighting the strong trade and cultural ties between India and Qatar.
India’s Growing UPI Footprint Worldwide
Qatar is the latest country to join a growing list of nations adopting UPI. Similar partnerships have already been established in:
- Singapore (with PayNow integration)
- UAE (merchant payments via Mashreq and NEOPAY)
- Nepal (cross-border payment adoption)
- Sri Lanka and Mauritius (tourism payments and remittances)
Each of these partnerships strengthens India’s goal of making UPI a globally accepted payment platform, on par with international giants like Visa and Mastercard.
Expert Reactions
Industry experts view this expansion as a strategic milestone. It not only supports India’s “Digital India” mission but also strengthens economic diplomacy through technology.
Digital economists note that cross-border payment systems like UPI reduce transaction costs, improve financial transparency, and bring convenience to millions of Indian travelers and NRIs living abroad.
What’s Next
The success of UPI in Qatar could open doors for expansion into more Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Discussions are already underway to bring UPI acceptance to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, further widening India’s digital payment ecosystem.
In the future, this could also pave the way for remittance solutions, where NRIs could send money home using UPI-linked apps at lower costs and in real time.
Conclusion
The launch of UPI in LuLu Group’s Qatar stores marks a new era for Indian digital payments on the global stage. It combines the convenience of cashless transactions with the reliability of India’s fintech infrastructure, offering a win-win solution for both customers and businesses.
As UPI continues to spread its wings internationally, it reinforces India’s position as a leader in digital innovation — making “Made in India” technology a part of everyday life across the world.