The partnership with NPCI International brings UPI payments to UAE merchants, targeting a growing market of over 12 million Indian visitors
Magnati is expanding its digital payment ecosystem in the UAE through a strategic partnership with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) that will enable QR-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant payments across its point-of-sale terminal network. The collaboration launches initially at Dubai Duty Free, with plans to expand across retail, hospitality, transport and supermarket sectors.
The partnership taps into India’s rapidly growing digital payments market, where UPI processed more than 15 billion transactions in November 2024. For UAE merchants, particularly in the travel retail sector, the integration offers access to a significant customer base of over 12 million Indian travelers.
“With the NPCI collaboration, Magnati has expanded its alternative payment channels network for Dubai Duty Free as this partnership aims to bolster digital payments, facilitate cross border payments and provide a seamless payment experience catering to the Indian travelers and NRIs,” says Salim Awan, MD Institutional Payments at Magnati.
Strategic expansion
The implementation at Dubai Duty Free serves as a launching point for broader regional expansion. The travel retailer, which reported India as its top source market in 2024, sees the integration as a key enhancement to its payment offerings.
“We are delighted to partner with Magnati to provide another seamless payment solution for our customers,” says Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director at Dubai Duty Free. “With India as our top source market in 2024, we are positive that this will be a welcomed convenience for our Indian customers seeking a cashless and contactless payment option.”
Cross-border connections
For NIPL, the partnership represents a strategic move to expand UPI’s global footprint. “The partnership with Magnati is a strategic step towards expanding UPI acceptance in the UAE,” says Ritesh Shukla, Chief Executive Officer at NPCI International. “It offers Indian travelers a seamless and familiar payment experience at premier destinations like Dubai Duty-Free. This collaboration aligns with our vision of providing Indians with a global digital payments acceptance network and enhancing their payment experience abroad.”
The mobile-first payment solution has gained traction globally for its cost-effectiveness and reliability in merchant payment transactions. As Magnati rolls out the service across its UAE merchant network, the partnership is positioned to strengthen economic ties between the two countries while modernizing the regional payment infrastructure.
