India Expands UPI Payments for Online Tourist Bookings at Burj Khalifa and Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa

India has expanded the international reach of its Unified Payments Interface (UPI), enabling Indian travellers to make online payments for tickets and experiences at major tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. The development allows travellers to use supported UPI applications to book visits to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa observation deck and several attractions at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

According to an announcement issued by the Ministry of Finance on 30 October 2026, the facility has been enabled through international partnerships established by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the overseas arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The initiative extends the availability of India’s digital payment infrastructure to online tourism bookings, allowing travellers to complete eligible transactions using familiar payment applications.

In the UAE, NIPL has partnered with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment to introduce UPI acceptance for online bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa. In Singapore, NIPL has collaborated with FOMO Pay to extend UPI acceptance to attractions at Resorts World Sentosa, including Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Oceanarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark.

The expansion represents another development in India’s efforts to strengthen international digital payment connectivity and make cross-border transactions more convenient for Indian citizens travelling abroad.

Burj Khalifa Becomes First UAE Attraction to Accept UPI for Online Bookings

The introduction of UPI payments at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, marks an important development in the expansion of Indian digital payment services in the United Arab Emirates.

At the Top is the observation deck experience at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, one of the country’s internationally recognised tourist attractions. The new payment integration allows eligible Indian visitors to use their preferred supported UPI applications when purchasing tickets online.

The facility has been introduced through a partnership involving NPCI International Payments Limited, NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment. NEOPAY provides payment acceptance services in the UAE, while Emaar Entertainment operates major leisure and entertainment attractions.

According to the Ministry of Finance, At the Top, Burj Khalifa, is the first tourist attraction in the UAE to implement UPI acceptance specifically for e-commerce transactions.

This distinction is significant because UPI acceptance in the UAE was previously available through various arrangements supporting merchant payments. The latest integration extends that capability to online ticket purchases at a major tourism destination.

For Indian travellers, the facility provides another payment option when planning visits and purchasing tickets before arriving at the attraction.

The partnership with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment was originally announced on 29 July 2026, forming part of NIPL’s efforts to expand UPI acceptance across international commercial and tourism services.

UPI Payments Extended to Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore

In Singapore, NPCI International Payments Limited has collaborated with FOMO Pay to expand UPI acceptance to Resorts World Sentosa, one of the country’s major integrated tourism destinations.

The partnership enables eligible Indian travellers to make online payments for bookings at participating attractions within the resort.

These include Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Oceanarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark, which attract visitors from across the world.

Universal Studios Singapore is a major theme park featuring entertainment experiences and attractions inspired by popular films and television productions. Singapore Oceanarium provides marine exhibits and educational experiences, while Adventure Cove Waterpark offers recreational water attractions.

The availability of UPI payments for online bookings allows Indian visitors to use supported payment applications when arranging these experiences.

The Ministry of Finance highlighted the importance of the Singapore market, noting that the country welcomed approximately 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2025.

The substantial movement of Indian tourists creates demand for payment systems that are convenient, familiar and accessible across international destinations.

NIPL’s partnership with FOMO Pay was announced on 9 September 2026 and represents another step in extending UPI beyond conventional retail payments to online tourism and entertainment services.

Cross-Border UPI Payments Make Travel Bookings More Convenient

The expansion of UPI into international tourism bookings reflects the increasing importance of digital payment connectivity for travellers.

Indian citizens using UPI domestically are accustomed to transferring money and making merchant payments through applications linked to their bank accounts.

International UPI integrations seek to extend selected payment capabilities to merchants and services outside India through arrangements with local financial institutions and payment service providers.

For online tourism bookings, these integrations can reduce the need to rely exclusively on international card payments or other conventional payment methods.

Travellers may be able to purchase tickets using supported UPI applications without separately entering card details.

However, the availability of UPI does not necessarily eliminate foreign exchange conversion costs or other charges associated with international transactions.

Applicable exchange rates, payment conditions and transaction fees depend on the payment provider, participating merchant and the arrangements supporting the transaction.

The principal benefit of the new integration is the availability of an additional digital payment method that Indian travellers already recognise and use.

NPCI International Strengthens India’s Global Payment Partnerships

NPCI International Payments Limited is responsible for expanding the international presence of payment technologies developed by the National Payments Corporation of India.

Its activities include establishing partnerships with overseas financial institutions, payment networks, banks and commercial service providers.

These partnerships support different forms of cross-border payment connectivity, including merchant payments and international remittances.

The UAE and Singapore have been important markets for the international expansion of UPI because of their economic relationships with India and the substantial movement of Indian tourists, workers, professionals and business travellers.

The latest tourism-related payment integrations demonstrate how digital infrastructure originally developed for domestic financial transactions can be adapted for international commercial activities.

By working with local payment providers, NIPL can extend payment acceptance while operating within the regulatory and commercial arrangements applicable in participating countries.

The Ministry of Finance described the new tourism booking facilities as part of India’s broader efforts to strengthen international digital payments and facilitate cross-border commerce.

UPI Acceptance Expands Across Ten Countries

According to the Ministry of Finance’s announcement dated 30 October 2026, UPI acceptance is available through participating payment arrangements in ten countries.

These countries are Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.

The expansion has been supported by partnerships involving international banks, payment service providers and financial institutions.

The services available differ between countries. Some integrations support payments to participating merchants, while others facilitate cross-border transfers between individuals or accounts.

Consequently, the presence of UPI in a country does not mean that every merchant accepts UPI or that all Indian UPI applications can be used for every transaction.

Travellers must confirm whether their preferred application supports payments at the relevant merchant or online booking platform.

The Ministry’s announcement highlights the expanding international reach of India’s digital payment infrastructure while demonstrating the importance of partnerships with local financial institutions.

Eiffel Tower Ticketing Established Earlier International Tourism Integration

The latest tourism payment partnerships build upon earlier initiatives that introduced UPI acceptance at prominent international attractions.

On 26 January 2024, UPI-based ticket booking was introduced for the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

The initiative enabled Indian travellers to use UPI for eligible ticket purchases at one of Europe’s most recognised tourist landmarks.

The Eiffel Tower integration demonstrated the potential for extending Indian digital payment services to international tourism and cultural destinations.

The expansion to Burj Khalifa and Resorts World Sentosa builds upon that approach by introducing similar capabilities in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

These developments indicate that international UPI acceptance is gradually expanding beyond conventional retail transactions into specialised services such as tourism, entertainment and online bookings.

Uzbekistan Expected to Become Next UPI Partner Country

The Ministry of Finance also highlighted developments concerning the expansion of UPI acceptance to Uzbekistan.

According to the government, Uzbekistan is expected to become the next country added to the list of markets supporting UPI acceptance following a commercial agreement announced on 30 August 2026.

The agreement forms part of India’s expanding cooperation with international payment networks and financial institutions.

The Ministry identified Uzbekistan as the prospective eleventh country in the list of UPI acceptance markets referenced in its latest announcement.

However, the commercial agreement should be distinguished from the commencement of live payment services.

The availability of operational UPI transactions in Uzbekistan will depend on the completion of the necessary implementation arrangements and the announcement of service availability.

Digital Payments Become Part of India’s International Economic Engagement

The international expansion of UPI has become an important component of India’s broader digital public infrastructure cooperation.

UPI was developed to facilitate real-time digital payments between participating banks and payment service providers in India.

Its adoption has transformed domestic retail payments by allowing individuals and businesses to make electronic transactions through interoperable payment applications.

International partnerships are extending selected capabilities of this system to overseas markets.

Such arrangements can support tourism, business travel, merchant payments and cross-border financial connectivity.

The Ministry of Finance has emphasised that expanding the international reach of Indian payment technologies can strengthen commercial relationships and promote cooperation in financial innovation.

The integration of UPI into prominent tourist attractions also provides an opportunity for international businesses to accommodate the payment preferences of Indian customers.

As more payment networks and merchants participate, travellers may gain additional options for making purchases and arranging services abroad.

India’s Digital Payment Infrastructure Gains Wider International Reach

The availability of UPI payments for online bookings at Burj Khalifa and Resorts World Sentosa represents another stage in the international expansion of India’s digital payment ecosystem.

Through partnerships with NEOPAY, Emaar Entertainment and FOMO Pay, NPCI International has enabled Indian travellers to use supported UPI applications for eligible tourism-related transactions in the UAE and Singapore.

The development demonstrates the growing application of Indian payment technologies in international commerce, particularly in sectors serving large numbers of Indian visitors.

The earlier introduction of UPI-based ticketing at the Eiffel Tower and the continued expansion of international payment partnerships indicate that tourism and travel services are becoming important areas of cross-border payment integration.

For Indian travellers, these initiatives provide additional convenience when booking experiences at participating destinations.

For India’s digital payments ecosystem, the expansion reflects the potential for domestic financial technologies to support international commerce through cooperation with overseas financial institutions and businesses.

The Ministry of Finance has reiterated its commitment to strengthening such partnerships as India continues to expand the international reach of its digital public infrastructure.

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Official References

1. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Finance, Government of India

Publication date: 30 October 2026

Publication time: 6:48 PM IST

Official announcement: UPI Acceptance Enabled for Online Bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa and Resorts World Sentosa.

PIB Release ID: 2330558

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2330558

2. National Payments Corporation of India

Official information on the Unified Payments Interface and India’s digital payment infrastructure.

https://www.npci.org.in

3. NPCI International Payments Limited

Official information concerning the international expansion of UPI and cross-border payment partnerships.

https://www.npci.org.in

4. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Finance

Publication date: 30 August 2026

Official information concerning the agreement to expand UPI acceptance in Uzbekistan.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2304967

5. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Publication date: 6 February 2026

Official announcement: India Has Signed MoU / Agreements with 23 Countries for Cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2224505

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