Burj Khalifa Tickets Via UPI: NPCI Enables Online Booking For Indian Tourists

In a significant development for Indian travelers visiting the United Arab Emirates, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has announced a major expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. Indian tourists can now book their tickets for the iconic Burj Khalifa online using UPI. This move marks a historic milestone as the world-renowned tourist destination becomes the first entity in the UAE to accept UPI for e-commerce transactions. This initiative transitions UPI's presence in the region from physical store-based QR payments to the broader realm of online travel bookings.

Strategic Partnership for Digital Payments

The introduction of this service is the result of a strategic collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), NEOPAY (the payment subsidiary of Mashreq), and Emaar Entertainment. On Wednesday, these organizations collectively announced the launch of UPI payment facilities for online bookings at 'At the Top, Burj Khalifa', while according to a statement released by the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), this facility allows Indian tourists to book their visit to the world's tallest building through its official website using a payment method they're already familiar with. This step further extends the existing partnership between NIPL and NEOPAY in the UAE. Since the launch of QR-based UPI merchant payments in the country in 2022, Indian travelers have been utilizing UPI-enabled applications to make payments across NEOPAY's extensive merchant network.

Simplifying Travel Planning for Tourists

'At the Top, Burj Khalifa' stands as one of Dubai's most visited tourist attractions, drawing travelers from across the globe, with a substantial number arriving from India. NPCI highlighted that tourists can now select their preferred experiences on the official website of 'At the Top, Burj Khalifa' and complete their payments using UPI before they even arrive at the destination. This makes travel planning Importantly easier and more convenient. Ritesh Shukla, the Managing Director and CEO of NPCI International, stated that by introducing UPI payment facilities for online bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, they're simplifying the payment process for travelers using a system they know and trust. He emphasized that travelers can take advantage of this service while planning their trips, even before reaching the UAE.

A Milestone in Middle East Digital Commerce

Vibhor Mundhada, the CEO of NEOPAY, described this development as a significant milestone for digital commerce between India and the UAE. He noted that the company has become the first in the GCC region to provide UPI payment facilities for e-commerce transactions. This advancement will assist merchants in serving millions of Indian customers who prefer digital payment methods. An official from Emaar Entertainment remarked that India is one of their most important international markets. They added that introducing UPI as a payment option makes the customer experience much smoother for Indian guests. NIPL was established on April 3, 2020, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI. As the international branch of NPCI, NIPL is dedicated to implementing India's indigenous and successful real-time payment systems, such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the RuPay card scheme, outside of India.