Burj Khalifa & Universal Studios: UPI Now Live for Online Bookings!
Indian travelers can now use UPI to book tickets for Burj Khalifa and Universal Studios Singapore online. Find out more about this expansion.
Indian travelers are in for a treat as the convenience of UPI payments tourist attractions expands to some of the world's most iconic landmarks. The Ministry of Finance has announced that visitors to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore can now use their favorite Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps to book tickets online, eliminating the hassle of currency exchange or international credit card fees for these premier experiences.
Scaling New Heights in Dubai
In a landmark move for the UAE, the National Payments Corporation of India's international arm, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), has forged strategic partnerships with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment. This collaboration allows Indian tourists to make seamless e-commerce transactions for At the Top, Burj Khalifa.
This is a significant milestone, as the Burj Khalifa becomes the first tourist attraction in the UAE to implement UPI for online bookings, allowing travelers to secure their spot at the world's tallest building with a simple scan or app click.
Island Adventures in Singapore
The digital payment revolution extends to Singapore as well. Through a partnership with FOMO Pay, NIPL has integrated UPI acceptance at Resorts World Sentosa. This opens the doors for easier online bookings at several high-profile attractions, including:
- Universal Studios Singapore
- Singapore Oceanarium
- Adventure Cove Waterpark
Meeting the Global Demand
According to the Ministry of Finance, the integration of UPI at these world-class destinations is a direct response to the increasing demand for trusted and efficient cross-border payment experiences. By allowing users to pay via the apps they already trust in India, the process of planning an international vacation becomes significantly smoother.
Timeline of the Expansion
While the facility is now active, the groundwork was laid earlier this year. The partnership for the UAE was announced on July 29, followed by the Singapore agreement on September 9.
UPI's Growing Global Footprint
The expansion into the UAE and Singapore is part of a larger strategy to take India's digital payment success global. UPI is currently accepted in 10 countries:
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- France (where ticket bookings for the Eiffel Tower were enabled on January 26, 2024)
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Qatar
- Sri Lanka
- Cambodia
- Greece
The network is set to grow even further, with Uzbekistan expected to become the 11th country to accept UPI following a commercial agreement announced on August 30.