Indian travellers visiting Dubai can now save money on airport shopping by paying through India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has announced a promotional offer providing a 10% discount on eligible purchases at Dubai Duty Free, with the maximum discount capped at AED 100.
Announced on November 5, 2026, the initiative is aimed at making international shopping more convenient for Indian visitors while encouraging the use of UPI outside India. Travellers can pay directly from eligible Indian bank accounts through supported UPI applications after activating international payment services. The arrangement covers participating Dubai Duty Free payment terminals at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.
How the 10% UPI Discount at Dubai Duty Free Works
Under the new offer, Indian travellers receive a 10% discount on eligible purchases when they pay through UPI at participating Dubai Duty Free outlets.
The maximum discount available per eligible transaction is AED 100. This means the actual saving depends on the purchase amount.
| Purchase value | 10% discount | Amount saved |
|---|---|---|
| AED 100 | AED 10 | AED 10 |
| AED 300 | AED 30 | AED 30 |
| AED 500 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
| AED 800 | AED 80 | AED 80 |
| AED 1,000 | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| AED 1,500 | AED 150 | AED 100 (cap) |
For example, a traveller spending AED 500 on eligible products would receive a discount of AED 50. On a purchase worth AED 1,500, the calculated 10% discount would be AED 150, but the benefit would be limited to AED 100.
The offer applies to eligible purchases rather than automatically covering every transaction. Travellers should check the promotion’s detailed terms and conditions before shopping, particularly for any product exclusions or transaction restrictions.
Where Can Indian Travellers Use the Offer?
The promotional offer applies at participating Dubai Duty Free payment terminals at two airports:
- Dubai International Airport (DXB): One of the world’s busiest international travel hubs, with extensive duty-free shopping facilities.
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC): Dubai’s second international airport, which also has Dubai Duty Free retail outlets.
Dubai Duty Free sells products across several categories, including:
- Fashion and accessories
- Beauty and cosmetics
- Electronics
- Confectionery and chocolates
- Beverages
- Watches and jewellery
The discount gives Indian passengers an additional incentive to use UPI while shopping in these categories.
How to Activate UPI for International Payments
Indian travellers cannot necessarily use their domestic UPI setup overseas without enabling the international payment facility. They need to activate UPI International or UPI Global through a supported UPI application and link an eligible Indian bank account.
The process involves the following steps:
- Open a UPI-enabled application that supports international payments.
- Locate the UPI International or UPI Global option.
- Activate the facility for an eligible linked bank account.
- Follow the application’s instructions to enable overseas transactions.
- At a participating Dubai Duty Free payment terminal, choose the UPI payment option and complete the transaction through the supported payment flow.
Once activated, payments can be debited directly from the eligible Indian bank account.
Travellers should check whether their bank and UPI application support international transactions before departure. They should also verify the applicable exchange rate and any bank or payment-related charges shown during the transaction.
Network International to Enable UPI Payments
The initiative involves three key organisations: NPCI International, Network International and Dubai Duty Free.
NIPL is responsible for expanding the international acceptance of India’s UPI payment system. Network International will act as the acquiring partner, enabling UPI acceptance across participating Dubai Duty Free payment terminals and supporting transaction processing.
Dubai Duty Free will provide the retail environment where eligible Indian travellers can use the payment facility and access the promotional discount.
Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO of NPCI International, said the initiative is intended to make cross-border payments more familiar and convenient for Indian travellers. He also highlighted the objective of encouraging wider UPI adoption through exclusive shopping benefits.
Murat Cagri Suzer, Group CEO of Network International, said the partnership connects an international payment system with local retail acceptance infrastructure in the UAE.
Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi said Indian travellers represent an important customer group for the retailer and that the UPI integration would make their shopping experience more convenient.
UPI Was Already Available at Dubai Duty Free
The new discount is an expansion of an existing payment arrangement rather than the first introduction of UPI at Dubai Duty Free.
UPI acceptance at the retailer was introduced in January 2025 through a collaboration involving NIPL and Magnati, a payment solutions provider in the Middle East. The latest initiative adds a promotional benefit to the existing international payment capability.
This distinction is important: the new development is the 10% shopping discount, not the first availability of UPI payments at the airport retailer.
Why NPCI International Is Expanding UPI Overseas
NPCI International has been working to expand UPI acceptance beyond India by partnering with payment networks, financial institutions and merchants in international markets.
The objective is to make it easier for Indian consumers to use a familiar digital payment method when travelling abroad.
UPI has become a widely used payment system in India, supporting instant bank-to-bank transfers through mobile applications. Its international expansion allows eligible users to make payments at participating overseas merchants without relying exclusively on cash or international payment cards.
For Indian travellers, the Dubai Duty Free offer combines this payment convenience with a direct financial incentive.
For NPCI International, the collaboration provides another opportunity to increase UPI’s visibility in a destination that attracts a substantial number of Indian visitors.
The Bigger Picture
The Dubai Duty Free promotion highlights how India’s digital payment infrastructure is gradually expanding into international retail markets. Instead of limiting UPI to domestic transactions, NPCI International is working to establish acceptance at overseas shopping destinations and other merchant locations.
The discount also shows how payment providers can use promotional incentives to encourage adoption. While the maximum saving of AED 100 may be relatively small compared with the total cost of an international trip, it gives travellers a practical reason to try UPI for overseas purchases.
Looking Ahead
The success of the offer will depend on how easily travellers can activate international UPI payments, how widely the participating terminals are available and whether the discount encourages customers to choose UPI over other payment methods. Clear communication about eligibility, exclusions and transaction limits will also be important.
For Indian travellers heading to Dubai, the promotion creates another way to save on eligible airport purchases. For NPCI International, it represents another step towards making UPI a more familiar payment option outside India and strengthening digital payment connectivity between India and the UAE.
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