Finance 31 October 2026
UPI Acceptance Enabled for Online Bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa and Resorts World Sentosa
Why in the News?
According to the Union Ministry of Finance and **NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)**, Indian travelers visiting the UAE and Singapore can now seamlessly book experiences and make online payments using their preferred **UPI** applications.
Key Features / Major Points:
- UAE E-Commerce Integration: In partnership with **NEOPAY** and **Emaar Entertainment**, UPI acceptance is enabled for *'At the Top, Burj Khalifa'*, marking the first UAE attraction to implement UPI for e-commerce transactions.
- Singapore Expansion: Collaborated with payment institution **FOMO Pay** to integrate UPI at **Resorts World Sentosa**, enabling ticketing for Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Oceanarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
- Global Footprint (10 Countries):
- Currently accepted in **10 international destinations**: Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece.
- **Uzbekistan** is set to become the **11th country** following a commercial agreement signed on August 30, 2026.
- Key Milestone: The online ticketing facility via UPI for the **Eiffel Tower (France)** was launched on **January 26, 2024**.
- Key Traveler Benefits: Eliminates currency conversion friction, reduces cross-border processing charges, and offers a trusted, secure digital payment experience.
Static GK Facts:
- NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL):
- Established: **April 2020** (Wholly-owned international subsidiary of NPCI).
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
- Established: **2008** (Under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007).
- Headquarters: **Mumbai, Maharashtra**.
- UPI System Launch: **2016**.
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI):
- An instant real-time payment system developed by NPCI to facilitate inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which landmark became the first tourist attraction in the UAE to enable UPI payments for e-commerce online bookings?
A: 'At the Top, Burj Khalifa'
Q: Which country is set to become the 11th international destination to adopt India's UPI payment system?
A: Uzbekistan
Q: On which date was the UPI online ticketing facility launched for the Eiffel Tower in France?
A: January 26, 2024
Q: Where is the corporate headquarters of NPCI located?
A: Mumbai, Maharashtra
#UPI #NIPL #NPCI #BurjKhalifa #ResortsWorldSentosa #Singapore #UAE #DigitalPayments #MinistryOfFinance #CurrentAffairs #StaticGK