Yes—tourists can pay with UPI at participating merchants in Qatar if they have an eligible Indian bank account linked to a supported UPI app and enable international payments for that account before paying. UPI is not accepted at every shop, and it is not a general visitor wallet. Check for UPI acceptance at the merchant and review the QAR amount, INR conversion and any fees in the app before confirming.
What using UPI in Qatar means
For a visitor, UPI in Qatar is a cross-border merchant payment: the payment is made from an eligible Indian bank account through a UPI app. It does not mean that any tourist can register for UPI using only a passport or a Qatari phone number. NPCI says to activate UPI Global or UPI International for the specific bank account in the app before use. NPCI’s UPI Global instructions describe the service and activation.
If you are asking whether Google Pay or PhonePe will work, the key checks are whether your specific bank account and app support the international feature, whether you have enabled it for that account, and whether the merchant accepts UPI. App availability alone does not guarantee that a Qatar purchase will go through.
What you need before you pay
- An eligible Indian bank account linked to a supported UPI app.
- The mobile number registered with the bank must match the number verified in the UPI app for the app to fetch the account. See NPCI’s UPI FAQ.
- UPI Global or UPI International enabled for the relevant account, following the app’s instructions.
- Internet access so the app can connect, and a participating Qatar merchant offering UPI payment.
NPCI also supports eligible NRIs using NRE or NRO accounts and international mobile numbers, subject to supported country codes, banks, apps and bank terms. Qatar’s +974 code appears on NPCI’s list, but this does not mean every tourist can use a Qatar number to register. Check the current NPCI international-number country, bank and app list and confirm eligibility with your bank.
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Where UPI is accepted in Qatar
UPI acceptance depends on participating merchant and acquiring networks; it is not nationwide acceptance at every point of sale. On 25 February 2025, QNB announced QR UPI acceptance for merchants it acquired, describing its network as including locations such as airports, hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants and retail outlets. That announcement applies to the QNB-acquired network, not all merchants in Qatar. QNB’s announcement gives the network context.
On 22 September 2025, QNB reported that Qatar Duty Free was the first merchant live on UPI in Qatar, using QNB POS terminals powered by NETSTARS. This is a reported launch milestone, not a guarantee that every transaction or outlet will offer UPI. QNB’s Qatar Duty Free announcement describes the launch.
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- Please only insert the sim card when you arrive your destination, this is because once insert the Sim Card is consider card activated and will start counting of your sim card valid days.
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NIPL’s Qatar page lists examples including the Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf, Qatar Duty Free, Tim Hortons, Fat Burger, Sushi Library, TGI Fridays, Burger King, Lulu Hypermarket, Zara, Safari Supermarkets and Carrefour. The list is not a promise that every branch is live or that UPI will be available for every purchase. A Commercial Bank announcement in September 2025 described an agreement to enable UPI across its Qatar merchant network; an agreement alone does not establish that every merchant in that network is live. Commercial Bank’s announcement describes the rollout agreement.
How to check and pay at the counter
- Look for a BHIM UPI or network-partner acceptance mark, or ask the merchant whether UPI QR payment is available.
- Scan the merchant’s QR code using your UPI app.
- Before authorizing, check the amount in Qatari riyals (QAR), the converted Indian-rupee (INR) amount, the exchange rate and any displayed fees.
- Confirm only if the displayed total and terms are acceptable. If UPI is not offered or the app cannot complete the payment, use another payment method accepted by the merchant.
UPI and Qatar’s visitor wallet are different services
Qatar Mobile Payment (QMP) is a separate domestic wallet system, not the name for UPI payments. Qatar Central Bank says QMP visitor registration requires a passport and entry visa as proof of identity, a smartphone with internet access, and an active mobile number from a Qatar telecom provider. Those are QMP requirements; they should not be treated as requirements for paying with an Indian UPI app. Qatar Central Bank’s QMP information explains the visitor wallet.
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- Phone Model:Please check that your phone supports the card insertion function before use.
- Easy Top-Up : You can recharge your data plan on your next top-up!
- Low speed data:When the daily/ total data are run out, the data speed would be reduced but not below 384 kbps with unlimited access.
- Please only insert the sim card when you arrive your destination, this is because once insert the Sim Card is consider card activated and will start counting of your sim card valid days.
- Hotspot support:Our plans, which are applicable for data internet to use at the country package your purchased. And it is supported by the hotspot,but not come with local number for local call & SMS.
What to check about exchange rates and fees
There is no single exchange markup or fee established for every bank and UPI app. The amount, conversion rate and any applicable fee can depend on the issuing bank or app. Review the final payment screen and your bank’s terms before authorizing; do not assume the INR amount will match a rate shown elsewhere.
Commercial Bank’s September 2025 announcement cited more than 20 billion UPI transactions per month as an India-wide usage figure. That figure describes UPI use in India, not UPI acceptance or payment volume in Qatar. The official material cited here does not establish a Qatar-specific acceptance percentage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tourist without an Indian bank account use UPI in Qatar?
The official material describes Qatar UPI payments as being made from Indian bank accounts through UPI apps. It does not establish that a visitor without an eligible Indian account can register for UPI in Qatar.
Do I need a Qatari SIM to use UPI?
No Qatari number requirement is established for UPI in the cited instructions. QMP’s Qatar-telecom-number requirement applies to that separate wallet. Your UPI app needs internet access, and the bank-number verification requirements for your linked account must be satisfied.
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Does Qatar Duty Free accept UPI?
QNB reported Qatar Duty Free as the first merchant live on UPI in Qatar on 22 September 2025. Ask at the point of sale to confirm that the specific outlet and transaction offer UPI.
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