Burj Khalifa Becomes First UAE Tourist Attraction to Accept UPI
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
Burj Khalifa's 'At the Top' now accepts UPI payments from Indian travellers, marking a milestone in UPI's global expansion. This is the first tourist attraction in the UAE to offer UPI for e-commerce transactions, enhancing convenience for Indian tourists.
Background
UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is an Indian real-time payment system developed by NPCI. It has been expanding internationally, with several countries accepting UPI for payments. The UAE has a significant Indian diaspora and is a popular tourist destination for Indians.
Key facts
At the Top, Burj Khalifa is the first tourist attraction in the UAE to accept UPI for e-commerce transactions.
The integration was enabled through a partnership between NPCI, NEOPAY (UAE-based payment solution provider), and Emaar Entertainment.
Indian travellers can now pay for Burj Khalifa tickets using UPI apps before they land in the UAE.
Ticket prices: Silver (Level 124-125) AED 189 (~₹5,000), Gold (Level 148) AED 399 (~₹10,400), Platinum (Level 152-154) AED 769 (~₹20,000).
This move aims to offer Indian travellers a familiar payment method, boosting tourism and digital payments.
Prelims pointers
- UPI: Unified Payments Interface, developed by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
- NPCI: umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
- NEOPAY: UAE-based payment solutions provider.
- Emaar Entertainment: operator of Burj Khalifa's 'At the Top'.
- UAE: United Arab Emirates, a key trade and tourism partner of India.
Mains angles
- Discuss the significance of UPI's global expansion for India's digital economy and soft power.
- Examine the role of fintech partnerships in enhancing bilateral ties between India and the UAE.
- Analyse the impact of digital payment integration on tourism and cross-border transactions.