Indian tourists can use UPI to book attractions in UAE and Singapore

Tourist visitors from India will have the opportunity to make payments for goods in Uzbekistan using familiar mobile applications that support the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Payment will be made by scanning QR codes through the country's national payment system, UZQR.

Representatives of Uzbekistan's national payment system, HUMO and NPCI International, discussed practical steps for launching this project at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 event, which will take place in Mumbai. According to HUMO representatives, this initiative is based on a cross-border agreement on QR payments signed by both parties on August 27, 2026.

The UZQR system is a unified national QR payment system of Uzbekistan. Cooperation with India complements other international projects of HUMO in the field of QR payments, including a partnership with Alipay+. This allows users of international banking applications and digital wallets to make purchases in Uzbekistan via UZQR.

HUMO emphasized that developing such solutions is part of the company's strategy to integrate Uzbekistan's national payment infrastructure into the global digital economy. International cooperation expands cashless payment options, increases transaction convenience for foreign guests, and provides local businesses with additional tools for accepting payments.

The connection of national payment system cards Uzcard and Humo to the Apple Pay service is planned. Previously, the international contactless payment system began operating in Uzbekistan on October 27, but at the initial stage, it only supported Visa and Mastercard cards from eight local banks.

According to information provided by the Central Bank, the process of integrating Uzcard and Humo into this service is ongoing. Apple Pay allows for purchases through Apple devices, eliminating the need to use a physical bank card. The security of transactions and the confidentiality of card data are guaranteed by specialized protection technologies.

Previously, financial institutions such as Uzum, Orient Finans Bank, National Bank of Uzbekistan, Kapitalbank, Hamkorbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, TBC Bank, and Octobank were connected to Apple Pay in Uzbekistan.

Dubai Airports is testing autonomous technologies to enhance mobility for people with disabilities. Moza Saleed Al Mahi, Accessibility Travel Manager at dnata, reported that the company demonstrated this technology at an exhibition on Monday, October 19, as part of its search for new solutions that could simplify travel for passengers with disabilities.

Al Mahi emphasized that the company is constantly seeking new initiatives and collaborating with other stakeholders to implement technologies that assist customers throughout their airport stay.

The autonomous technology is being tested in one of the terminals to assess how it can facilitate the movement of people with disabilities at Dubai International Airport. More detailed information about the technology itself and its implementation plans was not disclosed.

As passenger traffic continues to grow, dnata is also focusing on staffing, personnel training, and operational planning to maintain service standards while meeting the needs of people with disabilities.

Al Mahi specified that staff are undergoing training to support passengers with various types of disabilities. Furthermore, the company monitors demand and analyzes operational data to determine where additional assistance may be required.

The company's approach allows for proactive preparation and resource allocation to meet demand without compromising the quality of assistance provided to passengers. The exhibition also provides dnata with an opportunity to interact directly with passengers, gather feedback, and raise awareness about accessible assistance for people with disabilities traveling through Dubai International Airport.

Al Mahi noted that dnata has participated in this exhibition for the seventh consecutive year, using the platform to showcase its services and establish contacts with clients and potential technology suppliers capable of improving the travel experience.

She pointed out that some passengers may be unaware of the available assistance or how to request it when passing through Dubai Airport. The exhibition serves to clarify existing services and methods of accessing them, and it gives dnata a chance to hear opinions directly from users of these services.

As part of customer satisfaction assessment, dnata uses QR codes at the exhibition to collect feedback via questionnaires available in Arabic and English. These surveys concern visitor experiences, interest in their services, and opinions on existing accessibility solutions.

Al Mahi added that after the exhibition concludes, the company will review the collected feedback to better understand passenger expectations and identify areas needing improvement in service delivery.