India and Bahrain Partner for Real-Time Cross-Border Payments via UPI and Fawri+

In a groundbreaking step toward enhancing cross-border financial connectivity, India and Bahrain have officially partnered to enable real-time international payments through a linkage between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS), particularly its real-time component, Fawri+.

The collaboration, established between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and BENEFIT Company—Bahrain’s national electronic payment network—marks a new era for seamless digital transactions between the two nations. The partnership is supported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).

Bridging Two Fintech Ecosystems

UPI has transformed India’s digital payments landscape by offering instant, interoperable, and secure transactions. Similarly, Bahrain’s Fawri+ system has been at the forefront of enabling real-time electronic fund transfers within the kingdom.

By connecting these two robust platforms, the partnership enables instant money transfers between India and Bahrain, reducing the cost and time typically associated with cross-border remittances.

The system will allow residents of Bahrain—particularly the large Indian diaspora—to send money to India instantly, directly from their local bank accounts or mobile applications, using just a phone number or UPI ID.

Serving the Indian Diaspora

This initiative is especially significant given Bahrain’s demographics—Indians constitute nearly 30% of Bahrain’s population, many of whom regularly send remittances back home.

Traditionally, these transactions have relied on intermediaries, often involving delays and higher fees. With this UPI-Fawri+ integration, transfers will now be instant, transparent, and cost-effective, bringing convenience to individuals and efficiency to businesses.

“The partnership between NIPL and BENEFIT will simplify remittance corridors, empowering individuals and enterprises alike. It symbolizes the shared vision of India and Bahrain to promote financial inclusion and digital innovation,” said Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NIPL.

Strengthening Bilateral Financial Ties

This partnership is more than a technological integration—it is a symbol of deepening financial and diplomatic ties between India and Bahrain.

For Bahrain, it reinforces its position as a regional fintech hub in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). For India, it reflects the growing global footprint of UPI, which has already established similar partnerships with countries like Singapore (PayNow), UAE, Nepal, Bhutan, and France.

Experts believe that such collaborations represent a paradigm shift in the global payments ecosystem, where interoperability and real-time transactions will become the standard.

“The cross-border linkage between UPI and Fawri+ demonstrates the future of global payments—fast, frictionless, and inclusive,” said a spokesperson from BENEFIT.

Driving Inclusion and Financial Efficiency

For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the integration offers an opportunity to simplify business operations. Many Indian-owned SMEs in Bahrain can now pay suppliers or receive payments from India without needing expensive remittance channels or waiting periods.

Similarly, Bahrain-based institutions working with Indian technology or service providers can conduct cross-border transactions effortlessly, strengthening B2B and trade relations between both economies.

This initiative is also expected to support financial inclusion, ensuring that even those without access to traditional banking methods can participate in global financial flows through mobile-based UPI and Fawri+ applications.

Technology Behind the Partnership

The integration leverages NIPL’s cross-border payment capabilities—built on the UPI infrastructure—and BENEFIT’s EFTS system, which processes millions of real-time transactions in Bahrain.

Both systems operate under strict regulatory supervision, ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) norms. The two organizations have emphasized robust data security and interoperability standards to maintain transparency and consumer trust.

In practice, the process will allow an Indian user in Bahrain to open a mobile app connected to Fawri+, enter the beneficiary’s UPI ID or phone number in India, and transfer funds in seconds—reflecting instantly in the recipient’s Indian bank account.

Part of a Larger Global Expansion

India’s UPI has been expanding globally at a rapid pace. NPCI International, a subsidiary of NPCI, has been driving this mission by partnering with foreign regulators and payment networks.

So far, UPI has entered markets including Singapore, Sri Lanka, France, UAE, and Mauritius. The Bahrain partnership further extends its presence in the Middle East, highlighting India’s growing role in building the world’s digital payment infrastructure.

Meanwhile, BENEFIT Company has been instrumental in positioning Bahrain as one of the region’s most advanced digital economies. Through continuous innovation in payment gateways, identity verification, and data exchange systems, BENEFIT plays a central role in the nation’s fintech ecosystem.

The NIPL-BENEFIT collaboration is therefore not just about facilitating remittances—it’s about creating a global model for payment interoperability.

Looking Ahead: Toward a Connected Financial Future

The India-Bahrain UPI-Fawri+ partnership is expected to go live soon after regulatory and technical processes are finalized. Once active, users will experience faster, more affordable, and more reliable payment channels between the two countries.

Industry observers note that this could pave the way for broader regional integrations—connecting UPI with other Gulf nations, potentially creating a digital payments corridor across South Asia and the Middle East.

This innovation aligns with global trends where fintech is driving cross-border connectivity, enabling real-time remittances that bridge geographical and economic gaps.

As the world moves toward an interconnected financial ecosystem, India and Bahrain’s partnership stands as a milestone—one that underscores the power of fintech collaboration in shaping a borderless economy.

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