PhonePe expands digital payment reach in rural India and the UAE

PhonePe is executing a dual-track expansion strategy targeting both deep rural markets in India and international growth in the United Arab Emirates.

In India, the company plans to hire over 20,000 on-roll sales employees within the next year to strengthen its merchant network. This initiative includes the deployment of more than 50 lakh payment devices, such as SmartSpeakers and POS terminals, with approximately 50 per cent of these units targeted at Tier 6 towns and rural areas. The expansion aims to integrate small merchants into the formal financial ecosystem through enhanced digital payment acceptance.

Simultaneously, PhonePe has received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE for two payment licenses covering Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes, as well as Stored Value Facilities. The company intends to support the UAE’s cashless economy by integrating its technology with local platforms like Aani and Jaywan. This international move leverages PhonePe’s experience managing high transaction volumes for its 700 million registered users in India.