VAT Refund for Tourists

Eligible tourists in the UAE are able to request refunds on the Value Added Tax (VAT) incurred on their purchases while there are in the UAE.

Planet is the exclusive operator of the VAT refund system for tourists, which Federal Tax Authority executes in the UAE.

For a tourist to claim a VAT refund for tourists on purchases made in the UAE, they must fulfill certain conditions:

Goods must be purchased from a retailer who is participating in the ‘Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme’.
Goods must not be excluded from the Refund Scheme of the Federal Tax Authority.
The tourist must have the explicit intention to leave the UAE within 90 days from the date of supply, along with the purchased goods.
The tourist must export the purchased goods out of the UAE within three months from the date of supply.

The Federal Tax Authority has allocated spaces where tourists can reclaim taxes through a fully electronic system managed in partnership with a global operator. Tourists will receive their VAT refund for tourists through a special device placed at the departure port – airport, seaport, or border port. This is done by submitting the tax invoices for their purchases from the outlets registered in the Scheme, along with copies of their passport and credit card. Once these documents are submitted, tourists can either recover the VAT in cash in UAE dirhams or have it transferred to their credit card.