Are you a visitor to the UAE looking to enjoy some retail therapy? Good news! You can now reclaim the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) paid on your purchases when you leave the country. The best part is, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of every receipt, as the refund process is completely paperless at most retail outlets in the UAE.
Since 2022, the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has implemented a fully digital VAT refund scheme, making the process easier and more efficient for tourists. Retailers participating in the paperless scheme have streamlined the process by using digital invoicing, allowing for the issuance, sending, modification, and storage of invoices online.
Planet is the exclusive operator of the tourist tax refund scheme managed by the FTA, and many popular stores are part of the program. This means you can easily claim your VAT refund when you depart the UAE, whether you’re traveling by land, sea, or air.
How does the paperless VAT refund work?
When shopping, all you need to do is show your passport to the store assistant and ask for a tax-free purchase totaling at least Dh250. The assistant will input your passport information and mobile number into the digital tax-free system, and you will then receive a digital tax invoice via SMS. You can also access all your transactions by clicking on the link provided in the SMS.
Please be aware that not all retailers are part of the paperless program. If you shop at a store that is not part of the program, you will receive a physical tax invoice with a Planet tax-free tag. Make sure to keep this tag and the original invoice handy for validation purposes.
How to claim your VAT refund
- Prior to checking in your luggage, please ensure that you bring your purchases and any tax invoices with tags to a validation point at the air, sea, or land port.
- When using self-service kiosks, you can either scan your travel document (passport/GCC ID) or manually enter your passport number. If you are at a manned validation desk, simply present your passport to the staff.
- Follow the instructions displayed on the screen of the self-service kiosk. A green light indicates that your validation is successful.
- In the event of a red light, do not hesitate to seek assistance from the staff available at the validation point.
- Once your validation is complete, you can select your preferred method of refund – credit/debit card, cash, or digital wallet. Planet will process your refund request after you have left the country.
- Cash refunds can be obtained from designated foreign exchange providers located beyond passport control.
VAT refund locations in the UAE
Before checking in your luggage, be sure to visit the Planet VAT refund validation points, which can be found at service counters or self-service kiosks. It is important to have your purchases inspected at these points. The validation points are conveniently located at the following places:
Airports
- Zayed International Airport
• Dubai Airport
• Al Maktoum Airport
• Sharjah Airport
• Al Ain Airport
• Ras Al Khaimah Airport
• Al Fujairah Airport
Land Borders
- Al Ghuwaifat – at the Saudi Arabia border
• Al Hili Al Ain – at the Oman border
• Al Madeef, Al Ain – at the Oman border
• Hatta – at the Oman border
• Khatmat Malaha – at the Oman border
Seaports
- Port Zayed, Abu Dhabi
• Port Rashid, Dubai
• Fujairah Port, Fujairah
Self-service VAT refund kiosks are conveniently located in malls throughout the UAE, providing a seamless and efficient way to finalize your refund.
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