How to Get a Tax Refund in Dubai as a Tourist

Shopping in Dubai is a delight for visitors, from world-class malls to traditional souks. However, VAT can quickly add to your total spend. The VAT refund Dubai for tourist scheme offers a simple way to claim back tax on eligible purchases made at registered retailers. Whether you are buying luxury fashion, electronics, or gifts, understanding how the refund process works can help you save money before leaving the UAE.

• What Is the Dubai Tourist Tax Refund Scheme?
• Eligibility Requirements
• Shop at an Eligible Retailer
• Validate Your Tax-Free Purchase
• How Much Can You Get Back?
• Where and When to Claim Your Refund
• Common Scenarios and Troubleshooting
• Tips to Maximise Your Refund
• Key Takeaways
• FAQs

What Is the Dubai Tourist Tax Refund Scheme?

The Dubai Tourist Tax Refund Scheme allows visitors to reclaim a portion of the VAT paid on goods purchased from participating retailers. Introduced after VAT came into effect in the UAE in 2018, the VAT refund Dubai for tourist process is managed by the Federal Tax Authority in partnership with Planet Tax Free, using a fully digital system with kiosks at airports, seaports, and major malls.

The scheme benefits tourists by reducing the effective cost of shopping, especially for premium items such as electronics, jewellery, accessories, and luxury fashion. Refunds apply only to goods exported from the UAE, not to services such as hotels or dining.

Eligibility Requirements

Not every tourist qualifies for a VAT refund, as the scheme has clear eligibility rules. Tourists coming from foreign countries are eligible under the following conditions:

• They are non-residents of the UAE and 18 years or older.
• Purchases are made from merchants registered in the tax-refund system.
• The minimum spend is AED 250 per transaction.
• Goods must be taken out of the UAE within 90 days of purchase.
• Airline and ship crew members are not eligible.

Eligible Goods

Almost all goods are eligible, excluding these:

• Goods that have been consumed completely or partially at the time of exit from Dubai
• Boats
• Motor Vehicles
• Aircrafts
• Goods that the owner doesn’t have at the time of exit from Dubai

Registered Merchants

FTA has four types of registered merchants where tourists can enjoy tax-free shopping. All these merchants issue invoices in different ways, such as:

• Handwritten Tax Invoice
• Paper Tax Invoice and the Tax-Free Tag
• Paper Tax Invoice with a Digital Tag
• Invoice generated using a Paperless method

Shop at an Eligible Retailer

Once you confirm eligibility, the next step is to ensure you shop only at merchants registered in the UAE’s Tax Refund for Tourists system, after which you can claim a VAT refund.

 After shopping, here is the refund process to follow:

• The shop assistant will take details from a tourist’s passport or GCC National ID Card.
• Then the shop assistant will record transaction details such as amount, VAT, and purchase date.
• After this, a tax-free tag is attached to the back of the tax invoice as proof. It is also scanned to add transaction details to a tourist’s passport or GCC National ID Card.

Validate Your Tax-Free Purchase

The last step in this process is validating your tax-free purchase at one of the validation points. There are multiple ways and locations to do so; let’s explore each one by one.

Dubai International Airport

Validate the purchase at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 at Dubai International Airport. Additionally, tourists in Dubai can validate purchases at Port Rashid. Here is a brief process to follow:

• Validate before luggage check-in, as staff may inspect the luggage.
• Be ready with documents like a passport copy, tax-free tags, a tax invoice, and a copy of a debit card.
• Approach the validation point and provide the documents.
• After verification, choose to receive a refund in cash or via card. Cash transactions are acceptable for refunds below AED 35,000. Refunds above that must be credited to the card or digital wallet.
• Move out of the UAE within six hours.
• Refunds via card will be credited within nine days.

Self-Service Kiosks

Another quick tax refund method is using self-service kiosks. Follow the process below to get a refund:

• Visit one of the self-service kiosks at the airport or seaport.
• Scan your passport or provide your passport or National ID Card number.
• Follow the steps on the screen and complete them. At the end, there will be two lights, green or red. Green validation means transactions are verified, whereas red means an inspection of goods is required.
• Select a refund method such as a card, cash, or digital wallet.
• Refunds via online transfers will be processed within nine days of leaving Dubai.

How Much Can You Get Back?

Tourists receive 85% of the VAT amount paid on eligible transactions. The remaining amount covers processing fees.

Deductions

• 15% of the VAT amount is retained as an admin fee
• AED 4.80 per tax-free tag
• Cash limit:
• Up to AED 35,000 every 24 hours.

Where and When to Claim Your Refund

Before requesting your VAT refund, it’s essential to know where kiosks are located and how the timing works. Dubai offers multiple validation points across airports, seaports, and major malls to make the process fast and convenient for departing tourists.

Locations

Most travellers complete their VAT refund at the airport before flying out. The UAE provides several official validation points operated by Planet Tax Free:

• Refund kiosks and counters are available at:
• Dubai International Airport (T1, T2, T3)
• Port Rashid
• Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport
• Sharjah and other UAE airports
• Some major malls offer early validation kiosks

Timing

Refund validation must be completed before check-in, especially if items require inspection. The digital kiosks generally take only a few minutes, and refunds issued to credit or digital wallets usually appear within the standard processing timeline.

• Complete refund steps before check-in if goods need inspection.
• Process at kiosks takes a few minutes.
• Refunds to cards/digital wallets take around 9 days.

Common Scenarios and Troubleshooting

Even with a smooth process, travellers may face issues such as missing invoices or system alerts. Understanding common scenarios ensures a faster resolution:

• Red kiosk alert: Inspection required, proceed to a staffed counter.
• Missing receipts: A refund cannot be issued without the original invoices and tax-free tags.
• Delayed card refund: If not received within 9 days, contact Planet customer service.
• Wrong or expired tags: The Retailer must reissue before departure.
• Open or consumed items are not eligible for a refund.

Tips to Maximise Your Refund

A little preparation helps maximise your refund and avoid delays. Organise your documents early and validate your receipts well in advance of departure.

• Keep receipts and goods together in one pouch for easy validation.
• Avoid last-minute validation to prevent long queues.
• Always check eligibility before buying high-value items.
• Choose card refunds for higher amounts over the cash option.
• Validate goods at mall kiosks earlier if possible.

Also, to save big on your travel journey, you can buy a Dubai Pass and save up to 60% on visiting top attractions.

Key Takeaways

Tourists in Dubai can recover a significant portion of VAT paid on eligible purchases, provided they shop at registered stores, retain their receipts, and validate their transactions before departing the UAE.

Refunds are processed digitally through Planet kiosks, with cash and card options available, and travellers can reclaim up to 85% of VAT after fees. By understanding eligibility, adhering to deadlines, and organising documents early, visitors can ensure a smooth and efficient tax-refund experience.

FAQs

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