Tourists at DXB can now claim VAT refunds through a paperless AI platform
By Catherine Smith GST 3 min read
Tourists leaving the UAE through Dubai International Airport (DXB) can now claim back VAT on their shopping through a paperless, AI-powered refund platform that the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) says has cut the time to receive a refund to one business day, compared with approximately nine days previously.
The FTA announced the launch on 20 October 2026. The platform was developed with Planet, the authorised operator of the VAT Refund Scheme for Tourists, and is operational at Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah International Airport. Launch events at Zayed International Airport and DXB were attended by officials including Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, and Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mulla, Director General of the FTA.
How the new refund process works
According to the FTA, the process runs through Planet’s smart mobile application and takes two steps, with a third only where purchases need to be inspected.
- First, the tourist downloads the Planet app and registers by scanning their face and saving images of their passport and bank card.
- At the departure airport, the tourist scans a dynamic QR code shown on screens at the tax refund service points, which starts the refund in the app. If none of the purchases needs inspection, the request can be completed in the app without any in-person verification, and the money is paid through the refund method chosen in the app.
- If inspection is required, the app tells the tourist and directs them to Planet’s smart gates, which use facial recognition to identify the traveller and their transactions before sending them to a self-service kiosk.
The FTA said AI is used to sort travellers into the right process, identify transactions eligible for automatic refunds, match invoice and travel information, and detect unusual patterns during verification. The platform also selects a language for each tourist based on their nationality.
Al Mulla said, in comments carried by the Emirates News Agency (WAM):
“The introduction of this new AI-powered platform marks a significant advancement in the tourist tax refund journey, enhancing the tourist experience at their final point of contact with the country.”
The scheme in figures
The VAT refund scheme for tourists has been available in the UAE since 18 November 2018. The FTA gave the following figures alongside the launch.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| VAT refunded to tourists, 2018 to October 2026 | About AED 4.2 billion |
| Transactions processed over the same period | 25 million |
| Growth in refund value, 2025 compared with 2024 | 8% |
| Growth in transaction volumes, 2025 compared with 2024 | 5% |
| Self-service refund kiosks | 98 |
| Share of transactions completed at kiosks | 22.4% |
| Tourist satisfaction, first nine months of 2026 | 93% (92% a year earlier) |
The kiosks are located in shopping centres and hotels as well as at departure points. The FTA expects around four million transactions, with a total value of approximately AED 692 million, to pass through the digital scheme between November 2026 and October 2027.
What it means for shoppers and retailers
For visitors, if no inspection is needed, the claim can be completed in the app at the airport, and the FTA said refund procedures can be finished within minutes before departure. For retailers, refunds are processed on the basis of tourist tax refund tags issued by retail stores that are electronically connected to the scheme. The FTA said 769 retail outlets joined the scheme in the first nine months of 2026, after 1,326 joined during 2025.
