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What you need to know now
Buy eligible goods from participating retailers, register the transaction using your travel document, then validate the export before departure.
- The current FTA service card states a minimum spend of AED 250 excluding VAT per eligible transaction.
- Validate within 90 days of the tax invoice date; retain goods and the original travel document for inspection.
- Current scheme deductions are 13% of the VAT amount plus AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction.
Before buying: confirm the refund transaction
Ask whether the retailer participates in the tourist-refund scheme before relying on a refund in the purchase price. Have the travel document used for the visit available and review the information captured by the retailer. Keep the invoice and transaction reference together. Not every purchase is eligible, and a normal payment receipt is not proof that a tax-free transaction has been registered. For a valuable purchase, resolve these questions while still in the store.
Before leaving: check records and goods
Review the registered purchases before the day of departure. Identify any missing transaction or incorrect traveller detail and raise it with the retailer or operator. Keep the goods accessible for possible inspection, together with the relevant travel document and purchase evidence. Plan around baggage arrangements so an item is not already inaccessible when requested. The current official service page should be checked for the applicable validation window and departure-point instructions.
At departure: follow the validation result
Use the approved validation point for the actual departure arrangements and follow the operator’s instructions. A kiosk may complete the check or ask the traveller to seek assistance or present the goods. Save the resulting confirmation and ensure the refund method is recorded correctly. Do not assume that showing an invoice at any airport counter completes the claim; validation is a defined scheme process, and the registered traveller must deal with the required checks.
After validation: understand and track the amount
The refund is not necessarily the full VAT printed on the receipt because scheme deductions apply. Compare the current official terms before estimating the amount you expect to receive. Keep the transaction reference until payment is resolved and use it if contacting support. An approved departure validation and receipt of funds are different stages, so retain evidence of both. This guide concerns eligible goods taken out under the tourist scheme, not a refund of every cost incurred during a UAE visit. Keep the reference accessible during travel.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
A practical way forward
- 01
Step 1
Ask the retailer to capture accurate traveller details.
- 02
Step 2
Review the transaction in the operator’s system.
- 03
Step 3
Complete export validation at an approved point.
CLEAR ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
Can somebody else validate for me?
The registered traveller must complete validation.
Can I claim after consuming the goods in the UAE?
The scheme concerns eligible goods taken out of the UAE.
Earlier article & background First published 16 July 2018 · retained for context
This earlier article is preserved for context. Its rates, deadlines, approvals and announcements may have been superseded. Use the current guidance and official references on this page for your next step.
How to get tourist refund in Dubai, UAE : The VAT refund System for Tourists will be implemented in International Level.
The new system relies on an advanced integrated digital system to set up a direct connection with points of sale as well as with all UAE ports of entry, allowing the global operator to coordinate among retailers registered with the FTA and enable tourists to submit refund requests for their purchases
“The system operator will be signing agreements with retailers to provide them with the necessary technology to connect with the FTA, as well as with airports, and land and seaports of entry,” said FTA Director General Khalid Ali Al Bustani. “Designated spaces will be provided where tourists can easily reclaim taxes. The digital system determines the taxes that are eligible for a refund and then reimburse tourists. This complements the Government’s commitment to implementing the UAE tax system and ensuring that it is in line with global standards.”
How to get tourist refund in Dubai, UAE
CONDITIONS FOR TAX REFUND
- Goods in question need to have been supplied to the tourist within UAE
- Tourist must have the explicit intention to leave UAE in 90 days from the date of supply, along with the purchased supplies
- Goods in question must be exported out of the UAE by the tourist within three months from the date of supply
- Tourist needs to have purchased goods from a retailer registered in the system
- Purchase process must be carried out – and the goods exported – according to the requirements determined by a decision of the FTA
- The goods in question must not be exempted from the refund
- Dubai VAT
VERIFY THE DETAIL
Official sources & further reading
Source checks support this general guide. Your treatment depends on the facts, tax period and applicable legislation.
