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What you need to know now
Kiosks support tourist-refund validation, but a kiosk transaction may still require goods inspection or staff assistance.
The original article is preserved below as a historical record. Earlier deadlines, rates, offers and approval statements should not be used as current guidance.
- A kiosk does not override an inspection request.
- Carry the document used to enter the country.
- Keep the transaction reference for support.
Plan the claim before reaching the kiosk
A kiosk is a validation channel, not a replacement for an eligible purchase. Before leaving the store, check that the retailer has issued the tax-free transaction and captured the traveller’s details correctly. Keep the transaction reference and review any message from the scheme operator while there is still time to resolve an error.
The original article describes an earlier kiosk rollout. Its installation counts and location references should be read as historical. For a present journey, confirm the facilities available at the actual airport, land border or seaport, and allow time for any additional check that the operator requires.
Keep goods and travel documents accessible
Validation can require the document used to enter the UAE and access to the purchased goods. Do not pack an item into inaccessible baggage before understanding whether inspection is required. A receipt on its own does not necessarily complete the process, even if the retailer has successfully registered the purchase.
A useful traveller checklist separates the travel document, departure details, purchases and transaction references. If different family members made purchases under different identities, keep each person’s records clear. Do not assume one traveller can complete everyone else’s validation simply because all the items are in the same suitcase.
Follow the outcome shown by the system
If the kiosk requests assistance or inspection, follow that instruction rather than repeatedly starting a new claim. A staffed validation desk can deal with cases that cannot be completed through the kiosk alone. Keep the goods available until the required validation steps have been completed.
Where details are wrong, explain the issue accurately and retain any reference provided by staff. Avoid creating a second tax-free transaction for the same purchase unless the retailer or operator instructs you to do so. Duplicate or inconsistent records can make it harder to trace what happened when a payment is later queried.
Track validation separately from payment
Successful export validation and receipt of the refund are distinct stages. Record the chosen refund method and keep confirmation until the funds are received. If payment does not arrive as expected, the transaction reference helps the operator locate the claim and explain its status.
Use the current FTA service card for fees, available payment methods and other conditions. The kiosk article does not guarantee approval or a particular payment time. Contact verified scheme support when necessary, and do not disclose a card PIN or sign-in secret in response to an unsolicited message promising to release the refund.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
A practical way forward
- 01
Step 1
Locate a kiosk suitable for your departure.
- 02
Step 2
Follow on-screen document and transaction checks.
- 03
Step 3
Visit staff if inspection or assistance is requested.
CLEAR ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
Does using a kiosk guarantee approval?
No. Eligibility and inspection requirements still apply.
What if a kiosk cannot complete the claim?
Follow the operator’s instructions or approach a staffed validation desk.
Read the original article First published 11 February 2020 · 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.
Self-service kiosks for tourists vat refund : Now get refunds at shopping malls, hotels
Self-service kiosks for tourists vat refund – Kiosks allow tourists to process their requests to recover VAT.
The Value Added Tax (VAT) Recovery Self-Service Kiosks for Tourists scheme has been expanded to be available at major shopping malls and hotels, in addition to the existing ones at air, land and maritime entry and exit ports across the UAE, announced the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
The expansion aims to provide additional services to tourists, enhancing the UAE’s status as a leading destination on the international tourism map. Planet – the company authorised by the FTA to operate the electronic system for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme – debuted nine self-service kiosks in stage one of implementing the plan, setting them up at multiple shopping malls and hotels. The kiosks are equipped with state-of-the-art technology allowing them to fully process VAT refund requests for tourists.
In a statement issued on Monday, the authority explained that the kiosks allow tourists to process their requests to recover VAT from the convenience of their hotel or at major malls in a matter of minutes.
Applicants can scan their boarding pass to prove they will be leaving the UAE in the next 24 hours, as well as their original passport (or identity card for GCC nationals), and then follow the simple instructions displayed at the self-service kiosks. The FTA revealed that up to 55 new self-service kiosks will be deployed by the end of 2020 – 25 of which would be stationed in malls and 30 in hotels.
Eligible tourists who meet the necessary criteria for reclaiming the VAT they incurred on their purchases in the UAE can process the refund applications from the convenience of their own hotels or from a list of major shopping malls around the country.
The number of digital transactions under the Tourists Refunds Scheme grew to 3.2 million in the period between its launch in November 2018 and the end of 2019.
Tourists can submit their requests to recover the taxes they incurred on purchases in the UAE when they are about to depart from the country. Applicants must submit the tax invoices on their purchases, marked with ‘Tax-Free’ stickers issued by retail outlets registered in the system, along with their passport and credit card. No limit is placed on the maximum amount that can be recovered if said amount is transferred to the tourist’s credit card, however, in the event that the applicant requests a cash refund, then the maximum amount is set at Dh7,000 per day. This process can be carried out at self-service kiosks, as well as at tax refund offices located at ports of exit across the UAE.
Courtesy : Khaleej Times
VERIFY THE DETAIL
Official sources & further reading
Source checks support this general guide. Your treatment depends on the facts, tax period and applicable legislation.
