The Dubai VAT Refund Moved to an AI App in October 2026: Scan a QR Code at the Airport and Get Paid in One Business Day
The Dubai VAT refund for tourists now runs through operator Planet’s app, the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced on 20 October 2026: you scan a QR code at the airport, claim on your phone and, if no inspection is needed, skip the queue, with refunds paid in as little as one business day.
On 20 October 2026 the FTA said its AI-powered tourist refund platform was live at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International (DXB) and Sharjah International. Khaleej Times, Gulf News and the state news agency WAM reported the launch on 21 October. According to the FTA, the time it takes tourists to receive a refund has fallen from about nine days to one business day.
The refund rules themselves have not changed with the app. Using this launch as a starting point, this guide explains who can reclaim VAT after shopping in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, how much you need to spend, how much you actually get back, how the app works, whether to take cash or a card refund, and the most common reasons claims fail, plus practical tips.
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: foreign visitors travelling to or transiting through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah who plan to buy luxury goods, electronics, perfume or gifts.
- You do not get the full VAT back: UAE VAT is 5%, and under the FTA’s current rules 13% of the VAT is deducted plus AED 3.60 per transaction, so small purchases return very little.
- The new app is live at three airports first: register in the Planet app before you travel and scan the QR code when you leave; if an inspection is needed you are sent to a smart gate with facial recognition.
- The most common reasons claims fail: the shop is not in the scheme, a transaction is under AED 250, the goods are already in checked luggage, or you do not leave within six hours of validation.
Dubai VAT Refund Eligibility, Minimum Spend and How Much You Get Back
The UAE’s standard VAT rate is 5%. Everything in the table below comes from the FTA’s “VAT Refund for Tourists” service page (last updated 25 August 2026):
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Visitors who entered on a tourist visa, are 18 or older and are not UAE residents; flight crew are excluded |
| Where to shop | Retailers or e-commerce sites registered with Planet under the scheme |
| Minimum spend | AED 250 per refund transaction, excluding VAT |
| Deductions | 13% of the VAT, plus AED 3.60 per refund transaction |
| Validation deadline | Within 90 days of the invoice date, at an exit point |
| Departure deadline | Leave the UAE within six hours of validation, or the validation is cancelled and must be repeated |
| Refund claim deadline | Within one year of export validation |
To put this into real numbers, Zagdim worked through the rules above: on goods priced at AED 1,000 before VAT, the VAT is AED 50; after the 13% deduction you have AED 43.50, and after the AED 3.60 fee you receive AED 39.90. At exactly the AED 250 minimum, the VAT is AED 12.50 and you get back only about AED 7.28. The fixed fee per transaction hits small purchases hardest.
The government portal u.ae’s tourist refund page (updated 30 March 2026) still says tourists receive 85% of the VAT, minus AED 4.80 per tax-free tag. That is the older figure: the FTA service page and Planet’s tourist FAQ both now say 87% and AED 3.60. Rely on the more recent FTA wording, and on the amount Planet’s system shows you on the day.
What You Cannot Claim a VAT Refund On
According to Planet’s tourist FAQ and its local rules page, the following are excluded:
- Services, such as hotel stays, restaurant meals, spa treatments and tours
- Goods wholly or partly consumed in the UAE
- Motor vehicles, boats and aircraft
- Goods that are not with you when you leave, including anything shipped home as cargo
- Used goods without their original packaging
How to Use the VAT Refund App: Four Steps From Registration to Payout
The steps below come from the FTA’s 20 October 2026 press release. In the App Store, the app is listed as “Planet Tax Free ME”:
| Step | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Register | Before you head to the airport | Download the Planet app, complete a face scan and photograph your passport and bank card |
| 2. Scan the QR code | At the airport, on departure | Scan the dynamic QR code on the screens at a refund service point to start your claim in the app |
| 3. AI review | After scanning | The system checks each transaction; if no inspection is needed you finish in the app and are paid by your chosen method |
| 4. If an inspection is needed | After the app alerts you | Go to a Planet smart gate, which identifies you by face, then finish at a self-service kiosk |
The FTA also says around 16,700 shops across the UAE are connected to the refund system, and 98 self-service kiosks in malls, hotels and departure points now handle 22.4% of refund transactions. When you buy something, the shop either uploads a paper invoice or issues a paperless digital refund transaction; you can check that each purchase appears in the app or on Planet’s online Shopper Portal.
Leaving by Land or Sea, or Validating in the City
The FTA press release lists only the three airports for the new platform. According to the FTA service page, other ways to validate include:
- Staffed desks at exit points, including airports, land borders and seaports, for travellers leaving within six hours.
- Self-service kiosks at exit points.
- Self-service kiosks in malls and hotels, which require an online boarding pass for a flight leaving within 24 hours and your original passport. If you choose cash after validating in the city, you collect it from a partner currency exchange counter after passport control.
Dubai VAT Refund Payout Options: Cash, Card or WeChat and Alipay
According to the FTA service page and Planet’s tourist FAQ, you can choose any of these once you have validated:
| Method | Limit | Payout time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | AED 35,000 | About 3 minutes | Collected from a partner exchange counter after passport control |
| Credit or debit card | No limit | One business day on the new platform; the FTA service page previously said within 9 calendar days | Paid in the card’s currency at your card issuer’s exchange rate; Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay accepted |
| Digital wallet | — | Instant | WeChat Pay and Alipay |
Refunds above the AED 35,000 cash limit can only go to a card. If you miss the cash counter, Planet says you can switch to a card refund through the Shopper Portal.
Why Dubai VAT Refund Claims Fail
- The shop is not in the scheme: only transactions from retailers registered with Planet qualify, so ask before you pay.
- A transaction is under AED 250: the minimum applies to each refund transaction.
- The name on the invoice does not match your passport: Planet requires them to match; ask the shop to correct it.
- The goods are already checked in: you may have to show them, and Planet advises validating before you check your bags.
- Copies or photos instead of originals: only an original passport or GCC ID is accepted, and only the registered passport holder can validate.
- You did not leave within six hours: if your flight is delayed or you miss it, tell staff on your rebooked flight so they can revalidate.
- Deadlines missed: validate within 90 days of purchase and claim within one year of validation.
Dubai VAT Refund Tips
- Register in the app the day before: the face scan and passport and card photos take time, so do not leave them for the queue.
- Have your passport ready at the till: ask the shop to issue the refund transaction against your passport and check that it appears in the app.
- Group bigger purchases: each refund transaction carries a fixed AED 3.60 fee, so paying for items together at the same shop costs less than many small transactions. Whether separate invoices can be combined into one transaction is not spelled out officially, so check with the shop and Planet.
- Keep items that may be inspected in your hand luggage: especially luxury goods, watches and electronics.
- Use a card for large refunds: cash is capped at AED 35,000 and cards have no limit, though your card issuer sets the exchange rate, which is not always better than cash.
- Validate in the city to save time at the airport: with an online boarding pass for a flight within 24 hours, you can use a mall or hotel kiosk.
- Mind the six-hour window: validate too early and a long delay means starting again.
Common Misconceptions About the Dubai VAT Refund
- “You get the whole 5% back.” In fact 13% of the VAT is deducted, plus AED 3.60 per transaction. Tip: on small purchases the refund may be only a few dirhams, so do not buy more just to reclaim tax.
- “With the app I do not need my passport.” The app handles the claim and the screening, but if you are selected for inspection you still need your original passport and the goods. Tip: keep your passport with you, not in checked luggage.
- “Meals and hotel stays count too.” Services and goods used in the UAE are excluded. Tip: VAT on restaurants, hotels and attraction tickets cannot be reclaimed.
- “The app works at every exit point.” The FTA release lists only three airports. Tip: if you leave by land or sea, use a staffed desk or kiosk.
Scenarios: How Three Kinds of Traveller Claim Their Refund
Scenario 1: a two-day stopover in Dubai. You buy a watch for AED 4,000 before VAT at a mall. The simplest approach is to register in the app before you go shopping, show your passport at the till so the shop issues a refund transaction, then scan the QR code at a refund service point before your flight the next day, with the watch in your hand luggage. Under the rules above, the VAT is AED 200; after the 13% deduction and AED 3.60 fee you get back about AED 170.40.
Scenario 2: a family leaving Dubai on a cruise. The new app has been announced for three airports, so cruise passengers validate at a staffed desk or kiosk at the seaport, with original passports, the goods and their cruise ticket, and must leave within six hours of validating.
Scenario 3: someone moving to the UAE on a residence visa. Once you are a UAE resident you no longer qualify for the tourist refund. If you bought appliances or furniture while still on a tourist visa, remember that goods that stay in the UAE cannot be refunded.
Dubai VAT Refund FAQ
Do I have to use the app for a Dubai VAT refund?
No. The platform the FTA launched on 20 October 2026 centres on the Planet app at the Dubai, Zayed (Abu Dhabi) and Sharjah international airports, but staffed desks and kiosks remain at exit points, and there are kiosks in malls and hotels. Using the app does mean that, if no inspection is needed, you can finish on your phone and be paid in as little as one business day.
What is the minimum spend for a Dubai VAT refund?
According to the FTA service page, each refund transaction must be at least AED 250, excluding VAT. The minimum applies per transaction, not to your total for the trip. The official sources do not say clearly whether separate invoices can be combined, so ask the shop when you buy.
How much of the VAT do I get back?
UAE VAT is 5%. Under the FTA’s current rules, 13% of the VAT is deducted, plus AED 3.60 per transaction. Zagdim’s worked example: on goods priced at AED 1,000 before VAT, the VAT is AED 50 and you receive AED 39.90. The u.ae portal still shows 85% and AED 4.80, which are older figures; rely on the FTA and on what the system shows on the day.
Can the Dubai VAT refund go to a card issued in my home country?
Yes. The FTA and Planet say refunds can be paid to a credit or debit card, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay. The money arrives in your card’s currency at your issuer’s exchange rate. Card refunds have no upper limit, while cash is capped at AED 35,000.
What happens if my flight is delayed after validation?
The FTA requires you to leave the UAE within six hours of validating; otherwise the validation is cancelled and you have to go through it again with the goods and invoices. Planet advises telling staff on your rebooked flight so they can revalidate. Do not validate too early: do it close to departure.
Can I reclaim VAT on meals and hotel stays in Dubai?
No. The tourist refund only covers goods you take out of the country. Services such as hotels, restaurants and tours, and goods wholly or partly consumed in the UAE, are excluded, as are motor vehicles, boats, aircraft and used goods without original packaging.
Can I still claim after I get home?
According to the FTA and Planet, once your purchases have been export-validated you have one year (12 months) from validation to claim the refund. But validation itself must be done when you leave, within 90 days of purchase; you cannot validate afterwards. If something goes wrong, contact Planet through its Shopper Portal or customer service.
Shopping in Dubai or Moving to the UAE? Ask Zagdim
Beyond tax refunds, living in or buying property in the UAE comes with plenty of rules that change. If you would like to know more, Ask Zagdim.
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Disclaimer
This article is general information and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. It is based mainly on information published in 2026 by the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA), refund operator Planet and the UAE government portal. Refund rates, fees and procedures may change; the actual amount is what the system and the latest official notices show.
The rules in this article are current as of 27 October 2026; refer to the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and Planet for the latest official information.
References
UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) – Federal Tax Authority launches world’s first-of-its-kind AI-powered digital platform for tourist tax refunds / UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) – VAT Refund for Tourists / Planet – Tourist Frequently Asked Questions / Planet – Local rules / UAE Government portal u.ae – VAT refund for tourists / Khaleej Times – UAE launches paperless, AI-powered VAT refund app for tourists / Gulf News – UAE tourist VAT refunds cut to one business day with new AI platform
