VAT Refund for Tourists in the UAE (2026) : Easy Shopping, Big Savings !

Don’t Leave Your VAT Behind – Turn Your Shopping in Dubai & the UAE Into Cash Before You Fly Out

If you are visiting Dubai or any other emirate as a tourist, every restaurant bill and shopping spree includes 5% VAT – but a big part of that tax does not have to stay in the country. As long as you buy from participating stores and follow a few simple steps before departure, you can reclaim most of the VAT you paid on your purchases. The system is fully digital, and once you understand it, claiming a refund feels more like scanning a boarding pass than filling out complicated tax forms. 🌶️

This 2026 guide explains exactly how the UAE tourist VAT refund system works: who is eligible, which purchases qualify, how Planet Tax Free and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) handle your claim, and what to do at the airport, seaport or land border. You will also see how much money you really get back after fees, where to find self‑service kiosks and validation points, and how to avoid the classic mistakes that make tourists miss their refund completely.

🌶️ Table of Contents

• 1. How the UAE VAT Refund for Tourists Works in 2026
• 2. Who Is Eligible (and Who Isn’t)?
• 3. What Purchases Qualify for a VAT Refund?
• 4. Step‑by‑Step: How to Claim Your VAT Refund
• 5. How Much Money Do You Actually Get Back?
• 6. Where You Can Claim: Airports, Seaports & Land Borders
• 7. VAT Refund Options: Cash vs Card (Table)
• 8. 🌶️ Spicy Tips to Maximise Your Refund & Avoid Problems
• 9. Use Pickeenoo to Shop Smarter Before You Leave
• 10. FAQ: VAT Refund for Tourists in the UAE (2026)
• 11. Bottom Line 🌶️

1. How the UAE VAT Refund for Tourists Works in 2026

The UAE operates an official “Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme” managed by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and run on the ground by Planet Tax Free, the exclusive operator of the tourist VAT refund system in the country. Most popular malls and retailers are connected to this system, so when you shop at participating stores and ask for “Tax Free”, your purchase is registered digitally for a future refund.

Key System Features

• Planet Tax Free links your purchases to your passport or GCC ID via a tax‑free tag and QR code.
• Your transactions appear in the Planet Shopper Portal or mobile app, where you can track all eligible invoices in one place.
• Before you leave the UAE, you validate your purchases at special kiosks or desks at airports, seaports and some land borders.
• Once validated, you choose a refund method: cash in AED, card refund or digital wallets such as WeChat or Alipay, depending on the location.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: Register on Planet’s app or Shopper Portal as soon as you arrive – by 2026 you can even pre‑register before your first purchase to speed things up and check whether you are eligible.

2. Who Is Eligible (and Who Isn’t)?

The official UAE guidance clarifies that VAT refunds are only for tourists and visitors, not residents of the UAE. You must be at least 18 years old, visiting for a limited period, and leaving the country with the goods you bought, using an official exit point connected to the refund system.

Basic Eligibility Conditions for Tourists

• You are a non‑resident tourist aged 18 or above.
• You purchased goods from retailers registered in the Planet Tax Free system (look for “Tax Free Shopping” signs).
• Each invoice meets the minimum eligible amount (commonly AED 250 per invoice).
• You will exit the UAE within the allowed timeframe and validate your refund while still carrying the goods.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: If you are staying in the UAE on a residence visa or long‑term permit, you are no longer considered a tourist for VAT refund purposes – plan your big shopping before your status changes if it matters to you.

3. What Purchases Qualify for a VAT Refund?

Not everything you buy in the UAE is eligible for a VAT refund, even if VAT was charged. Only certain goods qualify, and services are generally excluded. The key rule: you must export the goods with you when you leave.

Typically Eligible

• Goods purchased from participating retailers (clothing, electronics, jewellery, souvenirs, etc.).
• Items that are not fully or partially consumed in the UAE and that you physically carry out of the country.
• Goods linked to properly issued tax invoices with Planet’s tax‑free tag and QR code.

Typically Not Eligible

• Services (hotel stays, restaurant bills, tour packages).
• Goods consumed in the UAE (food, drinks, used cosmetics, etc.).
• Purchases from shops not registered in the tourist refund scheme.
• Online purchases that do not generate a Planet tax‑free tag, even if VAT is charged.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: Ask for “Tax Free” at the counter before paying – if the store is not in the system, you cannot fix it later at the airport.

4. Step‑by‑Step: How to Claim Your VAT Refund

The tourist VAT refund process is designed as a simple sequence: tag at purchase, validate at exit, choose refund method. If you skip one of these steps, you lose the refund.

Step 1 – While Shopping

• Shop at stores displaying Planet or “Tax Free Shopping” logos.
• Show your passport (or GCC ID) and ask the cashier to issue a tax‑free transaction.
• The cashier scans your document, enters invoice details and attaches a tax‑free tag or digital entry with a QR code.
• Keep your original invoice and ensure the Planet logo/tag appears on it.

Step 2 – Track Your Purchases (Optional but Smart)

• Use the link sent by SMS or scan the QR code on the tag to access the Planet Shopper Portal or app.
• Check that all invoices appear correctly with VAT amounts and store details.
• This helps you know your estimated refund amount before you reach the airport.

Step 3 – At the Airport / Seaport / Land Border

• Before check‑in and immigration, find the VAT refund validation kiosks or Planet desks (signposted in departure areas).
• Scan your passport, boarding pass and tax‑free invoices/tags at the self‑service device, or present them to staff.
• Be ready to show the physical goods for inspection if requested; they must not be checked in yet.
• Once validation is successful, choose your refund method on screen or at the counter.

Step 4 – Collect Your Money

• Choose to receive the refund in cash (AED) via partner exchange offices, or as a card refund or digital wallet credit (e.g. WeChat/Alipay in some locations).
• Cash refunds are subject to a daily limit, while card refunds generally have no cap.
• Card refunds usually appear within several days; cash is immediate once processed.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: Plan at least 20–30 extra minutes at the airport for VAT validation, especially at peak times – rushing to the gate is how people skip the refund entirely.

5. How Much Money Do You Actually Get Back?

The official UAE portal confirms that tourists receive 85% of the VAT they paid, with a fixed fee per tax‑free tag. The remaining 15% covers system and service fees, including a fixed deduction of AED 4.80 per tag.

Key Numbers for 2026

• Standard VAT rate in the UAE: 5% of the purchase value.
• Refundable portion: 85% of that VAT (you lose 15% as admin fees).
• Fixed fee: AED 4.80 per tax‑free tag, deducted from your refund.
• Cash refunds: capped per day (for example, around AED 35,000 per tourist in recent guides).

🌶️ Spicy Tip: To reduce the impact of the fixed AED 4.80 fee, group purchases into fewer, higher‑value invoices when realistic instead of generating many tiny tax‑free tags.

6. Where You Can Claim: Airports, Seaports & Land Borders

Tourist VAT refunds are available at all main exit points – airports, seaports and some land ports – through Planet kiosks and partner counters. By 2026, more than one hundred self‑service kiosks operate across the country, and tourists can even check available refund options at each site via the Planet app.

Typical Claim Locations

• Major airports (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, etc.) – validation kiosks and cash partner desks in departure halls.
• Cruise and seaports – VAT refund devices and Planet validation points near immigration and customs.
• Some land borders – devices at exit points for tourists leaving by road, especially those connected to popular shopping routes.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: In some malls and hotels, you can start validation at Planet kiosks up to 24 hours before departure, then complete the process at the airport – useful if you expect long queues on your travel day.

7. VAT Refund Options: Cash vs Card (Table)

Choosing between cash and card refunds affects convenience, fees and how much money you walk away with in practice. The table below summarises typical patterns based on recent guidance.

8. 🌶️ Spicy Tips to Maximise Your Refund & Avoid Problems

🌶️ Spicy Tip: Keep all eligible goods easily accessible (not at the bottom of a checked suitcase) until after VAT validation – customs or Planet staff can ask to see them.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: Use the Planet app or Shopper Portal to track your net refund in real time; seeing the total climb makes it easier to decide if a last shopping run is worth it.

🌶️ Spicy Tip: If your departure airport is different from the city where you shopped (for example, shopping in Dubai but flying out of Abu Dhabi), confirm that your exit point has active kiosks before planning your refund strategy.

9. Use Pickeenoo to Shop Smarter Before You Leave

Want Your VAT Refund to Feel Like a Bonus, Not a Rescue Plan? 🌶️
Use Pickeenoo to compare local prices on electronics, fashion and home items before going on a shopping spree – you’ll know exactly which purchases are good deals even before the VAT refund.
Browse Smart Shopping Deals in the UAE

10. FAQ: VAT Refund for Tourists in the UAE (2026)

Do I get 100% of the VAT back?

No – you receive 85% of the VAT you paid, with about 15% retained as administrative fees and AED 4.80 deducted per tax‑free tag.

Can I claim VAT back on hotel stays and restaurant meals?

No – services like accommodation and dining are not part of the tourist VAT refund scheme; only goods exported with you and bought from participating retailers qualify.

What happens if I forget to validate my purchases before boarding?

If you pass immigration or check in goods without prior validation, you normally lose your right to a refund for those invoices, as the system requires validation while you and the goods are still in the UAE.

11. Bottom Line 🌶️

The UAE’s tourist VAT refund system in 2026 is generous and surprisingly simple once you know the rules: shop at participating stores, get your purchases tagged with Planet, validate at a kiosk before you leave and choose how you want your money back. You won’t recover every dirham of VAT, but reclaiming 85% of it can turn big‑ticket shopping into a much better deal. Treat the refund as part of your travel plan – not an afterthought at the airport – and your suitcase won’t be the only thing coming home heavier.

📊 Article Information

Article Length: ~1,800–2,000 words (≈ 8–9 minutes reading time).

Last Updated: January 2026 | Category: Expat Life – Money & Shopping Guides