UAE Tourist VAT Refund Calculator
How much VAT you actually get back when leaving the UAE. Built on the FTA-published Planet Tax-Free scheme — 13% deduction + AED 4.80 per tag.
How to use
- 1
Add up all your tax-free receipts (each must be ≥ AED 250 to qualify).
- 2
Enter the number of separate tax-free tags — one per shop visit.
- 3
Enter your smallest single receipt to verify the AED 250-per-receipt rule is met.
- 4
Pick cash or card refund — cash is capped at AED 35,000.
Frequently asked questions
No. The FTA deducts 13% of the VAT amount as a platform fee, plus AED 4.80 per tax-free tag (one tag per shop visit). The net refund averages around 87% of the VAT paid — about AED 4.35 back per AED 100 of pre-VAT spend, not AED 5.
Each tax-free receipt must be at least AED 250 (including VAT). Multiple smaller receipts from the same shop typically can't be combined to meet the threshold — but check at the cashier, as some shops aggregate same-day purchases.
Tourists 18+ who are not UAE residents and entered on a tourist visa. GCC residents transitioning before mid-2023 may have legacy rules; check at the refund counter. UAE residents are not eligible regardless of nationality.
All UAE international airports (DXB, DWC, AUH, SHJ, RKT, FJR, AAN), land border crossings (Al Ghuwaifat, Hatta, Khatmat Malaha, Al Hili, Al Madeef), and seaports (Port Rashid Dubai, Port Zayed Abu Dhabi, Port Khalid Sharjah). Validate within 90 days of the invoice date.
Cash is instant but capped at AED 35,000. Card credit takes about 9 days to land but has no cap and avoids airport-counter queues. For refunds over AED 35,000, the excess automatically goes to your card.
Yes, since December 2024. The FTA launched an e-commerce tourist refund extension covering purchases from FTA-registered online retailers. The goods still need to leave the UAE with the tourist within 90 days.
Services (hotels, restaurants, car rental, entertainment), motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, goods consumed wholly or partly in the UAE, and goods the tourist isn't carrying at departure. Tangible goods like electronics, clothing, jewellery, perfume, watches and souvenirs all qualify.
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Source: FTA — Tourist Refund Scheme (Planet Tax-Free) · Last verified 2026-06. Federal Tax Authority. This tool provides estimates only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed advisor before taking action.