UAE Tourist VAT Refund Calculator

It was, until mid-2026. The FTA's tourist refund page (dated 25 August 2026) and Planet's own FAQ both now state AED 3.60 per transaction. The general government portal u.ae hadn't caught up as of its 30 March 2026 update and still shows the old 4.80 figure, which is why some blogs quote it. On the five-tag example above the cut is worth AED 6.

The FTA's wording is AED 250 per transaction, exclusive of VAT. UAE shelf prices include VAT, so that's AED 262.50 on the receipt. Planet's FAQ just says AED 250 without the qualifier, so a receipt sitting between 250 and 262.50 is worth checking at the till before you assume. Receipts from the same shop generally can't be stacked to reach the floor.

Overseas tourists aged 18 or over who aren't resident in the UAE, per Planet's rules. Flight and ship crew are excluded. The goods have to leave the country with you, unused and in their original packaging, and you validate them at departure.

Card and digital wallet (WeChat Pay or Alipay) have no cap; the FTA lists wallet refunds as instant and card refunds as landing within 9 calendar days. Cash is quick at the counter, about three minutes, but stops at AED 35,000. Anything above that needs a card on file. If your refund is under the cap and you like cash, cash. Over it, or if you'd rather skip the queue, card or wallet.

Two clocks. Validate within 90 days of the tax invoice date, and once validated, leave the UAE within 6 hours. Then you've got one year from the export validation to actually claim the money if it hasn't already been paid out.

At Planet's validation points across UAE exit points, which means the international airports plus the land borders and seaports Planet covers, and at some malls and hotels before you travel. Airside there are Travelex counters for cash payouts. Planet's site has the current list of locations; it changes, so don't rely on an old blog post.

Yes. The FTA launched an e-commerce tourist refund system on 17 December 2024, in partnership with Planet. It covers purchases from e-commerce platforms registered with the FTA, where you provide your travel document details at the time of purchase. The goods still have to leave the UAE with you.

Planet's list: services (hotels, meals, car hire, tickets), motor vehicles, boats and aircraft, perishable goods you've partly or fully consumed in the UAE, anything you're not carrying when you depart, and used goods without their original packaging. Electronics, clothing, jewellery, perfume and watches are the bread and butter of the scheme.