Tourist VAT refund in Dubai: how much you actually get back

Short answer

• You get back 87% of the VAT, less AED 3.60 per tax-free transaction, according to the Federal Tax Authority.
• On AED 1,050 including VAT, that's about AED 39.90 back, not AED 50.
• The minimum is AED 250 per transaction, excluding VAT.
• Validate within 90 days of the invoice, and leave within 6 hours of validating.

As a tourist in Dubai you get back 87% of the VAT you paid, less AED 3.60 per tax-free transaction. So you never get the full 5% back: on AED 1,050 including VAT, you'd receive about AED 39.90 rather than AED 50. Those figures come from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), and the scheme operator Planet states the same.

Older pages still show different numbers, and so does one government page, so it's worth confirming at the kiosk.

How much you get back: worked examples

The formula has two parts. Take 87% of the VAT, then subtract AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction. The examples below are from QAS Pro Global, updated in October 2026, and we checked the arithmetic.

Notice what the flat fee does. At the small end it takes away more than a quarter of the refund. At AED 21,000 it barely registers. If you're buying several small things from one shop on one day, ask whether they can go on a single tax-free transaction, because the fee is charged per transaction.

One big purchase or several small ones

Because the fee is per transaction, splitting the same spend costs you money. This is our arithmetic, using the FTA's figures:

Spread across four small purchases, the same spend returns about AED 10.80 less. That doesn't mean you should spend more to save a fee. But if you're buying several things in one shop, it's worth asking.

Why you'll see other numbers online

We found three versions when we checked on 5 November 2026:

We follow the FTA, since it runs the tax. QAS Pro Global attributes the cut in the fee to FTA Decision No. 11 of 2026, in effect from 12 July 2026, but that's the only source we found for it, so treat the decision number with caution. If the amount matters to you, ask at the Planet kiosk, which will show you the actual figure.

The minimum spend

The FTA sets a minimum of AED 250 per transaction, excluding VAT. Other pages word this differently, including some that say the amount includes VAT, so we follow the FTA's wording.

Using that figure, AED 250 excluding VAT is AED 262.50 at the till, which is why the first row in the table above is the smallest. Something costing AED 255 including VAT wouldn't qualify.

The time limits

There are three clocks, and they catch people out.

The six-hour limit is the one to watch if you're validating at a mall or hotel rather than at the airport.

Where to validate

You can do it at the airport or, according to the FTA, at kiosks in malls and hotels. Mall and hotel kiosks need an online boarding pass for a flight within 24 hours.

For a sense of scale, Gulf News reported 96 kiosks and 18,410 linked stores at the end of June 2025. That's an old figure, so don't rely on it, and check that a shop is in the scheme before you buy. Ask at the till and get the tax-free tag at the time of purchase.

Who can claim

According to the FTA and Planet, you must be:

• at least 18
• not a UAE resident
• not crew on the flight or ship you're leaving on

You'll need your original passport or GCC ID, the goods and your ticket. Only the passport holder can validate. Planet says GCC nationals are currently eligible, and the FTA accepts a GCC ID, although one older secondary source says otherwise; we follow the FTA and Planet.

What's excluded

According to Planet, you can't claim on:

• goods you consumed in the UAE, even partly
• vehicles, boats and aircraft
• goods not with you when you leave
• services, such as hotels and restaurants
• used goods without their original packaging
• goods sent as cargo

The "with you" rule is the important one. Keep the goods accessible, because you may be asked to show them, so don't pack them where you can't reach them before you validate.

A simple plan for your trip

1. Before you buy: ask whether the shop is in the scheme and get the tax-free tag at the till.
2. Keep together: the goods in their packaging, your passport and your receipts.
3. Before you fly: check that your purchases are still inside the 90 days.
4. At the kiosk: validate with the goods to hand. If it's a mall or hotel, have your online boarding pass ready, and make sure you can leave within 6 hours.
5. Afterwards: keep your record and check that the money has arrived.

Where claims go wrong

These follow directly from the rules above:

• Transaction under the AED 250 minimum, excluding VAT.
• Validated too late, after 90 days from the invoice.
• Validated, then left more than 6 hours later without validating again.
• Goods partly used in the UAE, or already sent as cargo.
• Someone other than the passport holder trying to validate.

Getting paid

The FTA says card refunds usually arrive within nine calendar days and sets a cash cap of AED 35,000. If a refund doesn't arrive, Planet lists +971 4 586 4700 (9am to midnight UAE time) and tourists@planetpayment.com. Keep your validation record until the money has arrived.

Gold

Tourists may claim VAT on gold from scheme retailers, according to ClearTax, but we couldn't find a source that says whether the refund covers making charges as well as the metal. If it matters, ask Planet before you buy. The gold guide covers the invoice.

Customs is a separate question

A VAT refund doesn't change what you may have to declare when you get home. For UAE allowances, see customsdubai.com, and check your home country's rules too.

If you're planning a trip around a sale, the sales calendar has the confirmed dates.

What to check before you act

• Does the shop take part? Ask before you pay, and get the tax-free tag.
• Is your transaction at least AED 250 excluding VAT?
• Will your flight fall within 6 hours of validating, and is it within 24 hours for a mall kiosk?
• Is your purchase on the excluded list?
• Are the goods with you, and is your name on the passport?
• Confirm the current rate at the kiosk, since published figures differ.

Questions people ask

General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so check the sources below. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Sources

1. Tourist VAT refunds (Federal Tax Authority, page dated 25 Aug 2026) checked 5 November 2026
2. Tourist frequently asked questions (Planet) checked 5 November 2026
3. Local rules for merchants (Planet) checked 5 November 2026
4. Tax refund for tourists (u.ae, marked updated 28 Oct 2026) checked 5 November 2026
5. UAE VAT refund guide for tourists (Gulf News, 30 Jul 2025) checked 5 November 2026
6. UAE VAT tourist refund scheme 2026 (QAS Pro Global, updated 25 Oct 2026) checked 5 November 2026
7. Tax refund shops keep rising (Gulf News, 20 Jul 2025) checked 5 November 2026
8. VAT on gold in UAE (ClearTax, 8 Apr 2026) checked 5 November 2026