The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has switched on a new digital platform that it says delivers the world’s fastest VAT-refund experience for visitors leaving the United Arab Emirates. Rolled out simultaneously at Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International and Sharjah International airports on 20 October, the system uses facial recognition, QR codes and back-end artificial-intelligence checks to verify traveller identity, match passport data with purchase records, and approve refunds in minutes—all without a single paper form. Operated with long-time partner Planet Tax Free, the upgrade reduces the time between submitting a claim and receiving the refund to just one business day, down from an average of nine. Officials expect about four million transactions—worth roughly AED 692 million (US $188 m)—to be processed between November 2026 and October 2027 as a result of the change. The platform is entirely app-based. Tourists register before departure by scanning their passport, payment card and a selfie in the Planet app. At the airport they simply scan a QR code at self-service kiosks; if an inspection is required the app routes them to a smart gate where cameras confirm that the goods are being exported. In most cases the refund is triggered automatically and credited to the traveller’s card or digital wallet. For the FTA, the launch is a flagship project under its “Digital Zero Bureaucracy” drive. By eliminating paper receipts, manual stamping and cash desks, the authority expects to free airport immigration zones of queues, improve security through biometric validation, and collect richer data on tourist spending patterns. Retailers benefit too: more than 19,300 outlets are already connected to the digital refund network, and real-time approval is forecast to lift high-value sales in Dubai and Abu Dhabi malls ahead of the peak winter season. Travel-management companies say the upgrade is a competitive boost for the UAE’s conference and incentives market. Being able to advertise “refund in 24 hours, no paperwork” to clients gives the Emirates an extra selling point over rival hubs such as Singapore and Istanbul, where VAT refund processing can still take weeks. Corporates also gain cleaner expense data because digital receipts flow directly into finance systems, making reconciliation and tax compliance easier for mobile employees. Overall, the initiative underscores the UAE’s strategy of using smart-government tools to smooth every stage of the visitor journey—from eVisas and biometrics at passport control to tax refunds on departure.
