UAE tourist VAT refunds cut to one business day with AI app at three airports

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched an AI-powered platform that cuts the wait for tourist VAT refunds to one business day, from about nine days before. It runs at Dubai International, Abu Dhabi's Zayed International and Sharjah International airports. FTA Director General Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mulla said the shorter wait applies from October 2026.

Planet, the operator authorised to run the UAE's Tourist Tax Refund Scheme, built the system with the FTA. It relies on digital sign-up, facial recognition and automatic checks of purchase and travel data.

A visitor first registers in Planet's app by scanning their face and photographing their passport and bank card. On departure, they scan a dynamic QR code at a refund service point. The system reviews the purchases and decides whether any need inspection.

If none do, the visitor finishes the claim in the app and picks a refund method. If inspection is required, the visitor goes through a Planet smart gate with facial recognition. The gate recognises them, opens and sends them to a self-service kiosk, so they do not repeat identification.

The FTA said the platform matches invoices with travel details automatically and picks a language from the tourist's nationality. It also flags unusual transaction patterns, which the authority said supports compliance and protects public funds.

About 16,700 retail points of sale are connected to the scheme. A further 769 joined in the first nine months of 2026, after 1,326 in 2025. The 98 self-service kiosks in malls, hotels and departure points handle 22.4 per cent of transactions.

Refunds since 2018 total roughly Dh4.2 billion over 25 million transactions, counted to October 2026. The FTA expects about four million transactions from November 2026 to October 2027, with refunds near Dh692 million. Tourist satisfaction was 93 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, against 92 per cent a year earlier.

For visitors leaving Dubai, the app's assessment of their purchases decides the route: a fully digital claim, or a stop at the smart gates. Gulf News reported the details.