Shopping is going to be a major part of your UAE itinerary. Starting from modern malls to traditional souks, shopping enthusiasts can find a range of places to get their retail therapy. But in all the rush, please do not forget one thing. Claiming back Value Added Tax (VAT) on eligible purchases. It doesn’t matter if you are purchasing electronics, gold, gift items or luxury clothing. Goods and services in the UAE carry a VAT of 5%. Let’s take a deeper look into the VAT refund UAE 2026 scheme for tourists, including eligibility, procedure and recommendations.
International tourists aged 18 and older are eligible for tax free shopping in the UAE. You can get a VAT refund for eligible purchases made in the country at the time of departure. This scheme has been there for quite some time. It has enhanced the UAE’s reputation as a global shopping destination and is going to continue doing the same in the near future, too.
But please keep in mind that details matter. This VAT refund UAE guide for tourists needs you to understand the purchases that are eligible for VAT refunds. You need to validate your invoices at the right place and get to the airport on time to claim your refund. One small mistake and you could lose your refund altogether. But fret not, this guide is the only best friend you need to get through the tedious process safely. It doesn’t matter if you are exploring the UAE for the first time or are a frequent flier, this guide has been meticulously designed to help you shop smarter, plan better and enhance your chances of getting the maximum refunds.
What does VAT Refund UAE Scheme for Tourists Look Like in 2026?
Planet Payment is your one-stop solution to all things related to tax free shopping in the UAE. Goods and services carry a VAT of 5%. But you can get back a sizeable percentage of the total VAT amount paid at the time of departing the UAE. To be precise, the amount that can be claimed back is 87% of the total VAT paid, minus a fee of AED 4.80 per tax free transaction.
There can also be some rules to pay attention to at the time of claiming back your VAT refund UAE. You need to be 18 years of age or older. Your minimum spend needs to be AED 250 for the scheme to be applicable. Plus, it is necessary to leave the UAE in less than six hours of completing the validation process (more on this later). Basically, there is a set of rules and recommendations to pay heed to in order to increase your chances of getting the maximum claimable amount refunded.
In 2026, the VAT refund UAE scheme for tourists is still operating in full force. Planet Payment is doing a fantastic job at enhancing the UAE’s appeal to shopping enthusiasts. Be it in the sizzling summer months or the cooler October to March period, different stores in the UAE release incredible deals from time to time. Keep an eye out for these and make sure to leave some space in your suitcase as you might need after shopping recklessly throughout the trip.
Who is Eligible for VAT Refund in the UAE?
In short, only international tourists aged 18 years or older are eligible for VAT refunds on certain purchases made during their UAE trip. The refund scheme does not apply to all products and services, please keep it in mind. Only goods that carry a VAT amount are eligible for a refund. Take a look at this table for all the things that are ‘NOT’ eligible for a VAT refund in the UAE.
| Perishable goods consumed fully or partly in the UAE |
| Motor vehicles, boats and aircraft |
| Services |
| Goods not accompanied by the international tourist at the time of departure from the UAE |
| Goods used fully or partly in the UAE and not accompanied by the original packaging |
What is the minimum Spend Required for VAT Refund in the UAE?
The magic number – AED 250. This means that you need to spend at least AED 250 on eligible purchases during your UAE trip to become eligible for a tourist VAT refund transaction. Out of the 5% VAT amount carried by goods and services, 87% can be claimed back, minus a fee of AED 4.80 per tax free transaction.
Step-By-Step Guide to Tax Free Shopping in the UAE
Looking to maximise your chances of a VAT refund? The process begins from the moment you enter a store that is linked to Planet Payment – the exclusive operator of the VAT refund UAE scheme for tourists. There are a couple of different methods: legacy and paperless. Both of these methods are used by tourists and both of these are reliable. Check out the methods in detail to decide the one that suits your preferences the best.
a. Legacy Method
- Shop at one of the registered merchants in the UAE. This store needs to be linked to Planet Payment. The category doesn’t really matter here. You can check out electronics, luxury fashion and so much more.
- Request a tax free transaction for all the eligible purchases.
- You might need to present your passport here. The merchant is going to put a set of your details into the digital tax free system, such as your name as entered in the passport and phone number. Please ensure that all the details are correct.
- The merchant is going to issue a Tax invoice and a Planet tax free tag affixed to the back of your invoice. You can scan the QR code on the tag to get to the shopper portal for more clarity.
- In the end, validate your tax free purchases at any of the Planet Payment’s validation points located at all major exit points in the UAE. Present your goods, tax invoices and travel documents to Planet’s staff prior to check-in counters to get your VAT amount refunded.
b. Paperless Method
- Shop at one of the registered merchants in the UAE. This store needs to be linked to Planet Payment. The category doesn’t really matter here. You can check out electronics, luxury fashion and so much more.
- Request a tax free transaction for all the eligible purchases.
- The merchant is going to put a set of your details into the digital tax free system, such as your name as entered in the passport and phone number. Please ensure that all the details are correct. The process is still similar to the Legacy Method, right? Here comes the difference.
- Get a digital tax invoice from the merchant. You are also going to get an SMS sent to your phone number upon issuance of your first paperless transaction. Use the link to get to the shopper portal for more clarity on all the transactions.
- Time to depart the UAE. You can carry back a bag full of memories and souvenirs. But don’t forget the VAT paid. Validate your tax free purchases at any of Planet’s validation points. Present your travel documents and goods to the staff prior to check-in counters.
Where to Find VAT Refund Counters in the UAE
You can find Planet validation points at all the international airports, seaports and land borders in the UAE. Just pay attention to the Tax Free refunds signs before checking in your luggage and the staff is going to assist you.
For Dubai International Airport (DXB), the Planet validation points are located at all of the three terminals. You can check out Entrance 2 near Terminal 3, for example. For Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, the refund points are located in front of entrances 1 and 8 in Departures. Similarly, you can get to all of the international airports, seaports and land borders in the UAE to get your eligible goods validated and VAT refunded. It is necessary to reach the exit points early enough to complete the validation and get to your flight on time. Check out the table for more details on key Planet validation points in the UAE.
| Major UAE Planet Validation Point Locations |
| DXB Terminal 1 Area 1 – departure area near check-in in Area 1 |
| DXB Terminal 1 Area 5 – departure area near check-in Area 5 opposite Starbucks |
| DXB Terminal 2 – departure area near entrance 1 left beside Marhaba meet-and-greet counter |
| DXB Terminal 3 – near entrance 2 |
| DXB Terminal 3 Business Class – main entrance of business class check-in departed beside Emirates non-accompanied passenger lounge |
| AUH – Departures in front of entrances 1 and 8 (refund collection points in Gates A and D) |
| Sharjah Airport – Planet Payment kiosks at the Departures hall main entrance and next to the food court |
Step-By-Step Guide to Claim Tourist VAT Refund at UAE Airports
Basically, this is the process to validate your goods for the VAT refund UAE 2026 scheme. Please keep in mind that it is necessary to leave the UAE in less than six hours of validating your eligible purchases. Failure to do so could result in your refund being cancelled and you might need to start the entire validation process again. This is not something you feel like adding to your itinerary, so read along carefully to not miss out on anything important.
First of all, get all your travel documents, goods and tax invoices to Planet’s validation point. If you used the Paperless Method, you only need your travel documents and goods. Have all your invoices ready for inspection. Next, there are a couple of choices: Green Channel Validation or Red Channel Validation. Check out the table for more clarity on the situation.
| Green Channel Validation | Red Channel Validation |
| Your transactions are validated. Get to the next step of the process. | Your goods may need to be inspected at the Planet Payment’s validation point after immigration. |
| Choose a refund method. | Get to the validation point after completing immigration. Choose a refund method after all your goods are validated. |
| If you chose a Card refund, Planet is going to process the amount in less than 9 days after you have exited the UAE. | If you chose a Card refund, Planet is going to process the amount in less than 9 days after you have exited the UAE. |
Documents Required for VAT Refund UAE 2026 Scheme for Tourists
For tax free shopping in the UAE, be it using the Legacy Method or Paperless Method, bring your passport along. The merchant may need it at the time of filling in details into the digital tax free system. Next, at the time of validation, being your goods, travel documents, valid ticket evidencing your imminent departure from the UAE and tax invoices for Planet Payment’s staff. Ensure all the details entered are correct or you might lose on all the VAT refunds you are eligible for, altogether.
Common Reasons for VAT Refund UAE Rejections
| Reason for VAT Refund Rejection | More Clarity |
| Purchasing from a non-participating store | Make sure that your merchant is linked to Planet Payment, the official operator of VAT refund UAE scheme. |
| Not paying attention to minimum spend | The minimum spend requirement for each tax invoice to claim back VAT amount is AED 250. Smaller bills usually cannot be combined. |
| Incorrect details | Make sure all the details the merchant is going to put in the digital tax free system are correct. Check your personal details. |
| Failure to validate goods on time | The time limit to export validate your tax free transactions is 90 days from the purchase date. The time limit to claim refund, on the other hand, is 12 months from the date of export validation. |
| Not presenting goods for inspection | You might be having the tax invoices but not the goods for inspection. If this happens, your refund may get entirely rejected. |
| Used or consumed goods | Goods and services in the UAE carry a 5% VAT. But only some goods are eligible for VAT refunds. The ones that are not eligible include goods consumed fully or partly in the UAE or any Implementing State |
Cash vs Card: Which Option is Better for VAT Refund UAE 2026?
It all depends on your preferences. For the VAT refund UAE scheme, the refundable amount can be processed in cash, card or digital wallets. For cash, there is a limit of AED 35,000. For card, different companies’ credit cards are eligible, such as Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, JCB and more. But Planet is going to process your Card refund in less than nine days after you have exited the UAE. The final decision needs to be taken by you, depending on your preferences and current circumstances.
Tips to Maximize VAT Refund UAE in 2026
In order to increase your chances of getting a VAT refund in the UAE as a tourist, you need to check out the reasons for rejection section of this article. Still, here is a quick reminder of those situations and more for you to enjoy a smooth experience at Planet validation points.
- Shop only at stores linked to Planet Payment
- Meet the minimum spend requirement (AED 250)
- Bring your passport along at the time of shopping as your merchant may need it to fill in details on the digital tax free system
- Double-check all the details immediately
- Keep all the eligible goods unused and in original packaging
- Pack strategically for airport validation. If you need to complete your validation after check-in, place the goods in the carrry-on luggage.
- Reach the airport early
- Complete VAT validation before passport control, if possible
- Choose Card refunds instead of Cash. The latter has an amount limit and might be less secure. But Card refunds may not get processed immediately
- Keep a track of the export time limit
- Keep all the receipts until the refund is complete in its entirety
- Prioritise high-value purchases, if possible
Shopping in the UAE is no less than an experience. But not garnering enough clarity about the VAT refund UAE scheme before jetting off on the trip is not recommended. Hope this guide has brought you all the essential information to make the most of the experience. Starting from your latest electronics to luxury fashion items, goods in the UAE carry a 5% VAT. If you pay a little bit of attention at the time of shopping and validating your purchases at the exit points, you can get back a sizeable amount of this VAT paid.
Tax free shopping in the UAE doesn’t need to be a tedious process. Planet is the official operator of the UAE VAT refund scheme for tourists and is doing a fantastic job at it. To enhance your chances of getting back all the VAT paid during your shopping sprees, make sure to get your information double checked, tax invoices in their best form, goods not used and in their original packaging, and travel documents intact. Do not miss out.
If you have read till here already, it is important to also be excited about your UAE trip. This is going to be that ‘IT’ trip of your lifetime. No exaggeration here.
Read More: VAT Refund at DXB: Eligibility, Validation Process and Claiming Refund
