Guide to tax-free shopping in Dubai

What is tax-free shopping?

The UAE introduced a value-added tax (VAT) of five per cent in 2018, but tourists can still enjoy tax free shopping across the country. Refunds for VAT are only available on goods purchased during your stay in the UAE that will be exported. Planet Tax Free is the only operator of the system, and most stores are registered in the UAE with the scheme, making it easy to secure your refund on departure via land, sea or air.

 

Refunds are not applicable on anything that has been consumed – fully or partially – in the UAE, as well as goods that are not accompanied by the tourist when leaving the country. You must visit the Planet counters when leaving the country to validate your transactions and complete the process. These can be found at all exit points across the country, be it airports, land borders or sea ports. You must leave the UAE within 90 days of when you made your purchases to claim your refund. To learn more about tax free shopping in the UAE, visit Planet’s website.

Tax refund for e-commerce purchases

In December 2024, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) established a new VAT refund system for online purchases in collaboration with Planet. All you need to do is follow a clear process to apply for refunds directly through e-commerce platforms registered with FTA. Make sure you provide accurate travel documents and personal information to verify your eligibility to claim VAT refund at the time of purchase.