emirates7 - The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) reported a significant increase in transactions processed through the digital Value Added Tax (VAT) refund system for tourists in 2024, reaching 2.7 million in the first half of the year, up from 2.55 million during the same period in 2023.
This growth is reflected in the number of “Tax free Tag” refunds issued by retail stores linked to the system, resulting in a daily average of about 15,000 transactions, compared to 14,180 daily transactions last year—a 5.62 percent rise.
According to a press release from the FTA, 19.67 million digital tax refund requests from tourists were processed between the system’s launch and the end of the first half of 2024 (H1 2024), compared to 14.54 million transactions by the end of H1 2023, marking a 35.25 percent increase over 12 months.
From June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2024, a total of 5.13 million electronic tax refund requests were processed, averaging more than 14,000 transactions daily.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director-General of the FTA, attributed the rise in tax refund requests to the UAE’s thriving tourism sector, which reflects the leadership’s vision to enhance economic diversification and bolster key sectors, including tourism.
Al Bustani also noted that continuous upgrades to the digital tax refund system contributed to the surge. The system, among the most advanced globally, enables 100 percent digital processing of invoices from registered retail outlets, replacing traditional paper invoices through a sophisticated electronic link. This system allows seamless invoice issuance, transmission, modification, and storage, with built-in verification procedures to ensure compliance with tax refund regulations.
The FTA is pursuing ambitious digital transformation initiatives to deliver advanced tax services, aligning with government priorities. These efforts aim to improve service delivery, reduce paper consumption, and minimize required documentation, supporting the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme and establishing UAE Government services as world-leading.
The FTA also highlighted the expansion of the network of retail stores connected to the Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme, which grew to over 16,870 stores by the end of H1 2024, up from nearly 15,610 by the end of H1 2023—an 8.07 percent increase, adding 1,260 stores within one year. The number of linked stores has steadily increased in recent years, rising from 10,260 at the end of 2020 to 13,880 by the end of 2021, reaching 15,240 by the end of 2022, and 16,480 by the end of 2023.
Additionally, the deployment of self-service kiosks, which allow tourists to process tax refunds in about two minutes per transaction, has seen a notable increase. The total number of kiosks grew to 95 by the end of H1 2024, up from 79 by the end of H1 2023—an increase of 20.25 percent with 16 new kiosks added over the year. In the first half of 2024 alone, six new kiosks were installed, compared to just one during the same period in 2023.
The FTA explained that Planet, the company authorized to operate the system, manages these kiosks, which are equipped with technology for fully automated tax refund processing. These devices are widely available in major shopping malls, hotels, and all points of departure from the UAE.
This growth is reflected in the number of “Tax free Tag” refunds issued by retail stores linked to the system, resulting in a daily average of about 15,000 transactions, compared to 14,180 daily transactions last year—a 5.62 percent rise.
According to a press release from the FTA, 19.67 million digital tax refund requests from tourists were processed between the system’s launch and the end of the first half of 2024 (H1 2024), compared to 14.54 million transactions by the end of H1 2023, marking a 35.25 percent increase over 12 months.
From June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2024, a total of 5.13 million electronic tax refund requests were processed, averaging more than 14,000 transactions daily.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director-General of the FTA, attributed the rise in tax refund requests to the UAE’s thriving tourism sector, which reflects the leadership’s vision to enhance economic diversification and bolster key sectors, including tourism.
Al Bustani also noted that continuous upgrades to the digital tax refund system contributed to the surge. The system, among the most advanced globally, enables 100 percent digital processing of invoices from registered retail outlets, replacing traditional paper invoices through a sophisticated electronic link. This system allows seamless invoice issuance, transmission, modification, and storage, with built-in verification procedures to ensure compliance with tax refund regulations.
The FTA is pursuing ambitious digital transformation initiatives to deliver advanced tax services, aligning with government priorities. These efforts aim to improve service delivery, reduce paper consumption, and minimize required documentation, supporting the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme and establishing UAE Government services as world-leading.
The FTA also highlighted the expansion of the network of retail stores connected to the Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme, which grew to over 16,870 stores by the end of H1 2024, up from nearly 15,610 by the end of H1 2023—an 8.07 percent increase, adding 1,260 stores within one year. The number of linked stores has steadily increased in recent years, rising from 10,260 at the end of 2020 to 13,880 by the end of 2021, reaching 15,240 by the end of 2022, and 16,480 by the end of 2023.
Additionally, the deployment of self-service kiosks, which allow tourists to process tax refunds in about two minutes per transaction, has seen a notable increase. The total number of kiosks grew to 95 by the end of H1 2024, up from 79 by the end of H1 2023—an increase of 20.25 percent with 16 new kiosks added over the year. In the first half of 2024 alone, six new kiosks were installed, compared to just one during the same period in 2023.
The FTA explained that Planet, the company authorized to operate the system, manages these kiosks, which are equipped with technology for fully automated tax refund processing. These devices are widely available in major shopping malls, hotels, and all points of departure from the UAE.