The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) launched a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered digital platform for tourist VAT refunds at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airport. The system works with Planet, the operator of the UAE’s Tourist VAT Refund Scheme, and offers a fully paperless refund process.
Tourists must first register on the Planet app. They upload images of their passport and bank card, while the app verifies their identity through facial recognition. The platform uses a mobile application, facial recognition technology and smart gates. It aims to reduce waiting time at airports and simplify the final step for tourists leaving the country.
At the airport, travelers scan a dynamic QR code at a VAT-refund service point. The app then starts the refund request. If the transaction does not require inspection, the tourist can submit the claim and receive the refund directly into the selected payment method.
For transactions that need verification, the app directs tourists to an AI-enabled smart gate. The gate checks identity and transaction details automatically. Tourists then complete the process at a self-service kiosk, reducing the need for manual intervention.
The FTA said, “The platform delivers a fully digital and 100% paperless experience. It removes much of the manual documentation traditionally associated with tax refunds and supports the UAE’s broader push for AI adoption and digital government services.”
The initiative also aligns with the UAE’s Digital Zero Bureaucracy Programme. The FTA reported 93% tourist satisfaction during the first nine months of 2026, compared with 92% in the same period last year.
The authority expects around four million digital refund transactions, valued at approximately AED 692 million, between November 2026 and October 2027. These kiosks handle 22.4% of all transactions under the scheme. The Digital Tourist VAT Refund System now operates through 98 self-service kiosks at airports, malls and hotels.
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