Dubai : The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced on Monday that its Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme will go into effect on November 18.
The first phase of the scheme, which allows tourists to request refunds of the VAT incurred on their purchases, will see the digital system implemented at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah International Airports.
As of mid-December, the system will be fully operational to include all airports and land and sea ports in the UAE, as stipulated in the Cabinet decision which aims to strengthen the UAE’s leading position as a major destination on the global tourism map.
The FTA said that tax invoices issued starting from November 18 will qualify tourists who are eligible for a tax refund.
FTA director general Khalid Ali Al Bustani asserted that more than 4,000 retail outlets across the UAE will be connected electronically to the system, clarifying that only the invoices issued by retail outlets registered in the scheme and connected to the system are eligible for a refund.
