UAE tourist VAT refund calculator
Tourists can get back part of the 5% VAT on goods bought in the UAE and taken out of the country.
Enter what you paid and how many tax-free tags you have to estimate the refund.
How it's calculated
- Work out the VAT inside the price: price × 5% ÷ (100% + 5%).
- You receive 85% of that VAT, after a fee of AED 4.80 for each tax-free tag.
- The purchase has to be at least AED 250 at a store registered in the scheme.
An example
On AED 5,250 of shopping with two tags, the VAT is AED 250 and the refund about AED 202.90.
Frequently asked questions
Who can claim a VAT refund in the UAE?
Tourists aged 18 or over who buy from retailers in the scheme and take the goods out of the UAE.
How long do I have to validate my purchases?
You validate them at the point of exit within 90 days of the purchase. Refunds for validated tags can be claimed within one year.
What isn't refunded?
Anything used fully or partly in the UAE, and goods you don't have with you when you leave.
Key terms
- Tax-free tag
- The tag the shop puts on the receipt when you shop tax-free.
- Planet
- The operator of the tax refund system for tourists in the UAE.
Up-to-date official data
Data checked against the official source on .
We check the official sources automatically, every day.
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Value added tax (VAT)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Tax refund for tourists