The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched a fully digital, paperless tourist tax refund platform at three major airports, using artificial intelligence to speed up processing and reduce waiting times for departing travellers.
The system, introduced on Tuesday in partnership with Planet Tax Free, is operational at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport. The authority described the service as the world’s fastest tax refund experience, allowing eligible tourists to complete the process within minutes before departure.
Planet Tax Free is the exclusive operator of the UAE’s Tourist Refund Scheme, which allows eligible visitors to reclaim the 5% value-added tax (VAT) paid on qualifying purchases before leaving the country.
According to the FTA, the new application simplifies refund procedures by reducing paperwork, limiting manual intervention and combining several verification steps into a single digital process.
Tourists must first download the Planet app and register by providing the required verification details. This includes completing a facial scan and uploading images of their passport and bank card. Once registration is complete, they can use the digital refund service at participating airports.
On arrival at the airport, travellers must scan a QR code displayed on screens at designated tourist tax refund service points. This activates the refund process through the application.
The system then uses artificial intelligence to determine whether a transaction requires physical inspection. If additional checks are necessary, the application notifies the traveller and directs them to Planet’s smart gates.
At the gates, facial recognition technology verifies the traveller’s identity and automatically retrieves relevant transaction information, reducing the need to repeat conventional identification procedures.
Passengers whose purchases do not require inspection can complete the first two steps and submit their refund requests directly through the app. The system processes eligible claims without requiring in-person verification, and the refund amount is then disbursed through the application.
The platform is designed to assess transactions against the applicable legal requirements and direct travellers to the appropriate procedure based on their purchases. Transactions selected for inspection will continue through the additional verification process.
The FTA said the launch forms part of its broader strategy to expand the use of artificial intelligence across its operations and improve the efficiency of public services.
The initiative also supports the UAE’s Digital Zero Bureaucracy Programme, which aims to simplify government procedures, reduce administrative requirements and make services more accessible.
By introducing digital verification and automated processing at major international airports, the authority aims to make the tax refund process more convenient for tourists while reducing reliance on traditional paper-based procedures.
