The Federal Tax Authority confirmed that the digital tax refund system for tourists has witnessed significant expansion in its user base across the country. The number of registered retail outlets 'sales points' electronically linked to the system increased by 7.6% to nearly 19,000 stores by the end of last year, compared to 17,600 stores at the end of 2024. The Authority explained in its press release today that the number of sales outlets connected to the system during 2025 reached 1,326 commercial outlets, compared to 1,208 outlets connected in 2024, marking a 9.8% annual increase. The Authority indicated that the number of self-service kiosks for refunding tourists' Value Added Tax (VAT) increased by 7.3% in 2025 to 103 devices by the end of last year, compared to 96 devices at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, 23 new devices were added over the past two years, including 15 in 2024 and 8 in 2025. These kiosks are located in major shopping malls and hotels, as well as at tourist departure points. Mr. Khalid Ali Al Bastani, Director General of the Federal Tax Authority, stated that the Authority's continuous monitoring shows the digital tax refund system for tourists enjoys high satisfaction rates and praise from its users due to its ease of use and the speed of refund procedures for eligible tourists. He added that the continuous expansion of the system's user base aligns with the government's digital strategy aimed at the smart transformation of all government services and focusing on proactive services. The Director also highlighted the digital tax refund system for e-commerce purchases, launched by the Authority and the first of its kind globally, which is seeing notable adoption. It allows tourists to reclaim refundable VAT on all purchases made during their stay in the UAE, whether from traditional stores or registered online platforms. The Federal Tax Authority noted that five countries topped the list of beneficiaries of the tourist tax refund service over the past two years: India, Russia, Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The Authority also continued to develop and improve the VAT refund service for tourists by introducing 7 additional languages for use at self-service kiosks, including French, Spanish, Turkish, German, Persian, Portuguese, and Hindi. Furthermore, a large-scale branding campaign was implemented at Zayed International Airport.
