The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority has launched an AI-powered, paperless VAT refund platform for tourists at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah airports, using facial recognition and automated verification to streamline refunds and reduce manual intervention.
UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) launched, on 20 October 2026, an integrated digital platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds to tourists, which it describes as the first of its kind worldwide.
The launch forms part of the authority’s strategy to expand the use of AI and advance its Digital Zero Bureaucracy Programme.
The FTA developed the platform with Planet, the authorised operator of the VAT Refund Scheme for Tourists. It offers fully digital, 100% paperless procedures, including verification and data entry through Planet’s mobile application and AI-powered facial recognition. It is now operational at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports and at Sharjah International Airport.
How the platform works
The process has up to three steps:
- Step one: Tourists download the Planet application and register by scanning their face and saving images of their passport and bank card.
- Step two: At the departure airport, tourists scan the dynamic Quick Response (QR) code displayed at refund service points, and the refund procedures begin immediately.
- Step three (only where verification is required): Tourists whose transactions need inspection are notified through the application and directed to Planet’s smart gates. The gates use facial recognition to identify them and their transaction details, then direct them to a self-service kiosk.
AI identifies transactions eligible for automatic refunds where no purchases need inspection. In such cases, tourists complete only the first two steps and finalise the request through the application, without in-person verification. The refund is then paid through the method the tourist selects in the application.
The FTA said the platform automatically matches invoice and travel information, which improves verification accuracy and reduces manual intervention. Tourists can complete all refund procedures within minutes before departure. The platform also offers a multilingual service, automatically providing the language appropriate to each tourist’s nationality. In addition, the authority said AI is used to detect unusual patterns during verification, protecting public revenues while keeping refunds smooth for tourists.
