Federal Tax Authority has announced The Value Added Tax (VAT) Recovery Self-Service counters for Tourists scheme has been expanded to be available at major shopping malls and hotels, other than the existing ones at air, land and maritime entry and exit ports throughout the UAE.
The expansion targets to give additional services to tourists, boosting the UAE’s status as a well-known hub on the international tourism map. Planet the company authorised by the FTA to function the electronic system for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme introduced nine self-service kiosks in stage one of implementing the plan, establishing them up at multiple shopping malls and hotels. The kiosks will have state-of-the-art technology enabling them to fully process VAT refund requests for tourists.
The authority explained that the kiosks allow tourists to process their requests to recover VAT from the convenience of their hotel or at major malls in a matter of minutes said a statement issued on Monday,
The FTA said that up to 55 new self-service kiosks will be formed by the end of 2020 – 25 of which would be stationed in malls and 30 in hotels.
“Our objective from expanding the self-service kiosk is to provide further facilities and additional options for tourists looking to recover taxes. Eligible tourists who meet the necessary criteria for reclaiming the VAT they incurred on their purchases in the UAE can process the refund applications from the convenience of their own hotels or from a list of major shopping malls around the country.” Said Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director-general of the FTA.
