"Can I get a VAT refund in Dubai?" is a common question — but it has several different answers depending on who is asking. A registered business reclaiming tax it has paid is a completely different process from a tourist claiming VAT at the airport. This guide focuses on the refund that matters most to businesses — recovering excess input VAT — and then explains how the other UAE refund schemes differ so you know which one applies to you.
The different types of VAT refund in the UAE
| Refund type | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Excess input VAT refund | VAT-registered businesses whose input VAT exceeds their output VAT. |
| Tourist VAT refund | Overseas tourists on eligible goods, claimed at exit points (operated by Planet). |
| Foreign-business refund | Businesses with no UAE establishment, under the Business Visitor scheme, subject to conditions. |
| New-residence refund | UAE nationals reclaiming VAT on building a new home for their own use. |
If you run a VAT-registered business in Dubai — or anywhere in the UAE — the first row is almost always the one you mean. VAT is federal, so the refund rules are the same across every emirate, and that is where we start.
Business VAT refund: reclaiming excess input VAT
Every VAT return nets two figures: the VAT you charged customers (output VAT) and the VAT you paid suppliers (input VAT). Usually output exceeds input and you pay the difference to the FTA. But when your input VAT is greater — for example after a major purchase, fit-out, stock build-up, or a period heavy on zero-rated exports — your return shows a net amount in your favour. That excess is refundable.
When you are in that position you have two choices. You can carry the excess forward to offset against VAT you will owe in later periods, or you can apply to the FTA to have it refunded to your bank account. Carrying forward is simpler if you expect to be in a payable position soon; a refund makes sense when the credit is significant or you would otherwise be waiting a long time to use it.
How to claim a business VAT refund — step by step
- File the VAT return for the period as normal, so the net refundable amount is reflected on your account.
- Log in to the FTA's EmaraTax portal (eservices.tax.gov.ae) and open the VAT refund form for your registered business.
- Confirm the refundable amount and enter the amount you wish to reclaim — you can request all or part of it.
- Provide your validated UAE bank account details (the IBAN must be in the business's name) so the FTA can pay the refund.
- Attach any supporting documents requested — for example tax invoices for the largest input-VAT items.
- Submit the form. The FTA reviews it, may request further information, and on approval pays the refund to your bank account.
How long does a VAT refund take?
The FTA aims to review a VAT refund application within around 20 business days of submission and will notify you of the outcome; if it needs longer, it tells you. Once the refund is approved, payment to your validated bank account follows shortly after. Well-prepared claims with clear supporting documents are processed faster — incomplete or inconsistent applications are the main reason refunds stall.
Related guideVAT Registration in Dubai & the UAE: Thresholds, Process & Deadlines (2026)The other UAE VAT refund schemes
Tourist VAT refund
Overseas tourists can reclaim VAT on eligible goods bought in the UAE and taken home, under the Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme operated by Planet on the FTA's behalf. It is claimed digitally at airports and other exit points, applies to a minimum spend, and returns most of the VAT paid less an administration fee. This is a separate consumer scheme — it has nothing to do with a business's VAT return.
Foreign-business refund
A business that has no establishment in the UAE and is not registered for VAT here may still reclaim UAE VAT it incurs, under the Business Visitor refund scheme. It is subject to conditions — including reciprocity with the applicant's home country, a minimum claim amount, and a fixed annual claim window — so eligibility needs checking before you rely on it.
New-residence refund for UAE nationals
A UAE national who builds a new residence for their own use can reclaim the VAT incurred on its construction, by applying to the FTA within the time limit set after the building is completed and certified. It applies to a home for the citizen and their family, not to property built to sell or lease.
A VAT refund is money the FTA owes back to your business — but only a correct, well-documented claim gets paid promptly. If you think you are due a refund, or simply want your VAT position reviewed, talk to our team.
Key takeaways
- For a VAT-registered business, a refund usually means reclaiming the excess when input VAT (on purchases) is greater than output VAT (on sales) in a tax period.
- When you are in that position you can either carry the excess forward against future VAT, or apply to the FTA for a refund — you choose.
- Business refunds are claimed through EmaraTax using the VAT refund form after the relevant return is filed, and paid to a validated UAE bank account.
- The FTA aims to review a refund application within around 20 business days and, once approved, pays it shortly after — clean, well-documented claims move fastest.
- Other UAE refund routes are separate schemes: the tourist refund (operated by Planet at exit points), the foreign-business refund, and the new-residence refund for UAE nationals.
- Rules, timeframes, and thresholds are set by law and refined over time — treat the figures here as the current position and confirm with the FTA before acting.