FTA Processes 2.7 Million Tourist Tax Refund Requests in H1 2024 Amid Digital System Upgrades

UAE, 27 August, 2024 : The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) reported a surge in VAT refund requests from tourists, reaching 2.7 million in the first half of 2024, averaging 15,000 transactions daily. This marks an increase from the 2.55 million requests during the same period in 2023, reflecting a 5.62% growth.

According to the FTA, a total of 19.67 million tax refund requests have been processed since the system’s launch, compared to 14.54 million by the end of H1 2023—an impressive 35.25% increase.

His Excellency Khalid Ali Al Bustani, FTA Director General, attributed the growth to a booming tourism sector and continuous enhancements to the digital tax refund system. He highlighted the system’s efficiency, offering fully digital, automated procedures that connect retail outlets to the tax refund system, eliminating the need for traditional paper invoices.

The number of retail stores linked to the system exceeded 16,870 by mid-2024, up from 15,610 a year earlier. The FTA also expanded the network of self-service kiosks, reaching 95 by H1 2024, a 20.25% increase compared to the previous year.

These developments align with the UAE’s broader digital transformation goals, contributing to the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme and positioning the country’s tax services among the most advanced globally. 

Source : www.tax.gov.ae