the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) Processed VAT charges cost AED3.2 billion for UAE nationals who have established new residents, according to the data released on Sunday consisting of June 2025.
Authority has been approved for approximately 38,000 applications for res refund at the residence refund since this eight years ago.
This represents growth from 31,000 approved applications valued by AED2.54 billion recorded in June 2024.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority approves 38,000 Replenishment VAT refund applications worth AED3.2BN
Between June 2024 and June 2025, FTA has been approved by more than 7,000 new applications worth AED653.1 million.
In the first six months 2025 alone, 3,097 applications receive approval, creating a refund worth AED284.77 million.
The data shows a 22.74 percent increase in application numbers and a 25.72 percent increase in refund values last year.
Digital Tax refund system for tourists expands 18,410 retails together on June 2025, as compared to 17,720 outlets at the end of June 2024.
In the first half of 2025, 697 outlets connected to the system, representing a 29 percent increase from 540 outlets together at the same time in 2024.
During the past two years, including the first half of 2025, 3,390 outlets participated in the tourist’s refund system.
Authorities operate on 96 service machines that process tourist tax refunds in approximately two minutes per transaction. These machines are located in shopping malls, hotels, and tourist leave points.
“The indicators reflect the ongoing development and upgrade of our digital systems in line with global best practices, and in alignment with the UAE’s Digital Transformation Strategy. The Authority’s Initiatives in this Regard have positively impacted the overall quality vat refund systems for Eligible Categories, “Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA said.
Al Bustrani highlights ‘Masks’ Smart Application, processing VAT refunds for non-paper-free methods full of digitated operations.
The system allows tourists to take refunds in online purchases made by their living in UAE.
“As part of the efforts to develop digital services, FTA launched the first e-commerce of the UAE world, including the UAE sector and the tourism sector and the e-commerce sector,” he added.
Digital platform allows tourists to scan passports, share transactions as digital invoices, check invoices through a shopper park through perfect digital methods.
Al Bustrani confirms the authority to carry out the Digital Change Projects in the tax sector to support government strategy for reduced levels of government satisfaction.
