UAE FTA Introduces AI-Powered Digital Platform for Tourist Tax Refunds
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched a new integrated digital platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds for tourists, making it among the latest innovations of its kind worldwide.
The launch aligns with the FTA’s strategy to accelerate AI adoption, improve operational efficiency, and advance initiatives under the Digital Zero Bureaucracy Program.
It also supports the UAE leadership’s vision of positioning the country at the forefront of global government excellence while enhancing national competitiveness across sectors.
The new smart platform, launched in collaboration between the FTA and Planet, the authorised operator of the VAT Refund Scheme for Tourists, offers the world’s fastest tax refund experience for tourists through fully digital, 100 percent paperless procedures.
This includes verification and data entry through Planet’s enhanced smart mobile application, alongside AI-powered facial recognition technology.
It is now operational at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport.
“The introduction of this new AI-powered platform marks a significant advancement in the tourist tax refund journey, enhancing the tourist experience at their final point of contact with the country. It embodies a proactive government model that puts customers at the heart of service design, supported by integration and data sharing between government entities and partners to deliver outstanding services in line with best practices. This strengthens the innovation and digital transformation ecosystem, in line with the directives and prudent guidance of the UAE’s leadership to achieve the objectives of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Program and redesign government services in accordance with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. These efforts also reinforce the UAE’s distinguished international standing as a leading global destination for tourism and shopping, supported by its safe environment, attractive landmarks, diverse events and tourism facilities.”
FTA enhances tourist refund services with smart verification
The FTA explained that the new smart platform uses AI technologies to reduce procedures, integrate steps and simplify verification requirements. Through smart verification, invoice and travel information are automatically matched, enhancing verification accuracy and reducing the need for manual intervention.
Waiting times have also been reduced through faster processing of refund requests, enabling tourists to complete all refund procedures within minutes before departure. The platform also offers a multilingual experience powered by AI, which automatically provides each tourist with the appropriate language based on their nationality.
The FTA expects continued enhancements to the platform to further improve the tourist VAT refund experience and boost customer satisfaction in the coming period, as per the statement.