UAE Launches AI-Powered Tax Refund App For Tourists At Three Major Airports

The UAE's Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has introduced an artificial intelligence-driven digital platform for tourist Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds in collaboration with Planet Tax Free, according to Travel and Leisure Asia. The application provides a paperless mechanism for departing visitors to submit tax refund claims.

The platform has been deployed across three major international gateways: Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport. Powered by AI, the system automates verification procedures and curtails manual checks, enabling eligible passengers to conclude refund processes in minutes prior to boarding.

To access the service, travelers download the Planet application and register by completing an identity check that includes a face scan alongside uploads of their passport and bank card. At the airport, visitors scan VAT refund QR codes displayed at designated service kiosks to initiate their claim through the mobile platform.

Travel and Leisure Asia reported that if a transaction is flagged for inspection, passengers receive an in-app alert directing them to Planet's smart gates. Facial recognition systems at the gates confirm traveler identity and retrieve transaction records without repetitive physical document inspections, while passengers without inspection requirements can finalize their refunds directly inside the app.