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Dubai VAT refund calculator

UAE VAT is 5%. What a departing tourist gets back is described two different ways by the same authority — 85% minus AED 4.80 per tag on one page, 87% minus AED 3.60 per transaction on another. Both are worked out below.

Purchase amount

How this is worked out

FTA leaflet

AED 5.83

VAT in a AED 250 purchase at 5% = AED 12.50“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 10.62− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 7.28

VAT in a AED 250 purchase at 5% = AED 12.50“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 10.88− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 16.45

VAT in a AED 500 purchase at 5% = AED 25“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 21.25− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 18.15

VAT in a AED 500 purchase at 5% = AED 25“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 21.75− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 27.07

VAT in a AED 750 purchase at 5% = AED 37.50“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 31.88− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 29.02

VAT in a AED 750 purchase at 5% = AED 37.50“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 32.62− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 37.70

VAT in a AED 1,000 purchase at 5% = AED 50“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 42.50− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 39.90

VAT in a AED 1,000 purchase at 5% = AED 50“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 43.50− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 58.95

VAT in a AED 1,500 purchase at 5% = AED 75“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 63.75− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 61.65

VAT in a AED 1,500 purchase at 5% = AED 75“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 65.25− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 80.20

VAT in a AED 2,000 purchase at 5% = AED 100“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 85− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 83.40

VAT in a AED 2,000 purchase at 5% = AED 100“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 87− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 122.70

VAT in a AED 3,000 purchase at 5% = AED 150“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 127.50− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 126.90

VAT in a AED 3,000 purchase at 5% = AED 150“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 130.50− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 207.70

VAT in a AED 5,000 purchase at 5% = AED 250“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 212.50− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 213.90

VAT in a AED 5,000 purchase at 5% = AED 250“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 217.50− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 313.95

VAT in a AED 7,500 purchase at 5% = AED 375“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 318.75− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 322.65

VAT in a AED 7,500 purchase at 5% = AED 375“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 326.25− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 420.20

VAT in a AED 10,000 purchase at 5% = AED 500“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 425− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 431.40

VAT in a AED 10,000 purchase at 5% = AED 500“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 435− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 845.20

VAT in a AED 20,000 purchase at 5% = AED 1,000“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 850− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 866.40

VAT in a AED 20,000 purchase at 5% = AED 1,000“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 870− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

FTA leaflet

AED 2,120.20

VAT in a AED 50,000 purchase at 5% = AED 2,500“85% of the total VAT amount paid” = AED 2,125− “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”

FTA service page

AED 2,171.40

VAT in a AED 50,000 purchase at 5% = AED 2,500“Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” = AED 2,175− “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”

Both descriptions are the Federal Tax Authority’s own, published in two places, and they do not match. One says you keep 85% and pay AED 4.80 per tag; the other says 13% is deducted, leaving 87%, and the fee is AED 3.60. The difference is small on one purchase and not small across a trip. We publish both because the FTA has published both and has not reconciled them.

This total is our arithmetic, not a published figure. Every input above is quoted from the source named beside it; the addition is ours, and it is shown line by line so you can check it. The 5% VAT rate and both refund formulas are the FTA’s. This assumes the whole purchase is refund-eligible and made on a single tax-free tag; a trip spread over several tags pays the per-tag fee several times. Minimum spend thresholds, eligibility and the export window are conditions we have not modelled here — the refund is not automatic.

Where the two versions diverge

The FTA’s tourist-refund leaflet says you receive “85% of the total VAT amount paid” less “a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag”. The FTA service page on tax.gov.ae describes a “Deduction of 13% from the VAT amount requested” and a fee of “AED 3.60 for each tax-free transaction”. Eighty-five per cent and eighty-seven per cent are not the same number, and neither is AED 4.80 and AED 3.60.

On a single AED 1,000 purchase the gap is about a dirham. Across a shopping trip with a dozen tags it is worth knowing which regime you are actually under — and the honest answer is that the published record does not tell you. Both statements, quoted side by side.

This is not legal or financial advice. It is arithmetic on figures published by named authorities, shown so you can check it. Where the amount matters to you, confirm it with the authority itself before you act.

The other calculators

All of them work the same way: published inputs, named sources, the arithmetic shown, and the missing pieces stated.

Common questions

How much VAT do tourists get back in Dubai?

The Federal Tax Authority publishes two different answers. Its tourist-refund leaflet says 85% of the VAT paid, less AED 4.80 per Tax Free Tag. Its service page says 13% is deducted — leaving 87% — less AED 3.60 per transaction. We calculate both rather than choosing.

What is the VAT rate in the UAE?

5%, published by the Federal Tax Authority. It applies to most goods and services, and it is the figure both refund formulas start from.

Is every purchase eligible for a VAT refund?

No. Minimum spend thresholds, eligible retailers, an export window and validation at departure all apply, and this calculator models none of them — it answers only the arithmetic question of what the two published formulas give on a given amount.

Page updated 2026-09-08 — wording or links, not the facts aboveEvery figure in this calculator is quoted from a published source and was checked on 3 September 2026Sources: Federal Tax Authority, both published descriptions, verified 3 September 2026.Reviewed by Dan-Ionuț CiobanuFound a figure that has changed? Tell us.