A VAT Refund Guide to 

United Arab Emirates

How to get VAT Refunds from United Arab Emirates for your business

Businesses registered in countries outside of United Arab Emirates can claim VAT refunds on any costs incurred in United Arab Emirates.
The below information details the requirements needed to be eligible for a VAT refund. This includes claimable expense types, United Arab Emirates VAT rates, deadlines and claiming periods.
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Where is your company based?

EU

based businesses

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VAT-registered businesses in an EU member state are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from United Arab Emirates under the EU VAT Refund Directive.

NON-EU

based businesses

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VAT-registered businesses outside of the European Union are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from United Arab Emirates under the 13th Directive.

Understanding VAT Rates in the UAE

Value-added tax (VAT) is a relatively new phenomenon in the United Arab Emirates, implemented by the UAE government on January 1, 2018, to help raise funds for public projects and services. The VAT scheme also serves a dual purpose, allowing the country to move away from a reliance on oil and gas revenue.

Although the UAE’s VAT program is in its infancy, the country’s Federal Tax Authority has made the process as simple as possible, with easy-to-use online services and an E-Learning portal.

While most UAE nationals will need to pay VAT at each step of the supply chain, foreign businesses and tourists can apply for refunds on a case-by-case basis.

The UAE’s Current VAT Rates

The VAT UAE implementation is required for a certain taxable supply of goods and services. Unlike the many countries with several tiers of VAT rates, the UAE’s system contains only two rates:

  • Standard (5%) – The vast majority of goods and services are subjected to the standard VAT rate.
  • Zero (0%) – Zero-rated supplies include education and healthcare services, certain precious metals, international transportation, and exported goods.

While you’ll have to pay the standard VAT rate on most goods and services in the UAE, you may be able to claim a VAT refund if your business is not registered in the country. Before you can receive your VAT refund, UAE officials will have to review your application form. If all the information is correct, you’ll receive your refund within four months.

The UAE’s VAT Return Filing Process

If you’ve completed UAE VAT registration, you need to file your VAT return no more than 28 days from the end of your tax period. Tax periods in the UAE are either monthly or quarterly.

  • If your business has an annual turnover below 150 million Emirati dirhams (40,838,500 USD), you’ll have to file every quarter.
  • If your business has an annual turnover of 150 million Emirati dirhams (40,838,500 USD) or more, you’ll have to file every month.

To file your VAT return in the UAE, you must first create an account with the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA). From there, you can use the eServices section on the FTA website to register.

Once VAT registration is completed, you can pay your bill for VAT and excise tax online using one of four methods:

  • eDirham or credit card (same-day payment)
  • eDebit (same-day payment)
  • Local bank transfer (two to three days)
  • International bank transfer (two to three days)

Complying with UAE VAT Laws

Any business with taxable supplies and imports from the last 12 months exceeding 375,000 dirhams (approximately 100,000 USD) must register for VAT. Businesses exceeding the 187,500 dirham threshold can also register voluntarily.

Once registered, you must comply with the UAE’s VAT rules:

  • Charge VAT on applicable goods and services
  • Keep business records for at least 5 years
  • Calculate annual turnover and correctly submit monthly or quarterly
  • Take credit notes from the VAT return filing period into account

While UAE VAT compliance is straightforward, the relative recency of the program’s implementation means that changes are likely. For up-to-date information on changing laws and regulations, contact your local VAT IT branch today.

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Sources:

United Arab Emirates. Value Added Tax (VAT). https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/taxation/valueaddedtaxvat 

United Arab Emirates Ministry of Finance. Value Added Tax (VAT): Everything you need to know about VAT implementation in the UAE. https://www.mof.gov.ae/en/resourcesAndBudget/Pages/vatquestions.aspx 

United Arab Emirates. How to pay VAT and excise tax? https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/taxation/how-to-pay-vat-and-excise-tax 

Which countries have reciprocity with United Arab Emirates?

Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Kuwait, Iceland, Isle of Man, Lebanon, Namibia (only for goods that are exported outside the UAE), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa (only for goods exported outside the UAE within 90 days), Sweden, UK and Zimbabwe

For a more detailed explanation on what reciprocity means within the scope of VAT, click here:

What expenses are claimable in United Arab Emirates?

ENTERTAINMENT & HOSPITALITY

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Entertainment

0%
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Hotels & Accommodation

5%
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Restaurants

5%

EVENTS

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Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions

5%
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Training Courses & Seminars

5%

GENERAL EXPENSES

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Goods

5%
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Inter-company charges

5%
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Office Expenses

5%
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Marketing Costs

5%
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Professional Fees & AP invoices

5%

TRAVEL RELATED

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Car Rental

0%
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Fuel

5%
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Public Transport

0%
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Taxis

0%

Additional Information

How far back can your business claim VAT from United Arab Emirates?
January to December of the previous year
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in United Arab Emirates?
6 months from the date businesses can first make a claim (i.e. 6 months from 2nd April 2019 for the 2018 calendar year, 6 months from 1st March 2020 for the 2019 calendar year and respectively for all future years)
How long does it take to receive a VAT refund from United Arab Emirates?
Depending on the complexity of your application and the capacity at the VAT authority, it can take up to 6 months for EU businesses and up to 6 months for Non-EU businesses to receive a VAT refund from United Arab Emirates

Need help with your VAT refund from United Arab Emirates?

You don’t have to do this alone. We’ve been helping companies reclaim foreign VAT refunds for over 20 years. We have the knowledge and technology to process your refunds quicker as well as attend to any unforeseen VAT authority queries that may arise.

Download a full international VAT guide and never miss a deadline

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