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.
Which countries have reciprocity with United Arab Emirates?
Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Isle of Man, Kuwait, Lebanon (in certain circumstances), Luxembourg, Namibia (please note that refunds are only available for business goods that are exported, not for services consumed in the UAE), the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa (please note that refunds are only available for expenses relating to goods that are exported from a designated UAE port within 90 days, does not apply to services), South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, 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
Entertainment
0%
Hotels & Accommodation
5%
Restaurants
5%
Events
Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions
5%
Training Courses & Seminars
5%
Travel Related
Car Rental
0%
Fuel
5%
Public Transport
0%
Taxis
0%
General Expenses
Goods
5%
Inter-company charges
5%
Office Expenses
5%
Marketing Costs
5%
Professional Fees & AP invoices
5%
Additional Information
How far back can your business claim VAT from United Arab Emirates?
January - December of previous year for all countries
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in United Arab Emirates?
31 August for all countries
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.
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