FTA sees strong results from its digital VAT refund systems

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) continues to see strong results from its digital VAT refund systems for eligible categories, maintaining high levels of accuracy and operational efficiency throughout 2025.

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The FTA on Sunday revealed the results of these systems for the first half of the year, including the VAT refund system for new residences for UAE nationals and the VAT refund system for tourists.

The FTA announced that, since the launch of the service approximately eight years ago and up until June 2025, the total number of approved applications for VAT refunds related to new residences for UAE nationals reached approximately 38,000, amounting to a total value of Dhs3.2 billion.

This marks a significant increase from the 31,000 approved applications valued at Dhs2.54 billion by June 2024, reflecting a 22.748 growth in the number of applications and a 25.79% increase in the value of refunds within the past year.

The FTA also highlighted that more than 7,000 new applications for VAT refunds for UAE nationals building new residences were approved between June 2024 and June 2025, amounting to Dhs653.1 million. Furthermore, in the first half of 2025 alone, 3,097 new applications were approved, resulting in refunds totalling Dhs284.77 million.