Abu Dhabi, 5 August 2026: The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has confirmed that the Digital Tourist VAT Refund System continues to expand across the UAE, delivering strong operational results during the first half of 2026.
What was announced
Abu Dhabi, 5 August 2026: The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has confirmed that the Digital Tourist VAT Refund System continues to expand across the UAE, delivering strong operational results during the first half of 2026.
The number of retail outlets registered with the Authority and electronically connected to the system rose by 5.9% to approximately 19,340 outlets by the end of June 2026, compared with 18,260 outlets at the end of the first half of 2025.
The FTA added that 449 retail outlets were connected to the system during the first six months of 2026, compared with 697 outlets during the same period last year. This brought the total number of outlets connected to the system over the past two and a half years to 2,983.
What it means for your invoicing
Review whether this affects how you issue invoices or file returns, and keep your records up to date. Related guides: creating a VAT invoice and filing your VAT return.
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