Visitors to the UAE can now reclaim VAT from self-service kiosks in major malls and hotels as the Federal Tax Authority expands its Tourists Refund Scheme across the country.
The expansion will begin with nine kiosks, increasing to 55 by the end of the year. There are currently 52 refund kiosks at air, land and maritime exit ports around the country.
"Eligible tourists who meet the necessary criteria for reclaiming the VAT they incurred on their purchases in the UAE can process their refund applications from the convenience of their own hotels or from a list of major shopping malls around the country," said Khalid Al Bustani, FTA director general.
First rolled out in November 2018, the number of digital transactions under the Tourists Refund Scheme more than doubled in the second half of 2019, increasing to 3.2 million transactions by the end of the year, compared to about 1.52 million received at the end of June, according to FTA data.
The average number of daily tax refund transactions for tourists grew 2.64 times from 3,720 in the scheme’s first month to 9,830 daily transactions in December.
Applicants using the new kiosks must scan their boarding pass to prove they are leaving the UAE in the next 24 hours, as well as their original passport or ID card for GCC nationals and their credit card. They must then follow instructions on the kiosk screen to recover the tax, which includes submitting invoices on retail purchases made in the UAE marked with "tax-free" stickers.
While there is no limit on the amount of tax that can be recovered if a tourist wants the sum transferred onto a credit card, cash refunds have a set maximum of Dh7,000 a day.
To date, 12,310 retail stores across the UAE are linked to the refund system, with participating venues visibly marked with "tax-free" stickers on store fronts.
Once all of the new kiosks start operating, there will be 25 stationed in malls and 30 in hotels.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
