VAT Refund for UAE Nationals
If you are a UAE national who built or renovated a home, you are entitled to reclaim the 5% VAT paid on construction costs directly from the FTA. Most eligible nationals do not claim — either because they do not know they can, or because the application requires complete documentation.
What Can UAE Nationals Claim VAT Refunds On?
This refund is exclusively for UAE nationals (citizens). It is a personal refund — not a business refund — and does not require VAT registration.
| Qualifying Expense | VAT Refund Available? |
|---|---|
| Building a new residential property | Yes — on construction costs |
| Renovating an existing home | Yes — on renovation costs |
| Purchasing furniture for a new home | No — furniture is not qualifying |
| Medical expenses not covered by insurance | Yes — on qualifying procedures |
| General maintenance and repairs | No — only new construction/renovation |
How the VAT Refund Process Works
Eligibility and Expense Review
We review your construction contracts, renovation invoices, and medical receipts to identify all qualifying expenses. We separate qualifying VAT from non-qualifying items — for example, construction labour qualifies but furniture and appliances do not. We calculate your exact refundable amount before you commit to submitting.
Application Package Preparation
We prepare your complete refund application in Arabic, as required by FTA. This includes: Emirates ID proof, evidence of property ownership or construction permit, original tax invoices from all contractors, and bank account details for payment. Applications with missing or incorrect documents are rejected — we ensure everything is complete before submission.
FTA Portal Submission and Follow-Up
We submit your application through the FTA's designated nationals refund portal. The FTA processes qualifying applications within 30-60 days. We track your application status and respond to any FTA requests for additional information on your behalf.
Transparent Pricing — No Surprises
Standard Property Refund
AED 1,500 – 3,000
- ✓Qualifying expense identification
- ✓Arabic application preparation
- ✓Supporting document compilation
- ✓FTA portal submission
- ✓Application tracking and follow-up
Complex Property or Multiple Claims
AED 3,000 – 6,000
- ✓Everything in Standard
- ✓Multiple contractors — consolidated claim
- ✓Renovation + medical combined application
- ✓FTA query responses
- ✓Rejected application resubmission
VAT Refund for UAE Nationals — Common Questions
What can UAE nationals claim VAT refunds on?
UAE nationals can claim VAT refunds under Article 21 of Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on expenses related to: building new residential properties (construction costs only, not land), renovating existing homes, and qualifying medical expenses not covered by health insurance. Commercial properties, furniture, appliances, and general maintenance do not qualify.
How much can I claim back?
You can reclaim 5% — the standard UAE VAT rate — on all qualifying expenses. For example, if you paid AED 500,000 to a construction company plus 5% VAT (AED 25,000), you can claim back AED 25,000 from the FTA. The full 5% VAT paid on qualifying invoices is refundable.
Do I need to be VAT registered to claim this refund?
No. This is a personal refund scheme for UAE nationals, separate from the business VAT system. You do not need a Tax Registration Number or any business registration. The refund is claimed directly by the individual national through the FTA's special refund portal.
What is the deadline to submit the claim?
Applications must be submitted within 6 months of the date of the qualifying expense. For construction projects with multiple payment milestones, each invoice should be claimed within 6 months of its payment date. Claims submitted after the 6-month window are typically rejected.
What happens if my application is rejected?
The most common rejection reasons are: invoices not in the applicant's name, construction permits not matching the property address, expenses not qualifying under the scheme, or missing Arabic documentation. We review the rejection notice, correct the issue, and resubmit at no additional cost if the rejection results from a documentation error on our part.
Emirati? Calculate Your VAT Refund — Free
Tell us the value of your construction or renovation project. We calculate your exact refund amount and confirm your eligibility before you commit to anything.
Calculate My Refund →