utu, the travel tech startup, has announced a partnership with Emirates Skywards, the loyalty program of Emirates and flydubai, in a bid to disrupt the VAT refund sector.
The utu Tax Free app offers travelers the opportunity to upsize the value of their tax refund by 25 per cent and earn 4,167 Skywards Miles for every $100 on any VAT or GST refund across 50 countries.
Shoppers need to download the app, register for the virtual utu Tax Free Card and use the card number on any tax-free form to earn Skywards Miles.
To celebrate the launch of this proposition of rewarding VAT refunds, Emirates Skywards and utu are offering 5,001 Skywards Miles for every $100 of VAT refund until March 31, 2022. There is no minimum spend requirement or maximum Miles earning limit.
utu Co-founder and CEO Asad Jumabhoy said: “Collaborating with the Emirates Skywards team has been a seamless process focused on giving the best to our customers. By making a tax refund a reward, we are able to delight shoppers through value and choice while including participation across the travel and tourism spectrum.”
Emirates Skywards Divisional Senior Vice President Dr Nejib Ben Khedher said: “utu is a new company founded on a bedrock of industry expertise. It’s set to disrupt the tax-free shopping sector. For our members, it means the ability to earn even more Miles on their retail spend, which in turn can be used to redeem rewards.”
