Originally Posted by
Kamelchaser
All goods are subject to a minimum 5% import duty into the UAE.
Is that so... The whole place is marketed as "tax free shopping" in the malls but I guess they're careful not to say "duty free."
And you're spot on... in fact many of the "tax free" prices are higher than the same item priced with tax included overseas however people fall for the hype.
Maybe there's a parallel with the hype, albeit lesser these days, regarding the "tax free" salary paid by EK. No income tax but lower gross than many first world airlines and many other taxing aspects to the lifestyle.