Before you begin: who can take part
A power of attorney lets you, the principal, authorize another person, your agent, to sign and act for you while you are busy, travelling, unwell or living overseas. Both of you must generally be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to understand what the document means, and additional requirements may apply depending on the transaction and the relevant authority. Your agent can be a relative, friend, colleague, lawyer or accountant, and you can name more than one agent, acting together or separately, or add a back-up in case your first choice cannot act.
Step 1: Decide exactly what your agent will do
Start by noting the task and the assets involved, because the scope shapes everything that follows. A special POA limited to one transaction, such as selling a named apartment or dealing with a single bank matter, protects you better and is what most authorities expect for important deals. A general POA is wider and riskier, so keep it for cases where someone truly needs to run your affairs across many areas. Think too about how long the authority should last, from a few weeks to an open term that ends only when you cancel it.
Step 2: Prepare clear, bilingual wording
The quality of the draft largely decides whether a notary, bank or government counter accepts your POA first time. The document must be in Arabic, or in Arabic alongside English, and it should leave no room for more than one reading. Before you sign, check that it covers the points below.
- Full names and ID details of you and your agent, exactly as on your passports or Emirates ID
- A precise list of the acts your agent may carry out
- Details of the property, vehicle, company or case concerned
- Any limits, conditions or end date
- Wording that meets the receiving authority’s own rules
Step 3: Gather your documents
Having your paperwork ready avoids hold-ups at the notary. Needs vary with the type of POA, so treat this list as a starting point and confirm the details for your case. If you are acting for a company, note that the owners or shareholders normally sign, unless the memorandum of association gives a manager that power.
- Your original passport and a copy
- Your Emirates ID, if you live in the UAE
- A passport or Emirates ID copy for your agent
- The title deed or initial sale contract for a property POA
- Trade licence, memorandum of association and other incorporation papers for a company POA
- Proof of relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate, where the POA depends on it
Step 4: Notarize in person or online
A POA only takes legal effect once a notary public has checked your identity, confirmed that you understand the powers you are giving and stamped the document. You can do this at a notary office in any emirate, or remotely through the official e-notary services, where non-residents can usually verify with a valid passport. A government fee applies either way, and online requests are often finished quickly when the paperwork is in order.
- Sign in with UAE Pass or the relevant digital identity
- Choose a template or submit your approved draft
- Attach your ID and supporting papers
- Join a short video call with the notary
- Receive the notarized POA electronically
Signing outside the UAE
If you sign your POA in another country, it needs a chain of approvals before UAE authorities will rely on it. The exact order differs from country to country, but it generally follows the stages below, and each one can add time.
- Notarization in the country where you sign
- Attestation by that country’s foreign ministry or equivalent office
- Legalization by the local UAE embassy or consulate
- Final attestation from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Legal translation into Arabic once the document reaches the UAE
After notarization: using, changing or ending it
Hand your agent the notarized original or electronic copy and keep track of what they do with it. A notarized POA cannot be edited, so if your plans change you need a notarized revocation followed by a fresh POA, and you should tell your agent and any bank or office holding a copy. Every POA ends on your death, and some authorities, such as Dubai’s land department, set their own age limits for property POAs, so check the current requirements before your agent uses an older document.
How we can help
If you would like support, our team can draft your POA in Arabic and English and prepare the document list for your case. We can also guide you through notarization or overseas attestation.