Running a rental when you are not here
Owning property in Dubai while living overseas, travelling often or juggling several units can make day-to-day management hard. A management POA allows you to name a trusted person, or a licensed management firm, to handle those tasks in your name. What your agent can do depends entirely on the wording, so it pays to decide in advance exactly which jobs you are handing over.
- Signing, renewing and ending tenancy contracts
- Collecting rent, issuing receipts and chasing late payments
- Arranging and supervising repairs and maintenance
- Paying service charges, utility bills and other property costs
- Connecting or disconnecting utilities and collecting keys or access cards
- Dealing with tenants, the developer and government offices about the property
What a management POA does not cover
A management POA is about looking after the property, not disposing of it. Your agent cannot sell, buy or mortgage on your behalf unless the document clearly grants those powers, and owners who want that usually sign a separate, specific POA. It is also worth knowing that a real estate broker who finds tenants for a commission is not your legal representative; they need a POA of their own before they can sign anything for you.
Choosing the right scope
Matching the POA to how you actually want the property run keeps you in control. A narrower document carries less risk, while a broader one suits an owner who wants a hands-off arrangement with someone they trust completely.
- Special POA: limited to one property and named tasks, ending once those tasks are done
- Full management POA: leasing, rent, maintenance and dealings with authorities
- Rent collection POA: only collecting payments and issuing receipts
- Commercial or residential POA: tailored to shops and offices or to homes
Conditions for a valid POA
Dubai authorities and third parties will only rely on a POA that meets some basic conditions. Missing any one of them is a common reason for a document to be turned away.
- You, as principal, are generally at least 18 and have full legal capacity
- Your agent is also generally at least 18 and is in the UAE when using the POA
- Full and accurate details are given for you, your agent and each property
- Every power is written out clearly rather than implied
- Any company you appoint holds a licence for property management
- The POA is notarized, and attested and translated where it was made abroad
Steps to issue it
Within the country, you sign the POA before a notary public, and in many cases this can now be done remotely through the Dubai Courts electronic notary service, using a live video call or a recorded verification. If you sign at a UAE embassy or consulate abroad instead, the document typically needs attestation by that country’s foreign ministry and then by the UAE’s own foreign ministry, plus a legal Arabic translation if it is not already in Arabic. Some cases still call for attending in person, so check the requirements for your situation.
- Decide which kind of POA suits you and list the powers to grant
- Gather the documents for yourself, your agent and the property
- Have the POA drafted in clear legal wording
- Complete notarization, plus attestation if it applies
- Give your agent a copy and keep one for yourself
Documents you will usually need
The exact list depends on your circumstances, and a notary may ask for more. Costs also vary with the type of POA, the notarization route and any translation or attestation, so confirm them before you start.
- Passport copies for you and your agent, plus Emirates IDs if you are residents
- Email addresses and mobile numbers for both of you
- The title deed or other proof of ownership
- Company papers, such as a trade licence or board resolution, if a company is involved
How long it lasts and how to end it
A management POA can run for a fixed term or stay open-ended, and it automatically ends if the principal dies. You can withdraw it whenever you choose by following the formal cancellation steps, after which your agent no longer has any authority.
- Prepare and notarize a revocation document
- Tell your agent in writing that the POA has been cancelled
- Inform banks, the developer and any authorities your agent dealt with
- Settle open matters such as current tenancies, and keep a copy of the revocation
How we can help
We can draft a property management POA that fits the way you want your property run and help you notarize it, including remotely if you are overseas. If you are not sure how much authority to grant, we are happy to talk you through the options.