A power of attorney (POA) is a written legal document in which one person (the principal) authorises another person (the agent, also called the attorney-in-fact) to act on their behalf in legal, financial, property or administrative matters.
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In the UAE a power of attorney is only recognised by courts, banks and government departments once it has been notarised before a public or private notary, and the agent may only do what the document expressly permits. This guide explains the meaning of a POA, the types used in the UAE, how to make one in Dubai, what it costs, and how to cancel it.
The content on this page applies to the United Arab Emirates. Procedure is described for Dubai; other Emirates are covered separately below.
What Is a Power of Attorney (POA) in Dubai?
A power of attorney in Dubai is a notarised authorisation that lets a named agent sign, appear, negotiate or transact in the principal’s name, within the limits written into the document.
Under UAE law the relationship is a form of agency (wakala) governed by the Civil Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, which came into force on 1 June 2026 and replaced Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, with the agency contract governed by Articles 866–903.
The formalities of signing and attesting the document are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 Regulating the Notary Profession.
POA Full Form and Legal Meaning
POA stands for “power of attorney”. The word “attorney” here means an authorised representative, not a lawyer; a person with the required legal capacity can be appointed as an agent under a UAE power of attorney. Dubai Courts currently states 21 lunar years for civil POAs and 18 years for commercial POAs. The two people in every POA are:
| Role | Also called | What they do |
| Principal | Grantor, donor | The person giving the authority |
| Agent | Attorney-in-fact, proxy, wakeel | The person who acts on the principal’s behalf |
Who this applies to: anyone who needs a task done in their name when they cannot, or would rather not, attend personally.
How a Power of Attorney Works Under UAE Law?
A UAE power of attorney works on strict wording: the agent’s authority is limited to the matters stated in the notarised text and the necessary ancillary powers recognised by the nature of the matter, prevailing custom and the parties’ common intention. Three consequences follow.
First, a power that requires special authority must be written in, so “manage my affairs” does not authorise a property sale; Article 870 specifically requires a special agency for acts such as sale, mortgage, settlement, arbitration and court pleading.
Second, an act outside the written scope can be challenged as unauthorised and may not bind the principal.
Third, the receiving authority (a court, the Dubai Land Department, a bank) decides whether the wording is sufficient for the transaction in front of it, and each applies its own checklist.
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Practical note: before drafting, ask the authority that will receive the POA what wording it requires. Banks and the DLD in particular have wording they expect to see.
Who Should Be Your Agent, and What Can an Agent Not Do?
Choose an agent you would trust with the specific asset or decision in the POA, who is available in the UAE when the act needs to be done, and who understands that they must act in your interest. An agent under a UAE POA cannot act outside the written powers, cannot delegate the authority to someone else unless the POA expressly allows substitution, and cannot use the POA after learning that it has been revoked or after the principal’s death. Articles 879 and 897–903 govern substitution and termination of the agency.
Warning signs of POA misuse, drawn from the situations that reach litigation, include an agent who resists giving an account of what was done, transactions with the agent’s own relatives, and pressure on the principal to sign a general POA when a special one would do.
When to speak to a lawyer: if an agent has already acted beyond the authority you gave, or you suspect funds or property have moved without your knowledge, take advice before contacting the agent, because the sequence of revocation and notification matters.
Al Ramsy Advocates’ litigation lawyers handle POA misuse disputes before the UAE courts.
Types of Power of Attorney in Dubai
The UAE recognises two working categories of power of attorney: a general power of attorney, which grants broad authority across many matters, and a special (or specific) power of attorney, which grants authority for one defined transaction or purpose.
Article 869 also permits an agency to be conditional or deferred to a future time. Labels used in other countries, such as durable, lasting, enduring or springing POAs, do not exist as separate instruments under UAE law.
General Power of Attorney in Dubai
A general power of attorney authorises the agent to deal with a wide range of the principal’s affairs, typically banking, contracts, government paperwork and representation before authorities.
It is convenient for someone leaving the country for a period, but authorities scrutinise it closely, and for high-value acts such as selling property or litigating a case the receiving body will usually insist on express, specific wording.
Special Power of Attorney in Dubai
A special power of attorney authorises one clearly defined act or set of acts: selling a named property, representing the principal in a named court case, signing a particular contract, or completing a specific company procedure.
Because the scope is narrow, it is the format courts, the DLD and banks accept most readily, and it limits the damage if the agent oversteps.
General vs Special Power of Attorney: Which Should You Use?
| Option | Best for | Key considerations |
| General POA | Routine administration while the principal is abroad or unavailable | Broad authority creates broad risk; often rejected for property sales and court representation; harder to revoke cleanly across many institutions |
| Special POA | Property sale or purchase, court case, single contract, company filing | Must identify the transaction precisely (unit number, case number, counterparty); a new POA is needed for each new purpose |
| Limited-duration special POA | One-off tasks with a natural end date | Include the expiry date and the specific act; expires automatically, reducing the need for formal revocation |
Practical note: if you can describe the task in one sentence, you need a special POA. If you cannot, you need legal advice before you need a general one.
Is There a Durable, Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney in the UAE?
No. A UAE power of attorney is an agency instrument and depends on the principal continuing to have legal capacity; it is not designed to survive the principal’s incapacity in the way a UK lasting power of attorney or a US durable POA does.
Where a person can no longer manage their affairs, the family will generally need to apply to the competent UAE court for guardianship or a similar order rather than rely on a POA; in Dubai, Dubai Courts provides a procedure for determining legal competence and appointing a guardian.
Anyone planning for incapacity in the UAE should look at a registered will alongside any POA, since a POA ends on death and a will begins there.
How to Get a Power of Attorney in Dubai? (Step-by-Step Legal Process)
To get a power of attorney in Dubai you draft the document, prepare identification, sign it before a public notary at Dubai Courts or a licensed private notary (in person or through the e-notary service), and then present the notarised POA to the authority that will rely on it.
A locally issued POA does not need further attestation for use inside the UAE; a POA signed abroad does.
- Decide the type and purpose. Special for one transaction, general for ongoing administration. Write down exactly what the agent must be able to do and for which authority.
- Draft the POA. Under Article 5 of Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 the notarial instrument is in Arabic, with foreign-language execution permitted subject to the Minister’s conditions; in practice Dubai notaries work from an Arabic or bilingual text. A lawyer-drafted POA matches the wording the receiving authority expects; a template downloaded from another jurisdiction usually does not.
- Gather documents. Principal’s passport and Emirates ID (for residents), the agent’s passport or ID copy, and any supporting documents for the transaction: title deed for property, trade licence and resolution for a company, case details for litigation.
- Book and attend notarisation. Article 17 of the same law requires the parties to appear before the notary in person, and Article 18 allows the notary to complete the transaction through IT means without personal appearance; Dubai Courts provides online ratification through its website and smart electronic notary channels; prior registration is required, and online attestation currently requires a valid Emirates ID. The notary verifies identity, capacity and that the wording is lawful.
- Collect the notarised POA and check that the agent’s name, ID number and each power are correct before leaving; corrections after issue mean a new instrument.
- Present and register where required. Courts file it with the case, the DLD checks it at transfer, banks register it internally.
| Step | What happens | Typical timeframe | Documents needed |
| Drafting | Lawyer or notary prepares Arabic or bilingual text | 1–2 working days | Instructions, IDs, transaction documents |
| Notarisation | Signing before public or private notary, in person or remote | Same day once approved/booked | Original IDs, draft POA |
| Attestation (foreign POA only) | Legalisation chain in country of origin, then MoFA in the UAE | Varies by country; UAE MOFA courier processing is typically 1–3 working days | Notarised POA, translations |
| Use | Presented to court, DLD, bank or authority | At the time of the transaction | Notarised POA, Arabic translation if issued in another language |
For a broader walkthrough of Dubai notarisation, including which documents a notary will and will not attest, see our guide on how to notarise a document in Dubai.
When Do You Need a Power of Attorney in Dubai and the UAE?
You need a power of attorney whenever a task must be completed in your name and you cannot, or do not want to, appear in person: buying or selling property, appointing a lawyer for a court case, running a company’s affairs, dealing with a bank, or handling government paperwork while you are outside the UAE. The most common situations are set out below, each of which has its own wording requirements.
Power of Attorney for Court Cases and Litigation in the UAE
To have a lawyer or representative appear for you in a UAE court, you must give them a power of attorney that expressly grants litigation powers.
A general “represent me” clause is not enough; UAE courts expect the POA to state the authority to file, defend, appeal, settle, receive judgments and, where relevant, to swear oaths or acknowledge claims. For a divorce or personal status matter the POA should refer to the personal status courts and the specific relief sought.
| Step | What happens | Typical timeframe | Documents needed |
| 1 | Advocate prepares a litigation POA naming the court, the parties and the powers granted | 1–2 working days | Principal’s passport and Emirates ID (if resident) |
| 2 | Principal signs before a Dubai public notary or private notary, in person or via the e-notary service | Same day once booked | Draft POA, ID, advocate’s licence details |
| 3 | Notarised POA is filed with the court alongside the claim or defence | With the first filing | Notarised POA, Arabic version |
Who this applies to: anyone appointing an advocate in a civil, commercial, criminal, labour or family case in the UAE, and anyone abroad who needs a relative or advocate to act for them in a UAE case.
Al Ramsy Advocates’ litigation team prepares litigation POAs as part of taking on a case, and our divorce lawyers do the same for personal status matters.
Power of Attorney for Property in Dubai
A property POA in Dubai must be a special power of attorney that identifies the property (plot or unit number, community, project) and states the exact power: to sell, buy, mortgage, lease, register or transfer.
The Dubai Land Department checks the wording against the transaction before it will register a transfer made by an agent, and a sale requires special authority rather than a general management power.
The DLD states that a POA used for sale, mortgage or gift is valid for two years, while a POA used for purchase is valid for five years from notarisation.
Practical note: if the property is in another Emirate, the land or municipality department of that Emirate applies, and its requirements differ. Ask before drafting.
Our guide to real estate law in the UAE covers the registration process an agent will be completing, and our real estate lawyers draft and review property POAs for buyers, sellers and overseas owners.
Power of Attorney for Business, Company and Bank Matters
A company in the UAE grants a power of attorney through its manager or board, within the powers set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, so the notary will ask to see the constitutional documents and a resolution before attesting a corporate POA.
For bank accounts, a limited POA naming the bank, the account and the permitted operations (deposit, withdrawal, transfers up to a stated amount) is what most UAE banks will accept; banks also run their own internal registration of the POA and may reject wording they consider too broad. Our corporate lawyers prepare corporate and banking POAs aligned with the company’s licence and constitutional documents.
Who this applies to: shareholders and managers appointing a representative, foreign parent companies operating a UAE branch, and individuals who need someone to operate an account while they are abroad.
Which Authorities Recognise a Power of Attorney in Dubai?
A notarised UAE power of attorney is recognised by Dubai Courts, the Dubai Land Department, the Department of Economy and Tourism (for licensing), GDRFA (visa and residency), the RTA (vehicles), Dubai Municipality, the free zone authorities and UAE banks, each subject to its own wording and verification checks.
Recognition is not automatic acceptance: the authority reads the powers granted against the transaction requested, and a mismatch is the most common reason a POA is turned away at the counter.
Practical note: present the original notarised POA or its verifiable electronic original, rather than an uncertified copy, and a certified Arabic translation if the instrument was executed in another language.
Can You Make a Power of Attorney Online in Dubai?
Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 expressly allows notaries to complete transactions through IT systems without the parties’ personal appearance (Article 18), and gives an electronically notarised document the same probative force as a paper instrument (Article 23).
Dubai Courts offers remote notarisation through its online channels, and the federal Ministry of Justice operates a Digital Power of Attorney service through its website and app using UAE Pass; the Ministry states that the remote service can be used by eligible customers residing inside or outside the UAE.
| Option | Best for | Key considerations |
| Online (remote) notarisation | Dubai Courts users with a valid Emirates ID; Ministry of Justice users with UAE Pass | Same legal weight if the formalities are met; eligibility and document templates differ by platform |
| In-person public notary (Dubai Courts) | Property POAs, corporate POAs, principals without UAE Pass | Queueing and appointment time; notary may refuse vague wording on the spot |
| Private notary office | Principals who want drafting, translation and attestation handled together | Higher combined fee; check the office is licensed under the 2022 law |
Who this applies to: users who meet the digital identity requirements of the relevant service. Dubai Courts requires a valid Emirates ID for online attestation, while the Ministry of Justice Digital Power of Attorney uses UAE Pass and is available to eligible customers inside or outside the UAE. A principal who cannot use the digital service must follow the foreign attestation route below.
How Much Does a Power of Attorney Cost in Dubai?
The cost of a power of attorney in Dubai is made up of the government notary fee, which is fixed by Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, plus any legal drafting, translation and attestation charges.
Dubai Courts currently charges AED 100 per party for POA ratification, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees. The table below combines published government fees with typical 2026 UAE market ranges for professional services.
| Item | Fee | Basis |
| Public notary fee, special POA | AED 100 per party + AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fees | Dubai Courts 2026 published fee |
| Public notary fee, general POA | AED 100 per party + AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fees | Dubai Courts 2026 published fee |
| Public notary fee, revocation of POA | About AED 100–300 | Typical Dubai market/public-notary range |
| Private notary fee | AED 100 government POA fee + 30% statutory private-notary professional fee; full-service market packages commonly about AED 620–1,900 | Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 + current Dubai market pricing |
| Certified Arabic legal translation | About AED 100–200 per page | Typical Dubai certified legal-translation range |
| MoFA attestation of a foreign POA | AED 150 personal-nature POA; AED 2,000 commercial/general POA | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee schedule |
| Lawyer drafting and review | About AED 500–1,500 for a standard POA | Typical 2026 UAE market range; complex matters may cost more |
What increases the cost: multiple powers in one instrument, property descriptions and transaction-specific wording, corporate POAs that need resolutions, foreign attestation chains, and urgent turnaround.
Is a Foreign Power of Attorney Valid in Dubai?
A power of attorney signed outside the UAE is not usable in Dubai until it has been legalised in the country where it was signed, attested by the UAE embassy or consulate there, attested again by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after arrival, and translated into Arabic by a licensed legal translator.
The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone does not replace this chain.
- Sign the POA before a notary in the country of origin.
- Have it attested by that country’s foreign ministry or designated authority (for India, the Ministry of External Affairs; for the UK, the FCDO legalisation office; for the US, the relevant Secretary of State and then the US Department of State), subject to the issuing country’s document type and current legalisation requirements.
- Have it legalised by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country.
- On arrival in the UAE, attest it at MoFA.
- Obtain a certified Arabic translation and present the original with the translation.
Practical note: the reverse also applies. A resident who needs a POA for property in India, Pakistan, the Philippines or elsewhere usually signs it at that country’s consulate in Dubai, following the consulate’s own format, rather than at a Dubai notary.
How Long Is a Power of Attorney Valid in the UAE, and How Do You Cancel It?
A UAE power of attorney remains valid until the expiry date written into it, until the specific task it was issued for is completed, until the principal revokes it, or until the principal or agent dies or loses legal capacity, subject to the termination rules in Articles 897–903 of Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025. Some receiving authorities apply their own maximum age for a POA presented to them.
The Dubai Land Department states that a POA used for sale, mortgage or gift is valid for two years, while a POA used for purchase is valid for five years from notarisation.
To cancel a power of attorney in Dubai:
- Sign a revocation deed before a public or private notary, referencing the original POA number and date.
- Serve written notice of the revocation on the agent, keeping proof of delivery.
- Notify every institution that holds a copy of the POA (banks, the DLD, the court, the company registrar) in writing.
- Retrieve or cancel any originals or certified copies in circulation where possible.
Acts done by the agent before a third party learns of the revocation may still bind the principal, which is why step 3 is not optional.
When to speak to a lawyer: if the agent is uncooperative, holds original documents, or has an active transaction in progress, take advice on the order of the steps above before signing the revocation.
Does the Process Differ in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Other Emirates?
The governing laws are federal, so the meaning and effect of a power of attorney are the same across the UAE, but the notary service you attend is run by each Emirate’s judicial authority:
the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Judicial Department’s notary services in Sharjah, and the federal Ministry of Justice notaries in the Emirates without their own judicial department; service channels, local procedures and fees may differ by Emirate.
A POA notarised in one Emirate is generally valid in the others, subject to the receiving authority’s transaction-specific checks.
Common Mistakes With a Power of Attorney in Dubai
The four mistakes that most often send a POA back to the notary are: using a foreign template that refers to concepts UAE authorities do not recognise; granting “all powers” language that the receiving authority then refuses; leaving a POA in force after the task is finished; and issuing a general POA when the transaction required a special one with the property or case identified.
How Al Ramsy Advocates Can Help With a Power of Attorney
Al Ramsy Advocates, a law firm in Dubai practising since 2000, drafts and reviews general and special powers of attorney, arranges notarisation including remote notarisation, manages the attestation of foreign POAs, prepares revocations, and represents principals and agents in POA disputes before the UAE courts.
If you are unsure which type of POA your matter needs, contact us for a confidential consultation and our team will direct the enquiry to the right practice area.
Power of Attorney in Dubai: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of POA?
POA is the abbreviation for power of attorney, a document that authorises one person to act on behalf of another.
What does a power of attorney mean in business?
In a business context a POA is the document by which a company or business owner authorises a manager, employee or representative to sign contracts, deal with authorities or operate accounts within stated limits.
Can a lawyer be given power of attorney in the UAE?
Yes. Appointing an advocate to appear in court is done by a litigation power of attorney that names the advocate and grants specific litigation powers.
Can I make a power of attorney without a lawyer?
Yes. The notary will attest a POA you draft yourself if the wording is lawful and clear. The risk is that the receiving authority later rejects the wording, which is why property, litigation and corporate POAs are usually lawyer-drafted.
Does a UAE power of attorney have to be in Arabic?
The notarial instrument is issued in Arabic under Article 5 of Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, with execution in a foreign language permitted under conditions set by the Minister. A bilingual document is the usual solution for non-Arabic speakers.
Can a husband give power of attorney to his wife, or vice versa?
Yes. Spouses have no automatic authority to act for each other in the UAE, so a POA is required for one to sign, sell or litigate for the other.
Do banks accept a power of attorney in Dubai?
Generally yes, if the POA names the bank and the permitted operations, and after the bank’s own verification. Each bank sets its own acceptance criteria.
Does a power of attorney end when the principal dies?
Yes. A POA is an agency relationship and ends on the principal’s death; the estate then passes under the applicable succession rules or a registered will such as a DIFC will for eligible non-Muslims.
