Power of Attorney UAE: Types, Notarisation, Cost, and How to Make One

A power of attorney UAE document is a notarised authorisation that lets one person (the principal) appoint another (the attorney or agent) to act on their behalf — to sign contracts, manage property, run a company, handle a court case, or complete government transactions. To be valid in the UAE, a power of attorney is normally signed before a Notary Public and, if it was signed abroad, attested through a chain of authorities before it can be used here. This guide explains the main types of power of attorney, how to make one, what it costs, and how to cancel it.

What a power of attorney is — and why the UAE relies on it

A power of attorney (often written "POA", and called a wakala in Arabic) is the formal way to delegate authority. Instead of being physically present for every signature or government step, you appoint someone you trust to do it for you, within limits you define.

The UAE uses POAs heavily because so many residents are expatriates who travel, and because many official acts — selling property, registering a company, representing you in court — require either your personal presence or a properly notarised authorisation. A POA bridges that gap.

Two features make a UAE power of attorney different from a casual letter of authority:

• It must usually be notarised. A Notary Public (in most emirates this sits under the local courts or the Department of Justice) witnesses your signature and registers the document. An un-notarised "authority letter" is rarely accepted for property, court, or company matters.
• It is read strictly. UAE authorities interpret the powers literally. If a power is not written into the document, the agent generally cannot exercise it. Vague drafting is the most common reason a POA is rejected at the counter.

Main types of power of attorney UAE residents use

The right type of power of attorney UAE residents need depends on what you want the agent to do. The most common categories are:

General power of attorney

A broad authorisation covering a wide range of acts — managing assets, banking, dealing with government departments, and signing routine contracts. It is convenient but powerful, so it should only be given to someone you fully trust.

Special (limited) power of attorney

Restricted to one purpose or transaction — for example, selling a specific property, representing you in one lawsuit, or cancelling a single visa. Authorities generally prefer a special POA because the scope is clear, and many transactions specifically require one.

Court / litigation power of attorney

Authorises a UAE-licensed lawyer to file, defend, or settle a case for you, attend hearings, and receive judgments. Courts will not let someone represent you without this in place.

Property power of attorney

Used for buying, selling, mortgaging, or managing real estate. In Dubai, for instance, the land department will check the POA wording closely before registering a sale, so the document must spell out the exact property and powers.

Company / corporate power of attorney

Lets a manager or representative sign on behalf of a company, deal with free-zone or mainland authorities, and handle licensing. Corporate POAs often need supporting documents such as the trade licence and a board resolution.

How to make a power of attorney in the UAE

For a POA signed inside the UAE, the usual process is:

1. Draft the document — ideally bilingual (Arabic and English), with the Arabic text controlling. The wording must list the agent's powers precisely.
2. Gather IDs — the principal's Emirates ID or passport, and the agent's details. Some POAs require the agent's ID too.
3. Attend the Notary Public — the principal signs in front of the notary, who verifies identity and registers the document. Many emirates now offer remote or video notarisation in addition to in-person service; confirm the current options with the relevant Notary Public or Department of Justice.
4. Pay the notarisation fee and collect the attested POA — keep the original safe; agents usually act on a certified copy.

If the principal cannot read Arabic, the notary will normally require a legal translator, and some offices ask for a witness. Check the exact requirements with the UAE Ministry of Justice or the local Department of Justice before you attend.

Attesting a power of attorney signed abroad

If you are outside the UAE and need someone here to act for you, you can sign a POA in your home country and have it attested so the UAE will accept it. The typical chain is:

1. Sign before a Notary Public in the country where you are.
2. Legalise it locally — usually the relevant ministry of foreign affairs in that country.
3. Attest at the UAE embassy or consulate in that country.
4. Final [attestation](/dictionary/attestation) in the UAE by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then [legal translation](/dictionary/legal-translation) into Arabic attested by the Ministry of Justice if the original is not in Arabic.

For a full walkthrough of this chain, see our guide on the power of attorney attestation process. Because requirements and the order of steps can change, confirm the current procedure with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and your local UAE mission before you start.

What a power of attorney costs

There is no single national price. The amount you pay depends on the emirate, the type of POA, whether you need translation, and whether you use a typing centre or law firm to draft it. Costs typically include a notarisation fee set by the Notary Public, plus translation and any attestation fees if the document came from abroad.

Because these government fees are set by each authority and are updated periodically, do not rely on a figure quoted in an old article. The exact notarisation fee is set by the relevant Notary Public or Department of Justice and can change, so confirm the current figure with that authority (or a licensed UAE lawyer) before you rely on it — and check the attestation fees with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you budget.

How long a power of attorney lasts and how to revoke it

A power of attorney stays in force until it is revoked, expires (if it states an end date), the purpose is completed, or the principal passes away. A general POA used for ongoing matters may carry a validity period after which it must be renewed; confirm any expiry rule with the notary when you sign.

To revoke a POA, the principal returns to the Notary Public and registers a deed of revocation cancelling the original. It is good practice to notify the agent and any authority or counterparty who relied on the POA, so they stop accepting the agent's signature. Until cancellation is properly registered, the agent may still be able to bind you — which is why revoking promptly matters.

Common mistakes that get a POA rejected

• Powers too vague. "Handle all my affairs" can be refused for a specific transaction that needs a named power. List each act.
• Wrong type. Using a general POA where the authority insists on a special POA for that transaction.
• No Arabic / bad translation. A POA the notary or department cannot read in Arabic will not register.
• Expired or unattested. A foreign POA missing a step in the attestation chain is treated as invalid.
• Over-broad authority to the wrong person. A general POA is effectively a blank cheque on your affairs — only give it to someone you completely trust.

When to get a lawyer

You can prepare a simple, single-purpose power of attorney through a typing centre or the Notary Public directly. But it is worth having a UAE lawyer draft or review the document when the stakes are high — property sales, company control, inheritance matters, or anything heading to court. A lawyer makes sure the powers are precise enough to be accepted but not so broad that they expose you, and a litigation POA must name a licensed advocate to represent you in any case.

If you need representation or want a document reviewed before you sign, browse civil-litigation and corporate lawyers across the UAE, or ask the free LEXAI AI assistant to explain which type of POA fits your situation.

This is general legal information, not legal advice; confirm current procedure with the UAE Ministry of Justice, the relevant Notary Public, or a licensed UAE lawyer.