A Power of Attorney (PoA) is the workhorse of UAE legal life — the way you authorise someone to act on your behalf for property, banking, business, court, or personal matters. The UAE has three principal categories (General, Special, Limited) plus several specialised forms. Each must be drafted in Arabic, notarised by a Notary Public (Dubai Courts or its private-sector equivalents), and — if used abroad — apostilled or attested. This is the practical 2026 guide.
The three categories at a glance
| Type | Scope | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| General PoA | Broad — most personal, business, banking, court matters | Person leaving UAE long-term, designating spouse to manage everything |
| Special PoA | Defined matter and counterparty | Selling a specific property, settling a specific court case |
| Limited PoA | Single transaction, single counterparty, time-bounded | Picking up a bank cheque book, collecting a passport from typing centre |
UAE notaries strongly prefer the most specific PoA the use case allows — a General PoA invokes more scrutiny and a higher fee.
General Power of Attorney
The broadest form. A General PoA typically authorises the attorney-in-fact to:
- Manage the principal's bank accounts (open, close, deposit, withdraw, transfer).
- Buy, sell, mortgage, and lease real estate.
- Sign and amend commercial contracts and trade licences.
- Represent the principal in courts, arbitration, and government offices.
- Sponsor family members, manage Emirates ID, sign for medical and educational matters.
Limitations: A General PoA cannot make gifts, cannot authorise acts that are personal to the principal (e.g., marrying, recognising paternity), and explicitly excludes any authority not granted (UAE law uses a "specifically enumerated powers" interpretation rule).
Special Power of Attorney
Targeted at one or a small group of related matters. Examples:
- Property sale PoA — authorising sale of a specific Dubai property at a price not lower than X.
- Court PoA — authorising a lawyer to represent the principal in a specific case number.
- Banking PoA — authorising operation of a specific account (with or without withdrawal rights).
- Establishment management PoA — authorising day-to-day management of a specific trade licence.
Special PoAs are favoured by counterparties (banks, RERA, courts) because the scope is unambiguous.
Limited / Single-Transaction PoA
The narrowest form — one transaction, one counterparty, often time-bound.
- "Authorising X to collect my passport from typing centre Y on or before [date]."
- "Authorising X to sign for receipt of my Emirates ID at Amer centre Z."
- "Authorising X to receive a specific cheque from issuer Y on my behalf."
Limited PoAs are quick to draft and notarise — typically AED 200–400 — and expire on use or by specified date.
Drafting requirements
- Bilingual Arabic / English document. Arabic governs in case of conflict.
- Identification of principal with full passport name, nationality, passport number, and Emirates ID.
- Identification of attorney with same details.
- Specific powers enumerated — be explicit. Vague language ("manage all my affairs") is read narrowly.
- Substitution clause — whether the attorney can delegate to a sub-attorney.
- Term — fixed period (commonly 1, 2, or 5 years) or until revocation.
- Governing law — UAE law for UAE-purposes PoAs.
Notarisation step-by-step
- Draft the PoA in Arabic / English (we use court-approved templates by use case).
- Book an appointment at Dubai Courts Notary Public or one of the licensed private notaries (now widely available).
- Principal attends in person with original passport and Emirates ID. Attorney does not need to be present (but if they are, presence is recorded).
- Notary verifies identity, reads the PoA aloud (or confirms understanding through a translator if the principal does not speak Arabic), and witnesses signature.
- Notary affixes seal and unique reference number. Original sealed copies are released same day.
- Pay the fee — typically AED 250 (limited) to AED 700 (general), plus optional translation if not already bilingual.
Using a UAE PoA overseas
To use a UAE-notarised PoA in another country:
- Apostille route (post-2025) — for any of the 125+ Hague countries, single MOFA Apostille suffices.
- Embassy route — for non-Hague countries, get MOFA attestation, then the destination country's embassy attestation in the UAE.
- The receiving country's own bank, court, or registry may require a translation into the local language by their own sworn translator.
Receiving an overseas PoA in the UAE
To use a foreign PoA inside the UAE:
- Notarise in the country of origin.
- Apostille (if Hague) or full embassy chain (if not) culminating with UAE MOFA attestation.
- Translate into Arabic by a UAE MOJ-licensed legal translator.
- Submit to the receiving authority (RERA, bank, court).
Revocation and expiry
- The principal can revoke a PoA at any time at the same notary office that issued it. Revocation requires public notice (often through a newspaper publication) so third parties cannot rely on the old PoA.
- A PoA expires automatically on death or incapacity of the principal, on completion of the specified task, or on the stated end date.
- Some banks and counterparties require a "fresh" PoA every 12 months even if the original has a longer term.
Frequently asked questions
Can a PoA be signed by a non-UAE-resident?
Yes. A non-resident can sign at a UAE notary on a tourist visa, or sign abroad and apostille / attest the document for use in the UAE.
Can my PoA authorise property sale?
Yes — but most authorities require a Special PoA naming the specific property and (for Dubai) a price floor. RERA and the Land Department will scrutinise the wording.
Do I need separate PoAs for different banks?
Banks vary. Some accept a General PoA; others insist on a bank-specific Special PoA on their own template.
Can a PoA be granted to a corporate entity?
Yes — UAE law allows corporate attorneys-in-fact, commonly used in business setup (granting the law firm authority to handle the licence application).
What does notarisation cost?
Limited PoA: AED 250–400. Special PoA: AED 400–600. General PoA: AED 600–900. Plus AED 100–200 for the Arabic draft if needed.
Can I do this remotely?
Dubai Notary Public offers video-witnessed notarisation for some PoA types, with the principal joining by video and presenting ID. Practical adoption varies by use case — the Notary Public confirms eligibility before the appointment.
How we help
Visa Simplified drafts UAE-compliant Powers of Attorney in bilingual Arabic / English, books your Notary Public appointment, and chains in MOFA attestation + Apostille for overseas use. For incoming foreign PoAs we provide sworn Arabic translation. Related reading: our deep dive on UAE Apostille Convention accession and EN↔AR legal translation.
Need help with this?
Our PRO consultants handle the full process end-to-end — documents, government submission, and delivery. Service fee is fully refundable pre-submission.