A plain guide from the DUNES Power of Attorney team. Last reviewed 4 November 2026.
A power of attorney (POA) in Dubai is a document in which you, the principal, authorise another person to act for you. For use with banks, land offices, courts and licensing authorities it is normally signed before a notary. This guide explains the two main types, the ways to get one in Dubai, what changes if you sign abroad, how long it takes and why documents are refused. Want it prepared for you? See our Power of Attorney services in Dubai.
What is a power of attorney in Dubai?
A POA names two people: the principal, who grants the authority, and the attorney (also called the agent), who uses it. UAE offices generally act only within the powers written in the document, so it must say exactly what the attorney may do. The rules on agency sit in the UAE Civil Transactions Law.
What changed in 2026. A new Civil Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, came into force on 1 June 2026. Law firms advising on it report that a POA written only in general terms now authorises acts of management and preservation, and that anything beyond that needs a special agency naming the act. Read your wording with that in mind, and ask the receiving office how it applies the new rule.
General vs special power of attorney
| General POA | Special POA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Routine matters, such as dealing with offices and signing everyday paperwork | One named task or transaction, such as selling a specific property or acting in one case |
| Typical use | Managing your affairs while you are away for a long period | Property sale, vehicle transfer, bank matter, court case, company filing |
| Control for you | Lower: the attorney has more room to act | Higher: anything not listed is not given |
| Under the 2026 law | Reported to cover management and preservation acts only | Names the act, so the act is covered if the wording is clear |
Which one do you need? If one transaction is involved, a special POA is usually the safer choice. It limits your risk, and offices accept it more readily because the powers match the request. Use a general POA only when the attorney really needs wide authority over routine matters. For a closer comparison, read Special vs General Power of Attorney in Dubai. Our General Power of Attorney and Special Power of Attorney pages explain how we prepare each one.
How do you get a power of attorney in Dubai?
- Define the powers. List each action the attorney may take, with the property, account, vehicle or company details where they apply.
- Draft it in Arabic, or Arabic and English. UAE notaries and offices work in Arabic, so the document is drafted in Arabic, in Arabic and English, or translated by a certified legal translator. See our Power of Attorney translation service.
- Choose your route. You can sign before the Dubai Courts Notary Public, before a licensed private notary, or use an online service. According to the Ministry of Justice, its digital POA service offers eight types, including lawyer representation, legal cases, real estate, rental disputes, licensing, vehicles, stocks and company management. See Can a Power of Attorney Be Done Online in Dubai?
- Sign with valid ID. The principal signs with a valid passport or Emirates ID. See Notary Public for Power of Attorney and Notary Public vs Private Notary in Dubai.
- Give it to the receiving office. Present the original to the bank, land office or court, with any Arabic translation they ask for.
What if you sign a power of attorney abroad?
A POA signed outside the UAE needs more steps before UAE offices will rely on it. The usual chain is:
- Notarised before a notary in the country where you sign.
- Authenticated by that country’s foreign ministry or designated authority. Where the country issues apostilles, this is the apostille.
- Legalised by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country.
- Attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in the UAE.
- Translated into Arabic by a certified translator if it is not already in Arabic.
An apostille on its own is not enough, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention. MOFAIC’s published fees are AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents. MOFAIC decides which category applies when you apply, so check before you budget. Read Does a Foreign Power of Attorney Need MOFA Attestation in the UAE? or see our Foreign Power of Attorney for use in the UAE service.
How long does a power of attorney take?
- Signed before a UAE notary: often the same day once the wording is agreed.
- Ministry of Justice digital POA: the Ministry says a document can be generated in under 10 minutes for its set types.
- Signed abroad: each stage adds working days, and the country of issue and the embassy involved are the main factors. One to two weeks or more is common.
Confirm the timeline for your case before you plan around a deadline.
Why do powers of attorney get rejected?
- Vague wording. “Handle my affairs” without a list of powers is a frequent problem.
- No Arabic version. The document is not in Arabic, or the translation is not certified.
- Missing attestation. It was signed abroad but the legalisation chain was not completed.
- Expired or cancelled document. The validity period has ended, or the principal has revoked it.
- Mismatched details. Names or passport numbers differ between the POA and the supporting documents.
- Property rules. The Dubai Land Department’s Circular No. 29/R/2025 of 16 July 2025 introduced stricter checks on POAs used in property transactions, including transaction-specific wording and electronic verification, according to law-firm summaries. Check it before you draft.
For more detail, read 7 Reasons a Power of Attorney Gets Rejected in the UAE and What Should a Power of Attorney Contain?
Should you use a power of attorney service?
You can arrange a POA yourself, but a wrong name or a missing power usually means signing again. Help is most useful when the document is signed abroad, will be used for property or a company, or needs Arabic translation and attestation. When you choose a provider, look for one that:
- Tells you in writing which steps your document needs, and in what order
- Quotes government fees and service fees separately
- Checks names and numbers against your passport and Emirates ID before you sign
- Arranges the translation and attestation as part of the same job
- Does not offer to skip a step
DUNES has handled legal translation and attestation since 2018. See our Power of Attorney attestation service, or send us the details for a written quote.
Related guides
- Special vs General Power of Attorney in Dubai: What Is the Difference?
- What Should a Power of Attorney Contain?
- Notary Public vs Private Notary in Dubai: Which Do You Need?
- Can a Power of Attorney Be Done Online in Dubai?
- Does a Foreign Power of Attorney Need MOFA Attestation in the UAE?
- Power of Attorney Cost in Dubai: What Affects the Price
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so check with the office that will receive your document.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give a power of attorney if I am outside the UAE?
Yes. You sign before a notary in your country, and the document then goes through the legalisation steps required for use in the UAE. Speak to us before you sign so the wording and the route are right. See Foreign Power of Attorney for use in the UAE.
Can a power of attorney be done online in Dubai?
For some types, yes. The Ministry of Justice offers a digital service for set types, and Dubai Courts offers e-notary services for eligible documents. Custom wording and some receiving offices still need a notary. See Can a Power of Attorney Be Done Online in Dubai?
Does a power of attorney have to be in Arabic?
UAE offices work in Arabic. A POA is drafted in Arabic, or in Arabic and English, and an English-only document needs a certified Arabic translation before UAE offices will rely on it. Check with the receiving office which version it treats as the one that counts.
Can a power of attorney be cancelled?
Yes. The principal can revoke it, normally through a formal revocation before a notary. Tell the bank, authority or other party that relied on the old document. See How to Cancel a Power of Attorney in Dubai.
Does the attorney need to be a UAE resident?
Not necessarily. The attorney must be named exactly as on their ID, be able to present valid identification and be able to appear before the receiving office.
Is one power of attorney valid for every purpose?
No. Each office checks that the specific action is covered, so the wording matters more than the title of the document.
Need a power of attorney arranged in Dubai?
Tell us what the POA is for and where you are signing. We will confirm the type, the documents, the timeline and the cost.
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 734 9884
Landline 04 29 65 787
Email info@dxblegal.com
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