A plain guide from the DUNES Power of Attorney team. Last reviewed 4 November 2026.
To cancel a power of attorney in Dubai, the principal signs a formal revocation before a notary and then tells the attorney and every bank, office or person relying on the old document. Until they are told, they may keep accepting it.
Why is cancelling more than tearing up the document?
A power of attorney is relied on by third parties. A bank, a traffic office or a developer may hold a copy and keep treating your attorney as authorised. Destroying your own copy does not change that. The safe route is a formal revocation, so there is a dated record that the authority has ended.
How do you cancel a power of attorney in Dubai?
- Find the original document. Note its date, the notary and the attorney named in it.
- Decide what to revoke. Confirm whether you are ending the whole document or only certain powers. A POA is not edited, so a change of powers means a new document.
- Prepare the revocation. Have a written revocation drafted that names the original POA clearly, in Arabic and English where needed.
- Sign before a notary. Use the Dubai Courts Notary Public or a licensed private notary, so there is a dated, official record. See Notary Public vs Private Notary in Dubai.
- Send notices. Tell the attorney and every bank, office or developer that holds a copy, and keep proof that each notice was delivered.
- Ask for written confirmation. Where you can, get each office to confirm in writing that it no longer accepts the old document.
Some digital services handle cancellation too. Reports on Abu Dhabi’s automated POA service say it supports automatic cancellation of the POAs it issues. If your POA came from a digital service, ask that service how to cancel it.
What about a power of attorney used for property?
Guides on Dubai property POAs say the revocation should also be recorded with the Dubai Land Department so the old document cannot be used in a transaction. Ask the trustee office what it needs before you rely on the cancellation.
What if the power of attorney was signed abroad?
A POA signed outside the UAE and then attested for use here is usually revoked in the same way: a written revocation signed before a notary, and then the same translation and attestation steps if the revocation must be used in the UAE. Ask the offices that hold the old document what they need before you start.
Can the attorney withdraw?
An attorney who no longer wants to act can give formal notice through a notary. A verbal message does not end the authority on its own.
What are the common mistakes?
- Telling the attorney but not the bank.
- Revoking without naming the original document clearly.
- Keeping a general power alive when only one task was needed. A special POA with an end date avoids this.
- Not keeping proof that the notices were delivered.
Need a revocation drafted and notarised? See our Notary Public for Power of Attorney service.
Related guides
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This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so check with the office that will receive your document.
Frequently asked questions
Does the attorney have to agree to the cancellation?
No. The principal can revoke without the attorney’s agreement, but the attorney and the offices relying on the document must be told.
Can I cancel a power of attorney from outside the UAE?
Often yes. The revocation can be signed abroad and then legalised for UAE use, or arranged through an online notary where one is available. The route depends on the country and the offices holding the old document, so ask us before you sign.
How much does it cost to cancel a power of attorney?
Fees depend on the notary and the route. Ask for the total in writing before you book, with drafting and notary charges shown separately.
Does a power of attorney end automatically if the principal dies?
Yes, the authority ends on the principal’s death, but you should still notify the offices holding the document. See How Long Is a Power of Attorney Valid in the UAE?
Should I tell the bank even if the power of attorney has an end date?
Yes, if you cancel it early. The bank cannot know unless it is told.
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.
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