What a power of attorney does in the UAE
A power of attorney (POA, called وكالة in Arabic) is a notarized document in which a principal authorizes an agent to complete specific legal acts on their behalf. UAE authorities only accept a POA that is notarized and, in most cases, written in Arabic or in a bilingual Arabic–English text.
The scope must be precise. Dubai Land Department, banks, free zone registrars and courts each check that the exact power being used is written into the document — a general wording is often rejected for property or banking transactions.
Types of power of attorney we notarize
We prepare every common POA type used in Dubai and across the Emirates:
- General Power of Attorney — وكالة عامة
- Special Power of Attorney — وكالة خاصة
- Property purchase POA — وكالة شراء عقار
- Property sale POA — وكالة بيع عقار
- Property management and leasing POA — وكالة إدارة عقار
- Banking services POA — وكالة معاملات بنكية
- Company and business management POA — وكالة إدارة شركة
- Vehicle POA — وكالة مركبة
- Litigation and court cases POA — وكالة قضايا ومحاكم
- Debt collection POA — وكالة تحصيل ديون
- Marriage and divorce POA — وكالة زواج وطلاق
- Representation before government authorities — وكالة تمثيل أمام الجهات الرسمية
If you are outside the UAE
You do not have to fly in. Overseas clients normally sign the POA at the UAE embassy or consulate in their country, or before a local notary followed by apostille or embassy attestation, and then Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in the UAE.
We prepare the correct Arabic text before you sign, tell you exactly which route your country requires, and handle the UAE-side steps once the signed document arrives. For eligible cases, remote notarization with secure identity verification avoids the embassy entirely.
How long it takes and what it costs
Most standard POAs signed in Dubai are completed the same day. Documents coming from abroad depend on attestation timing in the country of origin.
Fees depend on the POA type, the number of certified copies, translation and whether the notarization is at our office, at your location, or online. We confirm the full amount before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Send us the details of what the agent must do. We draft the bilingual POA, confirm the fee, then you sign before the notary at our office, at your location, or online where eligible. Most are completed the same day.
Yes. UAE notaries register the Arabic text. We issue a bilingual Arabic–English document so both you and the authority read the same content.
Unless it states an expiry, it stays valid until revoked, though some authorities and banks ask for one issued within the last one or two years.
Yes. A revocation is notarized in the same way and the agent must be formally notified. We handle both steps.
Yes — through a UAE embassy, through apostille or embassy attestation in your country, or by remote notarization for eligible documents.