People often ask what a power of attorney (POA) is and why they might need one. The truth is, irrespective of whether you’re out of the country and can’t sign documents, getting a property issue sorted out or visiting a bank, a POA can be an absolute lifesaver. Most of the time, you’ll need to prove your identity at the notary with an Emirates ID or your passport.
This guide should give you a comprehensive overview of the different types of power of attorney, the requirements you’ll need to meet, the process of getting one, and – if needed – how to cancel it.
What is Power of Attorney in the UAE and How Does It Work?
A power of attorney (POA) is a key piece of legal paperwork that lets you appoint someone to act on your behalf in specific situations. The person handing over the authority is known as the principal (or grantor, or donor for that matter), while the person receiving the authority is the agent (or trustee, or attorney in fact). Don’t get this mixed up with an attorney-at-law (a proper lawyer). The agent’s powers are strictly limited to exactly what the POA document says.
Key Features of POA in the UAE:
| Feature | Description |
| Language | Must be notarised and written in Arabic, either alone or as a bilingual Arabic/English document. If it is only in English, an official translation by a Ministry of Justice–certified translator is required. |
| Validity Conditions | The principal must be of sound mind. The agent must be specifically authorised. The POA must be signed, dated, and notarised. |
| Identification | Emirates ID or passport is required for both the principal and the agent. |
| Revocation | The principal can revoke the POA at any time while mentally competent. The POA automatically ends if the principal or agent dies or becomes incapacitated. |
| Legal Basis | Governed by the UAE Civil Transactions Law (Articles 924–961), as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2020. |
Requirements for a Valid POA:
- The principal has to be of completely sound mind ( mentally competent) and over 21 years old.
- The agent must be authorized to handle the specific tasks detailed in the document.
- The POA must clearly set out the powers granted.
- The document must be in writing, signed, and have been witnessed by a proper public notary.
- No approval from the other party (like banks, governments etc) is required for it to be valid.
When Do You Need a Power of Attorney?
A POA is an absolute must when you need someone to manage affairs on your behalf because you’re away, incapacitated, or for other reasons. Some common scenarios include:
- Buying or selling a property
- Dealing with rental matters (like Ejari registration)
- Managing company documents and approvals
- Following up with government departments
- Acting in legal cases
- Managing personal matters like marriage, divorce or signature verification
- Managing finances when you’re temporarily or permanently ill or disabled.
Benefits of Power of Attorney
The POA offers a lot of convenience, flexibility and security for individuals and businesses. Some of the key benefits include:
- Allows your trusted agent to manage things when you’re not around
- Ensures your instructions are followed to the letter
- Helps with transactions with banks, hospitals and government bodies
- Enables remote issuance and management through online POA services
- Helps avoid misunderstandings by clearly outlining the agent’s powers.
Types of Power of Attorney and Common Uses
POAs in the UAE vary depending on the scope and purpose. Below is a breakdown of common types:
| Type | Description | Common Uses |
| General Power of Attorney | Grants broad authority over personal, business, financial, and property matters. | Full management of affairs while you are away. |
| Special Power of Attorney | Limits authority to specific tasks or properties. | Selling a specific property, managing investments. |
| Single Task POA | Authorizes one specific transaction or action only. | Signing a document, submitting an application. |
| Business / Corporate POA | Covers company-related matters such as licensing, trade agreements, and HR. | Business registrations, contracts, licenses. |
| Asset POA | Grants authority over specific assets like property or vehicles. | Managing real estate or vehicle transactions. |
| Personal and Family POA | Manages personal matters such as divorce, child custody, or estate issues. | Family legal or personal decisions. |
| Litigation POA | Authorizes legal representation in court matters. | Filing cases, appeals, enforcing judgments. |
| Banking and Financial POA | Manages bank accounts, loans, investments, and financial transactions. | Paying bills, handling finances, managing accounts. |
| Commercial Agency POA | Used for trade, distribution, import/export, and contractual dealings. | Commercial transactions and business contracts. |
| Medical POA | Authorizes medical decisions if the principal becomes incapacitated. | Medical treatment and life-support decisions. |
| Durable Power of Attorney | Remains valid even if the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. | Long-term incapacity planning and management. |
| Springing Power of Attorney | Becomes effective only after a specified event, such as incapacity. | Activation during illness or incapacitation. |
| Temporary Power of Attorney | Valid for a limited time only. | Short-term authority during travel or absence. |
Validity Periods in the UAE
How Long is a POA Valid For?
| POA Type | Maximum Validity Period |
| General POA | Up to 3 years |
| Property Sale POA | Up to 2 years |
| Property Purchase POA | Up to 5 years |
Responsibilities of the Attorney (Agent)
The agent has a big responsibility to act with integrity, look after the principal’s interests and stay within the authority they’ve been given. Their duties include:
- Looking after the principal’s assets and property – just as the principal would want.
- Keeping the principal’s money separate from their own.
- Keeping a clear record of all transactions.
- Being upfront and honest with the principal.
- Following UAE laws and regulations.
- Not putting their own interests first – and not doing anything sneaky behind the principal’s back.
- Being accountable for any mistakes they make.
- Making decisions that are in the best interests of the principal.
- Being held to account if they do something wrong.
If an agent misuses a POA, they could find themselves facing prosecution and personal liability for damages.
Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPA)
A HCPA lets you choose an agent to make medical decisions for you if you can’t do so yourself. This includes things like:
- Deciding on medical treatments
- Making choices about life support and end-of-life care
- Deciding on your own health care preferences and directives
Choosing an agent who really understands what you want and what’s important to you is really important. This way, your medical care will still be in line with your wishes even if you’re unable to make decisions for yourself.
Financial Affairs and Power of Attorney
A POA for financial affairs lets your agent take care of things like:
- Your bank accounts and transactions
- Paying bills and managing loans
- Investment accounts
- Buying and selling property and assets
You can choose to give your agent a lot of power or just a bit – depending on what you feel you need.
This is especially useful if you’re going to be away for a while or are unable to manage your finances because of health reasons.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
An LPA is a special kind of POA that stays in place even if you lose mental capacity. It gives you peace of mind when it comes to long-term planning.
Types of LPA
| Type | Purpose |
| Health and Welfare LPA | Used to make decisions about health care and personal welfare. |
| Property and Financial LPA | Used to manage finances and property matters. |
LPAs have to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian or other relevant authorities to be valid.
Choosing the Right POA for You
When picking a POA, consider the following:
- What exactly do you need help with?
- Do you want a single task sorted or a lot of authority handed over?
- Do you want multiple agents? Should they work together or on their own?
- How long do you expect the POA to last?
- Are there any particular limitations or conditions you want to put on the POA?
Creating a Power of Attorney Document – What You Need to Know
To create a valid POA in the UAE, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure the document clearly states what powers you’re giving away and any limitations you’re imposing.
- Include all the relevant details of the principal and agent – including their names and other personal details.
- Specify exactly how long the POA will last and what it’s for.
- Make sure the document complies with UAE laws.
- Get a lawyer or reputable service to help draft and notarize the document.
- File or register the POA with the relevant authorities as needed.
Online Power of Attorney – How It Works
If you’re a UAE resident, you can now create a POA online using pre-approved templates and UAE Pass. The process goes a bit like this:
- Drafting the POA document (you can do this with legal assistance if you need to).
- Verification of your identity via UAE Pass.
- Online notarization using video conference and OTP verification.
- Instantly get a digitally certified, legally recognised POA document.
- You can also verify and cancel your POA online if you need to.
This makes the whole process a lot easier and allows you to manage your POA from a distance.
Documents and Eligibility – What You Need
For Individuals:
- Emirates ID or valid passport
- Draft POA document in Arabic or bilingual format
- Agent’s ID and other personal details
For Companies:
- Trade license copy
- Proof of authorised signatory
- Board resolution if needed
Government Departments Involved
| Department | Role |
| Dubai Land Department | Registers property-related POAs |
| Ministry of Justice | Handles notarisation and legal oversight |
| Department of Economic Development | Registers business and commercial POAs |
| Emirates ID Authority | Verifies identities and maintains records |
Knowing what these departments do helps make the whole POA process a lot smoother.
Responsibilities of the Attorney
The agent has to:
- Stick to the rules of the POA
- Follow UAE laws and regulations
- Check the identities and legal status of all the people involved
- Draft, review and submit the POA for notarisation
- Register the POA with the relevant government departments
- Keep the principal informed and act transparently
- Respect all the conditions and limitations in the POA
Attorney Forms
POA forms have to:
- Accurately reflect what the principal wants
- Be stamped by a notary to make it legally valid
- Drafting a POA is now available through online services making the process a lot easier and more convenient with notarization too
Notarisation Options in the UAE – Getting a Notarised POA
In-Person Notarisation – Getting it Done in Person
- Just head on down to a notary with all the documents and your ID in hand
- In most cases you’ll be able to get it sorted on the same day
Online Notarisation – Get it Done from Your Sofa
- This is done via video conference so you can get it all done from anywhere
- Identity verification is taken care of with an OTP and your UAE Pass
- Quite frankly this is all part of the UAE government’s plan to get with the times and make their services more digital
Power of Attorney Fees – What it Costs
| Service | Estimated Cost (AED) |
| Basic Arabic POA (1 principal & 1 agent) | Starting at 1,200 AED |
| English version | Additional cost for official translation/English version |
| Multiple properties or complex POAs | Fees increase depending on complexity and number of properties |
| Notarization and stamping | May be included or charged separately depending on provider |
Legal assistance makes things a bit more complicated – but it does ensure you get everything right and meet all the necessary regulations.
Revoking a Power of Attorney – Reversing the Decision
This can be done at any time if you’re the principal and you’re still mentally fit – just follow these simple steps:
- First, you need to let the agent know you’re revoking the POA
- Next, you need to inform the notary and all the relevant government departments
- Now you’ve got to follow the procedures laid out in the UAE Civil Code to make sure your POA automatically cancels
- If the principal or agent dies or becomes incapacitated then the POA automatically cancels too – it’s all quite straightforward
Conclusion
A Power of Attorney is a vital tool for anyone living or working in the UAE. It gives you a bit of flexibility and security, letting you manage your personal, financial and legal affairs with a bit more ease. But to get it working right you need to understand the different types of POA, the responsibilities involved and the law surrounding it all.
Whether you need a general POA, a specialized one or a lasting power to cover the future, proper drafting, notarization and registration are all essential. With the UAE now offering online POA services things have gotten a lot more convenient.
Still, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional business setup advisors to make sure your POA is tailored to your specific needs and meets all the requirements of UAE law.
