Power of Attorney in the UAE: Types, Requirements, and How to Cancel

People often ask what is power of attorney (POA), especially when they cannot be physically present for a signing, a property matter, or a bank visit. In most cases, you will need your Emirates ID or a passport to issue it and prove your identity at the notary. 

This blog will take you through the types of power of attorney, requirements and its cancellation process.

What is a Power of Attorney and How it Works 

A POA is a legal document that lets you appoint another person (your “agent” or “attorney”) to act for you. The agent can only do what the document allows. If you limit it to one task, the agent cannot go beyond that task.

In the UAE, POAs are notarised and written in Arabic, or bilingual (Arabic + English). If it is not in Arabic, a legal translation is required. The reason behind it is that Arabic is the official language of the country and it’s considered a part of most legal documents.

Any person or company can issue a power of attorney in the UAE if these points apply:

• The principal is legally able to sign and make decisions.
• The principal has the legal right over the matter they are authorising.
• The agent is allowed by law to handle that matter.
• The POA clearly states a specific and legal task that can be delegated.
• The POA does not rely on the other party’s approval to be valid.

When a POA is Used 

A POA is used when you need someone to handle matters while you are away, busy, or outside the country. For instance:

• Selling or buying property
• Managing rental matters (Ejari tasks may require an official POA) 
• Handling company documents and approvals
• Following up with government departments
• Representing you for a specific legal matter (depending on the authority and case type)

Types of Power of Attorney and Common Uses

A power of attorney can be wide or limited. Some people use it for one signature only. Others need it for ongoing tasks while they are abroad. The best type depends on what you want the agent to do, and what you want them not to do.

How to Choose the Right Type of Power of Attorney

1. Business and Corporate POA 

This is used when an owner, partner, or signatory cannot be present for business steps. It is common for:

• Company registration, licensing, and setup formalities
• Signing corporate documents and agreements
• Updates in company records, renewals, and amendments
• Share transfer or ownership changes (where applicable)
• HR and immigration steps linked to the company (as per authority rules)
• Corporate bank account actions, depending on bank acceptance and the wording

2. Asset POA: Property and Vehicle Matters

According to Dubai Land Department, a power of attorney in Dubai for sale, mortgage, or grants is valid for two years, and for purchase it is five years from notarisation.

For property, it may cover:

• Buying on your behalf
• Selling on your behalf (property details must be mentioned)
• Lease management, rent collection, maintenance follow-ups
• Registration and related authority submissions
• Mortgage paperwork and lender documentation (if needed)

For vehicles, it may cover:

• Buying or selling a vehicle
• Registration renewal
• Ownership transfer
• Export procedures

3. Personal and Family POA 

This type is used when someone needs to handle personal matters for you, such as:

• Family matters like divorce-related steps, custody, visitation, and support matters
• Permission for a child to travel with another adult
• Completing marriage formalities through a representative (if allowed in that situation)
• Inheritance paperwork and estate handling, including signing documents for heirs

4. Litigation POA for Court and Legal Case Work

The wording must match the court or authority requirements. In some situations, authorities may want a separate POA that is only for litigation.

• Court representation in a case
• Filing submissions, responses, and follow-ups
• Appeals or higher-level petitions 
• Enforcement, execution files, and arbitration-related steps
• Personal status case representation, where permitted

5. Banking and Financial POA 

• It allows to deposit or withdraw amount, and signing instructions 
• Account-related requests: full closure of account or changes (subject to bank policy)
• Loan or facility requests only if the bank allows it and the POA is written for it
• Investment or share-related actions, including signing resolutions, where applicable

6. Commercial Agency POA Related to Trading and Distribution

• Services or products’ distribution arrangements in the UAE
• Import/export tasks, customs steps, and paperwork follow-ups
• Signing trade contracts and representing the business before relevant entities

7. Specific POA for One Task only

• Signing one named document
• Completing one transaction
• Submitting one application or approval request

Once that job is done, it is usually treated as finished.

8. Medical POA for Health Decisions and Hospital Paperwork

This is used when you want someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot. It also allows them to handle hospital formalities on your behalf. It can include giving consent for treatment, completing hospital paperwork and approvals, and submitting insurance claims and related medical documents.

Documents and Eligibility 

For Individuals

You generally need:

• Emirates ID (or passport for non-residents) 
• The POA draft (Arabic or bilingual)
• Supporting details for the agent (ID copy and personal details)

For Companies

If a company is issuing the POA, the notary may ask for:

• Trade licence copy
• Authorised signatory proof
• Board resolution 

At Momentum, your dedicated business setup consultant in Dubai can assist with POA because we already deal with company documents, signatory rules, and authority formats.

Notarisation Options in the UAE

For a power of attorney in Dubai, you can choose in-person or online notarisation.

In-person Notarisation

You attend a notary appointment with your documents and ID. Many POAs can be done the same day if everything is ready.

Online / Digital Notarisation 

Several UAE services now allow issuing POAs online using UAE Pass. For example, Abu Dhabi has an automated digital POA service using UAE Pass and templates. The Ministry of Justice has also rolled out digital POA issuance options covering multiple POA types. 

Time and Cost for POA Issuance

Costs depend on the emirate, document type, and whether translation is needed.

• Abu Dhabi (ADJD) fee is AED 100/200/300 based on 1–3 years validity, plus AED 500 if you add an authorised signatory too. 
• For property in Dubai, the two-year rule is the key issue more than the typing cost, because older POAs may not be accepted for sale-related actions. 

What if Your POA is Signed Outside the UAE

If you sign a POA abroad and want to use it in the UAE, it needs legalisation and UAE attestation steps. In property-related cases, Dubai has set standards around authentication and submission requirements. 

How to Cancel Power of Attorney in Dubai

It is possible that you might want to cancel POA because until it is cancelled, the agent may still be able to act and misuse it. There are two parts of doing so:

Part 1: Notarise the Cancellation

Dubai Land Department has a dedicated service for notarising a POA cancellation to stop the attorney from acting. The required documents are: UAE ID copies of the client and attorney (or passport for non-resident foreigners). There is no service fee and it is done free of cost within 20 minutes. 

Part 2: Inform the Parties that Relied on the POA

After cancellation, notify any party where the POA was used or might be used. Don’t assume that cancellation exists in the system so it means everyone is aware.

What Support You Can Get from Momentum

At Momentum, our expert team supports you with end-to-end business setup in Dubai, so your company formation and documents stay correct. If you need a power of attorney for any purpose, we can help you understand the requirements, and the next steps for notarisation.

Start Strong, Grow Fast with Momentum!

Book a Free Consultation Now.