General versus special power of attorney
A special power of attorney names one defined task, for example selling one specific property or representing you in one named case. A general power of attorney covers a broad category of acts. UAE authorities strongly prefer special powers, and several, including the Dubai Land Department, will only act on wording that names the exact transaction and the exact asset.
What a valid UAE power of attorney contains
- Full legal names, nationalities and passport or Emirates ID numbers of both parties.
- The exact powers granted, written narrowly and without open-ended catch-all wording.
- The property, company, case number or account the powers relate to, where applicable.
- An expiry date, or an explicit statement that it remains valid until revoked.
- A bilingual Arabic and English text, with the Arabic version prevailing.
How it is executed inside the UAE
Drafting
The document is drafted in Arabic and English against the requirements of the authority that will receive it.
Notary appointment
Both the grantor and the wording are presented to a notary public, in person or through the approved video notarisation channel where available.
Identity verification
Original passport, Emirates ID and visa page are checked. A translator attends if the grantor does not read Arabic.
Registration and issue
The notary registers the deed and issues the stamped copy, which is what banks, the DLD, courts and government offices will ask to see.
Signing from outside the UAE
If you cannot attend in person, the power of attorney is signed and notarised where you are, then certified by that country's foreign ministry, then by the UAE Embassy there, then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally translated into Arabic by a Ministry of Justice licensed translator. This is the same attestation chain used for any foreign document.
Validity, cost and revocation
- Most UAE powers of attorney are treated as valid for two years unless a shorter period is stated, though individual authorities may apply their own limit.
- Notary fees vary by emirate and by the number of powers granted; drafting, translation and notarisation are usually quoted separately.
- Revocation is not effective just because you tell your attorney. It must be registered with the same notary, and the revocation notice should be sent to every party that relied on the original.
- A power of attorney ends automatically on the death of the grantor.
Frequently asked
Can one power of attorney cover several tasks?
It can, but the more it covers the more likely an authority is to query it. For property, banking and court matters a separate, narrowly drafted document per purpose is accepted far more smoothly.
Does my attorney need to be a UAE resident?
Not necessarily, but they must be able to attend in person where the task requires attendance, so a UAE-based attorney is usually more practical.
Is an English-only power of attorney valid?
UAE notaries and government bodies work in Arabic. A bilingual document with a certified Arabic text is what gets accepted.
Can a power of attorney be used to sell property?
Yes, if it names the property and the power of sale explicitly, and it has been notarised and registered. Generic wording will be refused at the transfer appointment.