A UAE power of attorney is only as good as its **formalities**. It must be notarised, it must be in Arabic to be accepted onshore, and if executed abroad it must be notarised, legalised through the UAE embassy and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That chain takes weeks and is the usual reason a transaction stalls.
Power of Attorney
Notarisation, attestation and scope
A UAE power of attorney is only as good as its formalities. It must be notarised, it must be in Arabic to be accepted onshore, and if executed abroad it must be notarised, legalised through the UAE embassy and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That chain takes weeks and is the usual reason a transaction stalls.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Principal | [NAME], [passport / Emirates ID] [NUMBER] |
| [Where corporate] Company | [NAME], licence [NUMBER] |
| Attorney | [NAME], [passport / Emirates ID] [NUMBER] |
| Type | [Specific — named acts / General — broad] |
| Purpose | [DESCRIBE PRECISELY] |
| Effective from | [DATE] Expires: [DATE or on completion] |
| Executed where | [In the UAE before a notary / Abroad — see Section 4] |
| Notarised on | [DATE] Reference: [NUMBER] |
| [If abroad] Legalised and attested on | [DATE] |
| Arabic version | [Prepared by a licensed legal translator on ______] |
| Copies issued to | [LIST — needed for revocation] |
1. Which Type You Need
| Situation | Use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A named transaction while the principal is abroad | Specific POA | The safest form — narrow and time-limited |
| Company formation or a share transfer | Specific POA | Notary will require the parties or their attorneys present |
| Managing a company’s affairs generally | General POA | Very wide — use only where genuinely needed |
| Property purchase, sale or mortgage | Specific POA naming the property | Land department requirements are strict |
| Court proceedings | Litigation POA | A distinct form; a general POA is often refused |
| Banking operations | [Bank’s own mandate] | Banks usually require their own form, not a POA |
| Day-to-day internal authority | [Not a POA] | A board or manager delegation is the right instrument |
| Sponsoring or cancelling visas | Specific POA or PRO authorisation | Check what the authority accepts |
1.1Granting a general power because it seemed simpler than drafting a specific one is how principals lose control of assets. Draft to the purpose and nothing wider.
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These notes accompany the template and explain the drafting choices, the compliance points and the mistakes most often made with this document. They appear as a final page in the Word file, intended to be deleted before the document is executed.
A power executed abroad needs notarisation, attestation in that country, legalisation through the UAE embassy, attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then certified Arabic translation. Three to six weeks is normal. This is the most common reason an incorporation or share transfer stalls, and it is entirely predictable.
A power of attorney used onshore must be in Arabic, or accompanied by a translation from a licensed legal translator. Drafting in English and translating later is workable; assuming an English document will be accepted is not.
A general power granted because it was simpler than drafting a specific one hands over control of everything the principal owns. Where the purpose is to sign one agreement or complete one incorporation, say that and nothing more. Breadth is where the losses happen.
Clause 2.2 prohibits disposal, borrowing, self-dealing, gifts and delegation. These are the acts most likely to cause harm and least likely to be contemplated when the power is granted. Naming them removes any argument that a broad power impliedly allowed them.
A third party dealing with the attorney in good faith without notice of revocation may still rely on the power. Telling the attorney is not enough. Every bank, authority and counterparty holding a copy has to be notified, which is impossible without a register.
Certified copies circulate to banks, registries, government offices and advisers. Without a record of who holds one, effective revocation cannot be done. A simple list maintained from issue solves it, and Section 7 is that list.
Property transactions, litigation and company matters each have their own expected form, and a general power is frequently refused where a specific one is required. Ask the receiving authority what it will accept before drafting.
A power of attorney is generally not the instrument for day-to-day banking. Banks require their own signatory mandate, and presenting a POA instead causes delay. Use the bank’s form for banking and the POA for the transaction.
Where a company grants a power, the board must resolve to do so, the constitution must permit it, and the resolution is usually notarised alongside. A power executed without that authority may not bind the company, and counterparties will ask for the resolution.
A power with no expiry survives the transaction it was created for and is then forgotten while remaining live. Tie expiry to a date or to completion of the stated purpose, diarise it, and revoke formally even where it has expired by its terms.
The power ends on the principal’s death or loss of capacity, and on dissolution where the principal is a company. Anyone relying on a power should confirm the principal’s status, particularly on long-standing arrangements.
The instrument gives real authority over real assets, and the practical protections are limited once it is in circulation. Choose someone who would act properly if circumstances changed and nobody was watching.
Depending on the country of execution, apostille arrangements may shorten the legalisation chain. The position varies by country and changes. Confirm before committing to the longer embassy route — it can save weeks.
For internal authority — approving expenditure, signing purchase orders, operating within limits — a board or manager delegation is the right tool. A power of attorney is a heavier instrument directed at third parties and authorities.
Reflects UAE law and practice current as of {{DATE OF USE}}. Notarisation procedures, attestation and legalisation requirements, apostille arrangements, translation requirements and the forms accepted by particular authorities all differ by emirate and country and change — confirm with the receiving authority and take legal advice before granting a power covering assets or substantial transactions.
This is a ready-to-use template provided for convenience. Laws and requirements change, and every situation is different — please have it reviewed by a qualified professional (a lawyer, corporate secretary, or accountant as relevant) before you rely on it.