Power of attorney in the UAE, explained

A power of attorney lets you authorise another person to act on your behalf in the UAE, for example to sign company documents or deal with a bank while you are abroad. It is a practical tool for owners who cannot always be in the country, but it must be drafted and notarised correctly to be accepted.

What is a power of attorney used for?

A power of attorney is used whenever you need someone to act for you in the UAE and you cannot be present: signing incorporation documents, representing you at a government counter, completing a property purchase or sale, or managing banking steps within the authority granted. For a company owner who travels or is relocating, it keeps the setup and the business moving without requiring your physical presence for every signature, which is why it is so widely used.

What can and cannot be delegated?

You can grant broad or narrow authority, from a general power covering many acts to a specific power limited to a single transaction, and the wording defines exactly what the attorney may do. Some acts are sensitive, and a bank or authority may insist the power explicitly mentions them. Granting more authority than necessary is a risk, so the scope is drafted to match the task, which protects you while still letting the attorney do what is actually needed.

How do you grant a power of attorney?

A power of attorney for use in the UAE is drafted, usually in Arabic or bilingually, and notarised before a UAE notary public, or, if you are abroad, executed and then attested through the chain ending at the UAE authorities so it is recognised locally. The drafting and the notarisation are what make it effective, and a poorly drafted power is often rejected at the counter. We draft it to the task and arrange the notarisation so it is accepted first time.

How long does a power of attorney last?

A power of attorney remains valid until it expires by its own terms, is revoked by you, or lapses on certain events, and some are granted for a fixed period while others continue until cancelled. Because it gives real authority, revoking it properly when it is no longer needed matters as much as granting it. We advise on the duration and the revocation so the authority exists exactly as long as the task requires and no longer.

What is the next step?

Tell us what you need the attorney to do and we will draft the power of attorney and arrange the notarisation. See our compliance and legal and attestation services, and the UAE Government business guide. We only quote figures we can trace to the issuing authority, such as the UAE Government business guide, so what you plan on is real and current.