UAE Power of Attorney: Requirements and Process
A Power of Attorney is a critical legal instrument for foreign investors and business owners operating in the UAE. It authorises a designated representative to act on behalf of the principal in corporate, legal, and administrative matters including company formation, bank account management, visa processing, and property transactions.
The UAE recognises both general and specific Powers of Attorney, each subject to strict notarisation and legalisation procedures.
Types of Power of Attorney
| Type | Scope | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| General POA | Broad authority across multiple actions | Ongoing business management |
| Special POA | Limited to specific transactions | Property sale, court representation |
| Corporate POA | Company authorises an individual | Company formation, banking |
| Irrevocable POA | Cannot be cancelled unilaterally | Joint venture obligations |
Most business-related POAs in the UAE are special or corporate POAs, drafted to authorise specific actions within a defined timeframe. Courts and government entities in the UAE generally prefer narrowly scoped POAs over general authorisations.
Legalisation Process for Foreign-Issued POAs
A POA executed outside the UAE must undergo a multi-step attestation chain before it is recognised by UAE authorities.
Step 1: Notarisation in Country of Origin The POA must be notarised by a licensed notary public in the country where it is executed. The document should be drafted in English and Arabic, or accompanied by a certified Arabic translation.
Step 2: Apostille or Government Attestation For countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille stamp from the designated competent authority is sufficient. For non-Hague countries, the document must be attested by the foreign affairs ministry of the issuing country.
Step 3: UAE Embassy Attestation The notarised and apostilled document must be attested by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin. This step confirms the document’s authenticity for UAE recognition.
Step 4: MOFA Legalisation Upon arrival in the UAE, the document is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for final legalisation. This step completes the attestation chain.
POAs Executed Within the UAE
POAs drafted and executed within the UAE follow a simpler process. The principal appears before a UAE notary public with valid Emirates ID or passport, and the notary attests the document directly. No embassy or MOFA attestation is required for domestically executed POAs.
Cost and Timeline Summary
| Step | Estimated Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation (foreign) | Varies by country | 1-2 days |
| Apostille | USD 20-100 | 1-5 days |
| UAE Embassy Attestation | USD 50-200 | 3-10 business days |
| MOFA Legalisation | AED 150-300 | 1-3 business days |
| UAE Notarisation (domestic) | AED 2,000-5,000 | Same day |
| Arabic Translation (certified) | AED 500-1,500 | 1-3 days |
The total timeline for a foreign-issued POA ranges from two to four weeks depending on the country of origin and embassy processing speeds.
Important Validity Considerations
UAE authorities may reject POAs older than six months from the date of notarisation. Certain transactions, particularly real estate and banking, may impose stricter validity windows. All POAs used for company formation must specify the exact activities and jurisdictions authorised. A POA expires automatically upon the death of the principal or the completion of the specified transaction.