Making a Power of Attorney in the UAE

Quick Summary about Power of Attorney:

• Definition: A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows someone (the Principal) to authorize another person (the Attorney/Agent) to act on their behalf in legal, financial, or personal matters.
• Types: General POA – Grants broad powers, and Special POA – Grants limited, specific powers for defined tasks.

• When to Use: Commonly used to manage affairs during absence, illness, or incapacity, or to delegate authority for business or legal transactions.
• Process in the UAE: Draft the POA, review and approve it, then complete e-notarization online (usually within 1–2 business days).

Revocation & Validity: A POA can be revoked anytime through a notarized revocation document and automatically becomes invalid upon the Principal’s death.

What is a Power of Attorney (POA)?

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to delegate authority to another person to act on your behalf as your attorney-in-fact or agent. The agent can be anyone, including a family member, a friend, or a professional such as a lawyer. The powers you delegate must be clearly specified in the POA document.

Parties to a Power of Attorney

1. Principal – The person who grants the Power of Attorney. The Principal authorizes another person to act on their behalf in specific or general matters.
2. Attorney (Agent/Representative/Attorney-in-Fact) – The person who receives the Power of Attorney and is authorized to act on the Principal’s behalf within the scope of the authority granted.

When to Have a Power of Attorney

• When you want to authorize your spouse, children, or a professional to handle your legal and financial affairs in your absence.
• When you want to authorize an employee or subordinate to manage the financial or managerial affairs of your company during your absence.
• When you want to authorize family members or friends to manage your medical or financial affairs if you become seriously ill or incapacitated.
• When you want to authorize someone to perform certain tasks at a specific time.

Types of Power of Attorney

1. General Power of Attorney – Gives your agent broad and unlimited authority over your business, financial, legal, or personal matters.
2. Special Power of Attorney – Allows you to define specific powers for your agent. For example, you may want your spouse to manage personal finances or real estate, or your business partner to manage company affairs.
   
   👉  Learn more about Business Power of Attorney here.

Where to Get Started

The first step is to have your Power of Attorney drafted. This is crucial to ensure that your POA is clear, professional, and legally accurate. A well-drafted POA minimizes the risk of rejection by third parties or government authorities and saves you time and money.

At POA.ae, each POA is customized to your needs and prepared by a licensed lawyer in Dubai.

How to Notarize a Power of Attorney in the UAE

Step 1 – Order
Place your order online through our Pricing page by selecting your desired POA package, or contact one of our consultants for assistance.

Step 2 – Approve
We will collect the required information from you and send you a draft of your POA via email for your review and approval within 1 business day.

Step 3 – e-Notarization
Once approved, we will assist you in submitting the application online, and the verification of issuing the POA will also be completed through an online meeting. The process is seamless, 100% online, and typically takes 1–2 business days, provided there are no delays from the client.

Required Documents:

1. Principal: Passport copy, Emirates ID (front and back), email address, and phone number.
2. Attorney: Passport copy, Emirates ID (front and back), email address, and phone number.
   • For real estate or company-related POAs, ownership documents or company incorporation documents are also required.

Who Can Be My Agent or Attorney-in-Fact?

• Your agent can be anyone you trust: a lawyer, accountant, colleague, family member, or friend. 
• The person must be at least 21 years old. 
• You may also appoint multiple co-agents to act jointly or individually, or name a successor in case the primary agent is unavailable.

It is advisable to discuss the agent’s responsibilities, duration, and limitations of the POA in detail before drafting. This ensures smooth execution and avoids future misunderstandings.

Can I Use a POA Issued Outside the UAE?

Yes, but if a Power of Attorney (POA) is issued abroad and intended for use in the UAE, it must go through the following steps:

• Notarization in the country of issue.
• Attestation by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country.
• Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE.
• Legal Arabic translation of the POA in the UAE.

 How to Revoke or Replace a Power of Attorney

• A notarized POA cannot be amended. You can find out how to revoke a Power of Attorney step-by-step for detailed instructions.
• You can revoke a POA at any time for any reason. Revocation must be in writing, notarized at the same authority where the original POA was registered.
• Always revoke the previous POA before issuing a new one to ensure the old POA is no longer valid.

A POA becomes invalid upon the death of the Principal, after which other estate planning documents, such as a Will, take precedence.

Frequently asked questions

1) How long does it take to notarize a POA in the UAE?
Typically, 1–2 business days for online notarization, provided all documents are complete.

2) Can a minor be appointed as an agent?
No, your agent must be at least 21 years old.

3) Do I need a POA for company matters?
Yes, a POA can authorize someone to handle company finances, contracts, or operations in your absence. Relevant company documents are required for notarization.

4) Can I use a POA issued outside the UAE?
Yes, but it must be notarized, translated, and legalized or attested as per UAE requirements.

5) Can I cancel a POA?
Yes, you can revoke it at any time by submitting a notarized Revocation of POA.

6) Can multiple agents act under the same POA?
Yes, you can appoint co-agents to act jointly or individually.