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Power of attorney in the UAE
A power of attorney (POA) lets someone you name sign and act for you in the UAE. We draft it in Arabic or bilingual form, with the exact powers the receiving authority asks for, and guide you through notarisation.
- Dubai Courts fee: AED 100 per signature, plus AED 20
- Passport accepted by the Dubai Courts e-notary
- Arabic or bilingual wording, as UAE authorities require
What is the POA for?
Pick the purpose to see the type of POA, where it is signed and the government fee.
A POA to sign for a company, such as signing the Memorandum of Association (MOA), opening and operating bank accounts or applying to the licensing authority. Each act must be named in the wording.
- Where
- Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary, or a public or private notary
- Government fee
- AED 100 per signature plus AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee
- Key document
- Trade licence, plus Emirates ID or passport
Government fees only, per signature or per party. Drafting, Arabic legal translation, foreign notary, courier and service fees are extra, so ask us on WhatsApp for a quote.
A power of attorney, in brief.
A power of attorney (POA) is a notarised document in which one person or company, the principal, authorises another person, the attorney, to sign and act on their behalf. In the UAE it must be in Arabic or bilingual, and it stays in force until it is revoked.
Business owners and investors use a POA when they cannot attend in person to form a company, open a bank account, transfer shares or deal with a property. My Eloah Business Hub confirms the wording with the receiving authority, drafts the POA and guides you through notarisation or attestation.
- Signed in the UAE
- Dubai Courts ratification: AED 100 per party plus AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee
- Signed abroad
- MOFA attestation: AED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercial
- Language
- Arabic or bilingual. English-only needs a translation attested by the Ministry of Justice
- Validity
- Runs until revoked. State a period in the document
What a POA costs, by scenario.
Three different figures are quoted for a UAE power of attorney. They apply to different situations, so check which one is yours.
| Scenario | Fee | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Signed in the UAE, Dubai Courts | AED 100 per party | Ratification of the POA |
| Knowledge and Innovation fee | AED 20 | Added to the Dubai Courts ratification |
| One signatory, Dubai Courts | About AED 120 | Government fee only: AED 100 plus AED 20 |
| Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary | AED 100 per signature | Each signature of the parties to the POA |
| Private notary, Dubai | AED 100 per party registration plus AED 100 per signature | From 2 January 2026. AED 1,000 more if the notary travels to you |
| Signed abroad, personal POA | AED 150 | MOFA attestation as an Individual Affairs Document |
| Signed abroad, commercial POA | AED 2,000 | MOFA attestation as a Commercial Document |
| Revocation, federal jurisdictions | AED 200 | Ministry of Justice cancellation of contracts and deeds |
| Advertised all-in packages, UAE market | AED 599 to AED 1,800 | Government fee, drafting, Arabic legal translation, service charge and 5% VAT on the service part |
The market range is what the wider market advertises for a POA signed in the UAE. It is not a My Eloah Business Hub price. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote. Both routes charge per party, so more signatories means a higher fee.
Three ways to notarise a POA.
The right route depends on where you are and whether you can register with a UAE notary service.
Notary public or private notary
Sign before a public notary, a private notary or a government service centre. A private notary in Dubai can travel to you for an extra AED 1,000.
Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary
Apply online at any time with an Emirates ID or a passport. You sign with a one-time password (OTP) sent to you, and the notary may ask for a virtual or in-person meeting.
Sign locally, then legalise
Sign before a local notary or solicitor, then have the POA attested by that country's foreign ministry, the UAE Embassy there and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Types of POA and what each one needs.
Every POA needs the Emirates ID or passport of the person signing. The supporting document changes with the purpose.
| Type of POA | Typical use | Supporting document |
|---|---|---|
| Company or establishment | Signing the MOA, bank accounts, licensing authority, share transfers | Trade licence |
| Property | Acting on a specific property | Title deed |
| Vehicle | Acting on a vehicle you own | Vehicle ownership certificate |
| Trademark | Acting on a registered trademark | Trademark registration certificate |
| Inheritance | Acting for an heir | Determination of heirs or death certificate |
| Divorce | Acting in a divorce matter | Marriage contract |
| Signed by a representative | Someone signing for the principal | Proof of capacity |
| Dubai Courts General Power of Attorney | A separate service for a national partner in a commercial licence | Principal and agent attend in person. The POA must exclude acting on government-granted land |
For a company POA, the wording names the company, its licence number and the signatory's authority to bind it.
Why POAs get rejected.
UAE authorities read a POA narrowly. A POA that is missing one power has to be redone at full cost.
Powers that are too general
Wording such as "to do all necessary acts" will not open a bank account. Name each act: sign the MOA, sign before the notary, open and operate bank accounts, sign the tenancy, receive the trade licence.
Details that do not match the ID
Write the full names of the principal and the attorney exactly as they appear on the passport or Emirates ID, with the document numbers.
No period, or an old POA
State a validity period in the document. Some authorities only accept a POA issued within a recent window.
English-only wording
A POA must be in Arabic or bilingual. An English-only POA needs an Arabic legal translation attested by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Seven steps to a notarised POA.
This is the usual order for a POA signed through the Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary.
Start on WhatsApp →Confirm the scope
We ask the receiving authority what wording and powers it needs before anything is drafted.
Draft the POA
We prepare the POA in Arabic or bilingual form, with the exact powers and the names as per passport or Emirates ID.
Register and apply
You register with Dubai Courts, select the service, enter the details, select the articles and attach the documents.
Pay the government fee
The attestation fee is AED 100 for each signature of the parties to the POA.
Sign by one-time password
The system identifies each party and takes the signature by OTP, which you enter yourself.
Notary review
The application goes through a legal and administrative audit, and an amendment needs a new OTP.
Receive the POA
After approval the notary contacts you, virtually or in person, and the receipt arrives by email.
Power of attorney, answered.
Ask anything else on WhatsApp and we will answer for your company.
How much does a power of attorney cost in Dubai?
The Dubai Courts government fee is AED 100 per party plus an AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee, so about AED 120 for one signatory. Drafting, Arabic legal translation and service fees are extra, and all-in packages in the market are advertised from AED 599 to AED 1,800.
Can I make a UAE power of attorney without being in the UAE?
Yes, there are two routes. The Dubai Courts Smart Electronic Notary accepts a passport and can hold the session virtually, or you can sign before a notary in your own country and have the POA legalised for the UAE. We confirm which route fits your case before you start.
What attestation does a POA signed abroad need?
It needs that country's foreign ministry, then the UAE Embassy there and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The Embassy and MOFA steps are now one digital application, and an English-only POA also needs an Arabic legal translation attested by the Ministry of Justice.
How much is MOFA attestation for a power of attorney?
MOFA charges AED 150 for a POA of a personal nature and AED 2,000 for a POA with any commercial content. Opening a company bank account, signing a trade licence or transferring shares all make the POA commercial.
Does a UAE power of attorney have to be in Arabic?
Yes, it must be in Arabic or bilingual. An English-only POA needs an Arabic legal translation attested by the Ministry of Justice.
How long is a power of attorney valid in the UAE?
A POA runs until it is revoked. It is good practice to state a period in the document, and some authorities only accept a POA issued within a recent window.
How do I cancel a power of attorney in the UAE?
You revoke it through a separate notarised transaction, then notify the attorney and the relevant authorities. The Ministry of Justice fee for cancellation of contracts and deeds is AED 200 in federal jurisdictions.
How long does digital attestation of a POA take?
MOFA digital attestation typically takes 2 to 3 working days. You apply and pay online with UAE Pass, a MOFA-approved provider collects the original by courier, and the attested document arrives by email before the original is returned.
Tell us what the POA is for. We will map the route.
Message My Eloah Business Hub on WhatsApp with the purpose and where you will sign, and we will confirm the type of POA, the route and a quote.