What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which you, the principal, authorise another person, the attorney or agent, to act on your behalf.
Types of POA
- General POA — broad authority across many matters; powerful, so it should be granted with care
- Special POA — limited to specific acts, such as selling a named property or signing for a company
- Corporate POA — issued by a company to authorise a representative, such as a manager or government-relations officer
Signing in the UAE
A POA signed in the UAE is notarised by a notary public — at the courts, by an authorised private notary, or through approved remote notarisation channels. Arabic or bilingual drafting is generally expected.
Signing outside the UAE
A POA signed abroad generally needs a legalisation chain before UAE authorities will accept it:
- Notarisation in the country of signing
- Legalisation by that country's competent authority
- Attestation by the UAE embassy or consulate
- Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — in some cases already included in the consular legalisation
- Legal translation into Arabic
Practical tips
- Prefer a special POA for a single transaction
- Make sure names match passports exactly across all documents
- Check whether the receiving authority or bank requires a recently issued POA
- Revoke a POA formally when it is no longer needed
How ETURA helps
We coordinate drafting, notarisation, attestation and translation through our licensed legal partner, so your POA is prepared correctly and meets the requirements of the authority that will rely on it.
This page provides general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Requirements are set by the relevant authorities and may change; we confirm the current position for your case at assessment.
Last reviewed: November 2026