The information in this article is general and educational. It is not legal advice and does not create a client–lawyer relationship. Requirements may vary by case and by the competent authority. Final acceptance of the document rests with the body it is presented to.
Who is a general manager, and what are the close titles?
Several job titles sit close to general manager, and each differs in role and in the powers attached to it:
| Title | Role and powers |
|---|---|
| General manager | Usually responsible for day-to-day administrative and operational oversight of the entity or company |
| Chief executive / executive director | In larger companies usually sets the overall strategic direction, and the two roles may sit with one person |
| Manager registered on the licence | The person recorded with the licensing authority as the manager; this may be the general manager or someone else |
| Legal representative of the company | The person the memorandum, the partners’ resolution or the board expressly designates to sign for the company |
Where do general manager powers come from?
There is no single list that applies to everyone holding this title. General manager powers are normally built from several sources that work together, and any dispute over their limits is settled by reading these documents as a whole:
⚖️ The law governing the entity
Sets the general framework for the type of entity or company the manager works in.
📄 Memorandum and articles
Set the general framework for executive management powers.
🖊️ Appointment resolution
Issued by the partners or board; it may spell out the powers the manager holds.
📜 Notarised POA or delegation decision
May grant a specific extra power or restrict an existing one.
For Dubai mainland companies, the request to amend a trade licence service of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) lets a company change the manager’s details recorded on its licence, one of the common amendments listed on the official service card. Free-zone companies deal with their own free-zone authority.
Do general manager powers differ by sector?
Yes, general manager powers differ in their source of authority and in who supervises them. The table summarises the general difference and does not replace the entity’s own texts:
| Element | Government entity | Private company |
|---|---|---|
| Source of authority | The legislation governing the entity and its internal regulations | Memorandum, articles, and decisions of the partners or board |
| Supervising body | The higher government body or the competent council | The partners, general assembly or board |
| Where limits are found | The entity’s legislation and the delegation decision issued to it | The memorandum, the appointment resolution and any notarised power of attorney |
What are the limits of general manager powers?
Limits are measured by the wording of the authorisation, not by the title. The table shows where the limits of the main powers are checked and what is usually requested to prove them:
| Power | Where the limits are checked | What is usually requested as proof |
|---|---|---|
| Signing ordinary operating contracts | Appointment resolution and memorandum | A signed appointment or delegation decision |
| Opening a bank account and signing cheques | The signature specimen approved by the bank | Partners’ or board resolution and a bank signature card |
| Selling or mortgaging company assets | Memorandum and articles of association | A minute of approval if the memorandum requires one |
| Borrowing in the company’s name | Partners’ or board resolution | A signed resolution setting the ceiling, if any |
| Hiring and terminating staff | Internal regulations and the labour law | A documented administrative decision |
| Representing the company in court | The licence and memorandum, or a notarised power of attorney | A notarised power of attorney or an express clause in the appointment |
| Changing the licensed activity | Memorandum and the licensing authority | An amendment request to the licensing authority |
A manager bears responsibility for acts that exceed the authority granted, and its nature and scope depend on each case and the applicable rules; it is therefore assessed case by case and no general opinion is given here. Recording every important administrative or financial decision in writing gives a reference if the limits of authority are ever disputed.
Can a general manager represent the company in court?
The right to represent a company before courts and government bodies does not come from the title general manager itself, but from the legal capacity an official document establishes. The manager’s name may appear expressly on the licence or memorandum, or the partners may issue a notarised power of attorney covering specific procedures. The Ministry of Justice states that its digital power of attorney service includes eight types, among them company management and lawyer representation in cases (Ministry announcement, June 2023).
Delegation or power of attorney: what is the difference?
The two are often confused although they differ. For a wider view of each type and its limits, see our guide to general and special power of attorney:
| Element | Delegation | Power of attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Legal nature | An internal administrative decision | A document notarised before a notary public |
| Issued by | The partners, board or competent body | The holder of the original authority (the principal) |
| Scope of action | Usually limited to internal management | May extend to representation before third parties and official bodies |
| Cancellation | By decision of the same body | By a formal, notarised revocation |
Fees, steps, timing and rejections: the practical guide
Published official fees
The fees below are updated to October 2026 according to the bodies named, and may change. Please check the official source.
| Transaction | Fee | Body | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attesting a general or special POA before a public notary in Dubai | AED 100 per signature | Dubai Courts | Executive Council Resolution No. 72 of 2025 |
| POA (individual) at the DIFC Courts | USD 200 | DIFC Courts | Notary service fee schedule |
| POA (corporation) at the DIFC Courts | USD 500 | DIFC Courts | Notary service fee schedule |
| Cancelling a POA (individual / corporation) at the same courts | USD 100 / USD 250 | DIFC Courts | Notary service fee schedule |
Private notary fees are set by a resolution of the Director of Dubai Courts in coordination with the Department of Finance. DET publishes licence amendment fees by type of service and its service card gives no single amount, so no figure is shown here.
The steps as they actually run
Typical durations
The service card published by the Department of Economy and Tourism states that a licence amendment request is completed in about 10 minutes when filed at a service centre. The Ministry of Justice stated when launching its digital service that a digitally ratified power of attorney can be generated in under 10 minutes. These are the service times themselves, not the time needed to prepare the file, and they are customary figures rather than a promise of delivery; in practice a missing document, an unsigned resolution, an official holiday or the need for a certified translation lengthens the process.
Common reasons a request is returned, and how to avoid them
1. Nothing proves the signatory’s authority
The notary requirements of ADGM (FAQs) include a power of attorney or a shareholders’ or board resolution showing the authority of the person signing for a company. Prepare this document before the appointment.
2. Identity or passport copies are missing
Copies of the Emirates ID for residents, or the passport for non-residents, are requested for both principal and agent. Check that they are clear and valid.
3. Licence amendment papers are incomplete
Documents vary with the company’s legal form and, per the service card, include approval resolutions and appendices to the incorporation contract. Check the official list before filing.
Need a power of attorney for your company manager?
Contact us to prepare the document and coordinate its notarisation with the competent authority.
How does Instant POA help?
Instant POA assists with drafting the power of attorney, preparing its documents, submitting them and coordinating the procedure, including through our power of attorney services in the UAE. The notarisation itself is carried out by the competent authority such as Dubai Courts, the Ministry of Justice or a licensed private notary, and final acceptance of the document rests with the body it is presented to.
📌 Important notes
- Notarisation is not attestation: notarisation verifies the principal’s identity and signature, while attestation authenticates the document for use with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or embassies. See documents needed for power of attorney notarization.
- A power of attorney used outside the UAE normally needs a certified translation and an attestation chain before it is accepted.
- Arabic is the working language of UAE authorities, so a certified translation is supplied when needed.
- A power of attorney can be revoked at any time through a formal, notarised procedure; telling the agent verbally is not enough.
FAQ: general manager powers in the UAE
What are a general manager’s powers in the UAE?
A general manager’s powers in the UAE usually cover day-to-day management of the entity, carrying out decisions of the partners or board, and supervising staff, within what the appointing document grants. There is no single scope for everyone holding the title; the limits come from the appointment resolution and the memorandum of association.
Can a general manager sign contracts on behalf of the company?
Possibly, if the memorandum of association, the appointment resolution or a notarised power of attorney gives the right to sign, and within the authority granted. The job title alone does not prove it. Check the authorising document before signing any contract that goes beyond ordinary day-to-day management.
Can a general manager represent the company in court?
That right does not come from the title general manager. It comes from the capacity shown in an official document, such as an express clause in the memorandum or appointment resolution, or a power of attorney notarised before a notary public that covers specific proceedings. A licensed lawyer may also need a separate litigation power of attorney.
How are a general manager’s powers amended or withdrawn?
They are usually amended or withdrawn by a decision of the body that appointed the manager, such as the partners or the board, formally notified to the manager. The licence details are then updated with the licensing authority, any earlier notarised power of attorney is formally revoked, and banks are informed so an old signature is no longer relied on.
What is the difference between delegation and a power of attorney?
Delegation is an internal decision by the partners or board transferring a specific power to the manager, while a power of attorney is a document notarised before a notary public that can be presented to third parties and official bodies. Delegation is cancelled by the same body’s decision; a notarised power of attorney needs a formal revocation.
Conclusion
General manager powers in the UAE vary with the type of entity and the source of authority, whether a resolution, a memorandum or a notarised power of attorney. The title alone does not prove a right to sign or to represent, and the reference in any doubt is the authorising document itself, notarised and up to date. Your next step: gather the appointment resolution, the memorandum and any existing power of attorney and review them before any major transaction, then contact us if you need a new power of attorney.
Sources
- Request to amend a trade licence: service card, Invest in Dubai (Government of Dubai)
- Mainland business licensing: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
- Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 72 of 2025 amending Resolution No. 4 of 2014 on notary public fees
- UAE Ministry of Justice: Phase 2 of the Digital Power of Attorney Issuance Service (21 June 2023)
- DIFC Courts: Notary service fees
- Abu Dhabi Global Market: Notary Public FAQs
Firas is an expert in notary public procedures in the UAE. He writes specialized content aimed at explaining and simplifying legal processes in a clear and practical way, helping individuals and companies understand their transaction requirements and take the right steps with confidence. Through his articles, he focuses on combining accuracy, educational value, and an emphasis on fast and reliable solutions.
