General Power of Attorney in the UAE: Rules, Process & Powers

A general power of attorney in the UAE lets one person (the principal) authorise another (the agent) to act on their behalf across a range of transactions, within the limits written into the deed. It is one of the most widely used instruments among the country’s power of attorney services in the UAE, because it spares the principal from attending every procedure in person. The powers it grants depend entirely on how the document is drafted, so the wording must be clear, lawful and specific. Many general powers of attorney can now be prepared and notarised online through official e-notary channels. This guide explains what a general power of attorney covers, its conditions, the documents and steps to notarise it, the official government fee, and how to revoke it.

What is a general power of attorney in the UAE?

A general power of attorney is a legal document by which a principal authorises an agent to carry out a group of acts and transactions set out in the deed, within the scope of authority it defines. It allows the principal to delegate the management of certain affairs, or to have transactions completed on their behalf, according to the powers stated and the limits the principal chooses.

The principal’s role is to grant the authority and define the scope of the tasks delegated, in line with the purpose of the power of attorney. The agent then carries out those acts within the limits granted. Because an agent may only do what the deed clearly permits, precise drafting matters: vague wording can lead an agent to exceed their mandate, or cause an authority to refuse a transaction that needs an expressly stated power. For a closer look at how the two sides differ, see the roles of principal and agent.

What powers does a general power of attorney grant?

A general power of attorney can grant the agent several kinds of authority, but only within what the text of the deed actually states. It does not automatically give the agent unlimited powers. Commonly delegated acts include:

• Managing day-to-day transactions and procedures connected to the principal.
• Signing documents and entering into contracts on the principal’s behalf.
• Representing the principal before government and private entities and completing the necessary steps in their name.

A general power of attorney may also cover certain financial or commercial matters — such as managing specified dealings or activities tied to a business — but only where the deed says so clearly. Sensitive actions such as selling property, mortgaging, making donations or receiving money are not implied; they must be granted expressly, as explained below.

General vs special power of attorney

The difference between the two lies in the breadth of authority. A general power of attorney gives the agent wider scope to handle a range of transactions, as defined in the deed. A special power of attorney is limited to one specific act or matter — for example, selling a particular property or representing the principal in a single case. A general deed suits a principal who needs one agent for several matters, while a special deed suits a single, well-defined task. For a full comparison of the two, read our guide to the general and special power of attorney.

When is a general power of attorney suitable?

A general power of attorney tends to fit situations where a trusted person needs to act on the principal’s behalf in more than one matter — often during travel, residence abroad, or periods when the principal cannot attend in person. Typical cases include:

When a general power of attorney is not the right choice

Some transactions require a specific, expressly stated authority, and a broad deed will not substitute for it. A special power of attorney is usually more appropriate when:

• Selling a specific property — a dedicated real-estate deed naming the property and the act is generally expected.
• Making a donation — the power to donate must be stated expressly and in line with legal requirements.
• Mortgaging — the authority to mortgage usually has to be spelled out in the deed.
• Receiving funds — where the agent will receive money, the power and the amount or matter are best defined clearly.
• Settlement or waiver — these may require specific, express powers.
• Where the authority requires a special deed — if the competent entity insists on a special power of attorney, a general one will not take its place, however wide its wording.

Conditions for issuing a general power of attorney

For a general power of attorney to be valid and usable in the UAE, a few basic conditions generally apply:

• Legal capacity: the principal must have the capacity to carry out the acts they delegate.
• Right to act: the principal must hold the right or power being delegated; the deed cannot grant more than the principal themselves possess.
• Lawful subject matter: the delegated acts must be lawful and capable of delegation, with nothing contrary to the law or public order.
• Defined agent and powers: the agent’s identity and the scope of the authority must be clearly set out so the limits are unambiguous.

The UAE Ministry of Justice lists compliance with the Notary Public Law, its executive regulations and related laws as a condition for authenticating such deeds. (Ministry of Justice service page)

Documents required to notarise a general power of attorney

The exact documents depend on the type of deed and the powers requested, but a core set is usually needed. According to the Ministry of Justice, authenticating a contract or deed requires the identity of the parties and the deed that authorises the agent to represent the principal, in original and copies according to the type of instrument. In practice this typically means:

• The principal’s passport or Emirates ID.
• The agent’s identity details and proof of identity.
• A draft of the power of attorney, or the acts and powers to be included.

Some deeds need extra documents tied to their subject — for example, a title deed for property-related powers, or a valid trade licence for company powers. Because the Arabic text is what the authority relies on, a non-Arabic draft generally needs certified legal translation. For the full picture, see the documents needed for power of attorney notarisation.

How to notarise a general power of attorney in person

Where in-person notarisation is used, the deed is signed before the Notary Public at the competent authority — in Dubai through the Dubai Courts notary, in Abu Dhabi through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, and in the other emirates through the local judicial bodies and notaries. The general flow is:

How to issue a general power of attorney electronically

The UAE Ministry of Justice offers a digital power of attorney service that lets eligible users issue a deed without visiting a notary office. The Ministry’s published process is:

The Ministry of Justice reports that its digital platform can generate a ratified power of attorney in less than 10 minutes, offers eight types of power of attorney — including real estate, vehicles, stocks, company management and legal cases — and stores each deed securely using a blockchain system and a digital wallet, for use whether the customer is inside or outside the country. (Ministry of Justice announcement) In Dubai, the Dubai Courts eNotary offers a comparable online route using UAE PASS.

General POA for property, companies and litigation

The powers and supporting documents change with the subject of the deed. For property matters, authorities generally ask for the title deed or proof of the principal’s link to the property, and the deed should state clearly whether the agent may manage, lease, buy or sell — see the property purchase power of attorney and the property management power of attorney. For a company, a valid trade licence and proof of the signatory’s authority are usually required, and powers may cover managing or representing the entity; our company management power of attorney page covers this. For legal representation, the powers relating to cases and proceedings must be defined clearly, and additional documents may apply depending on the court.

Revoking or amending a general power of attorney

A principal can revoke a general power of attorney, dismiss the agent or issue a replacement deed, following the procedure of the authority that notarised it. Documenting the revocation and keeping proof of it matters, especially where the agent held wide powers. Good practice is to notify the agent and any entity where the deed was used — a bank, land department, company registry or court — so no one keeps relying on an instrument that is no longer valid, and to retain the revocation notice as evidence. You can find the related options under our personal legal services.

When does a general power of attorney end?

A general power of attorney does not only end when its term expires. Depending on the deed and the applicable law, it may also end if the principal revokes it or dismisses the agent, on the death of the principal or the agent, when a fixed term lapses without renewal, when the purpose it was issued for is achieved, or if the principal or agent loses legal capacity. It is wise to check the text of the deed and the surrounding circumstances before relying on it.

Risks of granting a broad general power of attorney

Because a general power of attorney can carry several powers at once, granting very wide authority without clear limits exposes the principal to risk: an agent may act beyond the intended purpose, interests may conflict, unauthorised financial dealings may occur, and a broad mandate can make the agent’s actions hard to track. The safeguard is to grant no more authority than the purpose actually needs, to define the permitted acts precisely, and to keep records of transactions carried out under the deed.

General power of attorney across the Emirates

The service is available throughout the UAE, but the competent authority and the notarisation steps can differ by emirate. In Dubai, deeds are notarised through the Dubai Courts notary; in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department handles notarisation; and in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, the local judicial bodies and notaries carry out the procedure. The way a request is submitted, the documents and the fees may vary, while the core identity and deed requirements stay broadly similar.

Official fees, timelines and common rejections

The fee below is current as of October 2026 per the UAE Ministry of Justice and may change — please verify with the official source.

Local in-person notarisation fees are set by each emirate’s authority (for example Dubai Courts and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department) and are not unified across the country. Additional charges — such as extra certified copies, typing or certified Arabic translation — may apply, so confirm the full total with the competent authority before you proceed.

How long it takes

The Ministry of Justice states that a digital power of attorney can be generated in less than 10 minutes through its platform, and lists a standard service duration of one day for authenticating contracts and deeds. In practice, a few factors lengthen this: an incomplete or incorrect document set, a missing certified Arabic translation, a mismatch between the name on the ID and the draft, or a public holiday. The Ministry also notes that an electronic application is cancelled after 20 days if the fee is not paid or the document is not signed. These are the authorities’ published figures and conditions, not a delivery promise.

Common reasons a general power of attorney is rejected

• Powers not stated expressly. One of the most common reasons for refusal is relying on a general deed for an act that must be granted explicitly — such as sale, mortgage, donation or receiving funds — or where the authority requires a special power of attorney that a general one cannot replace.
• No Arabic or certified translation. Arabic is the working language of UAE authorities; a deed that is not in Arabic or bilingual, or that lacks a certified translation, is frequently returned.
• Identity problems. Expired identity documents, or a spelling or detail mismatch between the ID and the draft, commonly hold up authentication.
• Capacity or authority not shown. If the principal’s legal capacity is in doubt, or — for companies — the signatory’s authority and a valid trade licence are not evidenced, the request is refused.
• Scope beyond the principal’s rights or unlawful subject matter. A deed cannot grant more than the principal holds, and nothing in it may conflict with the law or public order.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a general power of attorney covers every act — sale, mortgage, donation and receiving funds must be granted expressly.
• Granting far wider powers than the purpose needs, which raises the risk of misuse.
• Submitting an English-only draft without certified Arabic translation.
• Forgetting to notify the agent and relevant entities when revoking the deed.
• Treating a general deed as valid abroad without the proper attestation chain.

How Instant POA helps

Instant POA is a facilitator: the deed itself is notarised by the competent UAE authority, and attestation for overseas use is carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassies. Our team assists with drafting the deed, defining the right scope of powers, preparing and checking documents, arranging certified bilingual translation, and coordinating the notarisation and any attestation — whether you prefer the in-person route or the online e-notary channel.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

A general power of attorney in the UAE is a flexible way to let a trusted agent act on your behalf across several matters — but its strength and its safety both come down to precise, lawful drafting and proper notarisation. Decide the purpose first, grant only the powers that purpose needs, make sure sensitive acts are stated expressly, and keep the deed in Arabic or bilingual form. Next step: message Instant POA with what you need the deed to do, and the team will guide you through the documents, scope and notarisation route that fit your case.

Sources

• UAE Ministry of Justice — Writing and authentication of contracts and deeds (process, documents, AED 100 fee, one-day duration, 20-day cancellation rule): moj.gov.ae
• UAE Ministry of Justice — Digital Power of Attorney Issuance Service (eight POA types, under 10 minutes, UAE PASS, blockchain, use inside or outside the country): moj.gov.ae