An apartment owner has flown home from Dubai and the buyer is already waiting to sign. Or a company founder living overseas cannot walk into the bank in person to open an account. In both cases a power of attorney in the UAE solves it — a document that gives another person the right to act on your behalf, within the limits you set.
Here the whole thing is done online: one video call with a notary lasting 5–10 minutes, and an electronic certificate with a QR code for authenticity checks arrives in your inbox. This guide is for people who already know the UAE and for those signing their first document without leaving their own country. Below: which types of power of attorney exist in Dubai and across the UAE, which authority handles it — residents and non-residents go different routes — and what each option costs.
When you need a power of attorney in the UAE
You need one wherever the owner or founder is formally required to be present but cannot travel. The most common cases are a property deal in the owner’s absence, running a company remotely, banking instructions carried out on your behalf, and representation in court or before a government body. The document is drawn up under UAE law, and the attorney receives exactly the authority written into the text — no more, no less.
Types of power of attorney in the UAE
In practice these documents are sorted less by formal name than by the job they do.
A general power of attorney and a property power of attorney both grant broad authority: managing assets, transactions involving a specific property, representing the principal before various institutions. A personal special power of attorney works differently — the principal writes the wording himself, for his own situation and in any language. That makes it the most flexible option for non-standard tasks such as a bank or a court, where template wording does not fit. A separate category is the corporate power of attorney for company management: you need it when the founder is abroad and delegates signing rights to a local representative for registration or banking procedures.
Table 1 — Types of power of attorney in the UAE and cost
| Type | What it covers | From |
|---|---|---|
| General / property | Property transactions, broad authority | AED 1,570 |
| Personal special | Non-standard tasks, your own wording | AED 1,890 |
| Corporate (company management) | Running a business remotely | AED 2,100 |
The corporate package costs the most — alongside the management power of attorney it often includes the company’s other constitutional documents.
Resident or non-resident: which authority
The authority that attests the document depends on the principal’s status, not on the wording. A resident with a valid Emirates ID goes through the Dubai Courts electronic system, which also covers the rest of the notarial paperwork, not just powers of attorney. A non-resident has no Emirates ID, so the power of attorney goes through the UAE Ministry of Justice, with identity confirmed by passport.
One important detail: the Ministry of Justice attests powers of attorney only. Memoranda, board resolutions and other corporate documents do not pass through it — those require resident status and Dubai Courts.
How the process works in Dubai
The procedure is the same for every type of document; only the authority handling it and the turnaround time differ.
- Consultation: the type of power of attorney and the authority are settled — resident or non-resident.
- A draft in Arabic and English, written for the specific task.
- Review with the principal and amendments where needed.
- A video call with the notary over Zoom — 5–10 minutes; the notary sees the original Emirates ID or passport.
- The finished document: up to 48 hours through Dubai Courts, around 30 minutes and an online signature through the Ministry of Justice.
Pre-recorded video used to be accepted instead of a call. That option has been closed — only a real-time call now, with no exceptions.
How much a power of attorney in the UAE costs
The price depends on the type of document and covers translation, drafting to the requirements of the law, the government fee and arranging the video attestation. A general or property power of attorney starts at AED 1,570, a personal special one at AED 1,890, a corporate management power of attorney at AED 2,100. Preparation takes 1–3 working days, plus the time for the call itself.
An interpreter on the call is charged separately, from AED 150, if the language is neither Arabic nor English. The exact government fee may differ at the time you apply, so the final figure is worth confirming in advance.
Which power of attorney to choose
For a property deal where the owner cannot attend, the property power of attorney fits. For running a company remotely, the corporate management power of attorney. If the situation is unusual and template wording will not do — for a bank or a court, for instance — choose the personal special power of attorney with your own text. Picking the wrong type costs more than it looks: a document drafted for the wrong task will simply be rejected by the bank or the authority..
The short version
The type of power of attorney and the authority that attests it decide whether the document is accepted where you need it — at the bank, at the notary handling a transaction, or at a government body. A mistake at this stage means starting the paperwork again from scratch. If you are unsure which one suits your situation, check it with a specialist first — cheaper and faster than redoing the document.
The lawyers at Dynasty Business Adviser can help you pick the right document and arrange the video attestation, wherever you are.
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Prices and procedure are current as of September 2026 and may change — confirm with a specialist when you apply. This material is not legal advice.
