Power of Attorney in Dubai: cost, documents and timelines

A Power of Attorney (POA) lets someone else sign and act for you, and it is often the only practical way to buy, sell or gift Dubai property when you cannot be in Dubai yourself. It is also one of the most common causes of delay, because a POA that is too broad, too old or wrongly attested can be turned away at the trustee office. This general guide, which is not legal advice, covers what to plan for. If you are new to buying remotely, start with our overview of buying Dubai property from abroad.

General vs special Power of Attorney for property

A general POA gives your attorney (the person acting for you) wide authority over your affairs. A special POA is limited to named actions and, usually, a named property.

For property, a special POA is generally the safer and more practical choice. Under Dubai Land Department (DLD) Circular 29/R/2025, issued in July 2025, a POA presented for a sale, purchase, gift or mortgage must expressly authorise that specific transaction using approved wording. Broad phrases such as "full authority to manage property" are not enough on their own. A property POA should clearly state:

• your full name and passport details, and those of your attorney
• the property, with its unit or plot number, building or community and title deed number
• the exact powers granted, such as to sell or buy, sign Form F (the sale agreement), apply for the NOC (the developer's No Objection Certificate), sign at the trustee office and pay or receive the price
• any limits, and an expiry date

Documents you will typically need

• passport copies for you and your attorney
• Emirates ID and visa copy, if either of you is a UAE resident
• a copy of the title deed, or the Oqood for off plan property, when selling
• the sale agreement or reservation, if the deal is already agreed
• a bilingual POA draft in Arabic and English
• for a company owner, its trade licence, board resolution and constitutional documents

Treat this as a starting list; we confirm the final list with the notary and trustee office for your transaction.

Signing inside the UAE

If you are in the UAE, the POA is signed before a notary public. In Dubai, notary services are provided through Dubai Courts, and the DLD has said it will verify POAs only through official channels such as the Dubai Courts portal and the Ministry of Justice electronic notary search.

Dubai Courts also offers remote notarisation, where a notary confirms your identity by video call and the document is signed and sealed digitally, with access through UAE Pass. Availability for property POAs varies, and some transactions still call for an attendance in person. We confirm the current position for your transaction before you book anything.

Signing outside the UAE

A POA signed abroad has to pass through a chain of steps before Dubai will accept it. The DLD expects a foreign POA to be:

• notarised by the competent authority in the country where you sign
• legalised by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, after any steps required by that country's own foreign ministry
• attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs once it reaches the UAE
• translated in full into Arabic by a UAE licensed legal translator, if it is not already bilingual

The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough: plan for notarisation, legalisation through the UAE embassy in the signing country and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in the UAE. The DLD also requires the original signed document, not a scan or electronic copy.

What drives the cost

The total cost usually depends on:

• notary fees in Dubai or abroad
• legal translation into Arabic
• legalisation abroad, which varies by country
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in the UAE
• courier costs to get the original to Dubai
• professional fees for drafting and coordinating the process. Chartered Conveyancing's fee is AED 5,250 for one property, plus AED 525 for each additional property, including VAT

Typical timeline factors

Signing before a notary in Dubai can usually be done in a single visit once the wording is agreed. A POA signed abroad takes longer, as each stage depends on appointments and processing in two countries. The main factors are:

• notary and embassy availability in the signing country
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in the UAE
• whether a bank or developer wants to review the POA before completion

Start the POA early so it never holds up transfer day; an overseas POA commonly takes a few weeks from signing to attested original in Dubai, depending on the country.

Validity and revocation

A POA lasts for the period it states, unless it is revoked sooner. Set an expiry date that leaves a comfortable margin beyond the expected completion date. For a foreign POA, the DLD also looks at when it was issued, not only at its expiry, and expects the document to be recent. We confirm the current age limit before you rely on one.

To revoke a POA, you would generally sign a revocation before a notary and make sure your attorney, and anyone relying on the POA such as your bank, developer or agent, is told. Take advice on your own circumstances.

Common reasons a trustee office rejects a POA

A trustee office is a DLD approved centre where property transfers are registered. Common problems include:

• wording that is too general, or that does not use the approved terms for the transaction
• missing property details or powers, such as signing at the trustee office or receiving the sale price
• a missing step in the attestation chain for a foreign POA
• an English only document with no legal Arabic translation
• a scan or copy presented instead of the original
• a POA that has expired, or a foreign POA that is too old
• passport or ID details that do not match DLD records

Most are avoidable with careful drafting and a review before signing. If the transfer is a gift within the family, see our guide to gifting property to first degree relatives.

How Chartered Conveyancing can help

Our Power of Attorney service covers drafting, guidance on attestation, arranging legal translation and, where appropriate, acting as your attorney so you do not need to travel to Dubai.

Need a POA prepared properly for your Dubai property transaction? Enquire today and we will guide you through each step.