---
title: "Power of attorney"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/power-of-attorney
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/glossary/power-of-attorney.md
type: glossary-term
description: "A power of attorney is a notarised document authorising another person to sign and act for you in a UAE property transaction you cannot attend."
publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)"
language: en-GB
usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting."
---

# Power of attorney

> A power of attorney is a notarised document authorising another person to sign and act for you in a UAE property transaction you cannot attend.

Also known as: POA, PoA, Wakala, Special power of attorney.

## What Power of attorney means for a buyer

A power of attorney (POA) lets an overseas buyer or seller complete a transaction without travelling. The attorney, often a lawyer or a trusted relative, can sign contracts, attend the [trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office), collect a [title deed](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed), take [handover](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/handover) or deal with a bank, within the limits the document sets.

To be accepted by a UAE land department a POA must be in the right form. If you sign it in the UAE, it is done before a notary public, in Arabic or in both languages. If you sign abroad, it must be notarised locally and then legalised through the full [attestation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/attestation) chain: the foreign ministry of the country of issue, the UAE embassy there, and finally the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a certified Arabic translation. From the UK this takes a few weeks, so start early.

The [Dubai Land Department](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld) applies time limits: a POA is accepted for a sale or mortgage for two years from [notarisation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/notarisation), and for a purchase for five years.

Draft it narrowly. A POA for a property deal should name the property, list the specific acts permitted and, for a sale, state how the proceeds are to be paid, ideally only by manager's cheque in your name. General powers over all your assets are unnecessary and risky.

You may not need one at all. Most off-plan purchases from developers are signed electronically from abroad.

## Related terms

- [Notarisation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/notarisation): Notarisation is the formal witnessing of a signature or certification of a document by a notary public, required before many documents are accepted in the UAE.
- [Attestation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/attestation): Attestation is the chain of official stamps that makes a document issued abroad legally usable in the UAE, ending with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- [Trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office): A trustee office is a private centre licensed by the Dubai Land Department where buyer and seller complete a resale transfer and the new title deed is issued.
- [Handover](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/handover): Handover is the point at which a finished off-plan home passes from the developer to the buyer, once the final instalment and handover fees are paid.

## In depth

- [Buying UAE property from the UK: process, currency, mortgages and a budget in pounds](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-uae-property-from-the-uk)


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Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/power-of-attorney. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.