As a hub for business and investment, Dubai attracts entrepreneurs, investors and families from around the world. Many base their assets or operations here while spending much of their time abroad. But handling transactions or managing affairs from overseas isn’t always practical. Whether it’s buying real estate, setting up a company or renewing a licence, many processes still need a legal presence on the ground.
A Power of Attorney (POA) solves this by letting someone you trust act on your behalf. It’s quick, secure and widely used for both business and personal matters. In 2023 alone, Dubai Courts processed more than 80,000 notarised POAs—clear proof of how central they’ve become to everyday transactions in the city.
This article breaks down how POAs work in Dubai, how to set one up locally or from abroad, and why they’re now a key part of doing business in the UAE.
What a POA does and doesn’t do
A Power of Attorney lets someone you trust step in and act for you when you can’t be there in person. That might be signing a property deal, renewing a trade licence, opening a bank account or handling company paperwork while you’re out of the country.
You can make it broad or narrow. A general POA covers day-to-day matters like managing a business or dealing with utilities. A specific POA is for one task only, like selling a particular property or representing you at a government department.
It’s a powerful document, but not without limits. It stops if you cancel it, lose legal capacity or pass away. And unless you’ve spelled it out, they can’t pass those powers on to someone else or use it to sell your home or change your will.
Why POAs are central to Dubai’s business model
In Dubai, POAs are built into how deals get done. Buyers use them to close property deals from abroad, especially off-plan or resale units where timing is key. Business owners use them to handle licence renewals, bank matters and sign-offs when they’re travelling or based overseas.
They’re also part of longer-term planning. Families use POAs to manage assets or companies in the UAE when decisions need to be made quickly. In DIFC, ADGM and offshore setups, they’re a core part of corporate governance. If someone needs to sign a resolution, attend a meeting or act on behalf of a shareholder, a POA is often the easiest and fastest way to make it happen.
Digitalisation and speed
What makes POAs so useful in Dubai today is how fast and flexible the system has become. You can now sign and notarise a POA remotely through Dubai Courts or DIFC, with video verification in place of an in-person appointment. In many cases, the whole process can be completed in a single day.
For overseas POAs, once the document is notarised and stamped by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and your local UAE embassy, it’s ready for use. This makes cross-border authorisation much simpler and avoids delays.
With these tools in place, buyers and business owners no longer have to wait on travel plans or couriered paperwork to move things forward. Deals can close, licences can renew and operations can carry on without disruption.
Common use cases
POAs are now used across nearly every part of life and business in Dubai. A common example is buying property from abroad. Many overseas buyers authorise a local representative to sign contracts, collect keys or complete registration at the Dubai Land Department.
They’re equally useful for company formation. Whether you're setting up from scratch or making structural changes, you can appoint someone to act for you during licensing, document signing or shareholder meetings.
They come into play for everyday matters too, like opening a bank account, completing visa or immigration procedures, or accepting handover of a finished property. These tasks often require someone to be physically present, which a POA makes easy to arrange.
For family offices and private investors, a POA can help manage assets on the ground, from collecting rent to handling school admissions or overseeing household staff. It’s a practical way to keep things running smoothly while based elsewhere.
Compliance and risk
A POA is only useful if it’s clear, current and properly scoped. Problems usually come up when the wording is too vague, the authority granted is too broad, or the document has expired without being updated. There’s also the risk of misuse, which can cause delays or financial loss if the agent acts beyond what was agreed.
This is why POAs should be tailored with care. A well-drafted document clearly sets out what the agent can and can’t do, avoids overlap with other agreements, and includes an expiry date where needed. Getting this right at the start avoids problems later, whether you’re closing a property deal, appointing a director or handing over responsibility for a bank transaction.
In more complex structures, especially those involving DIFC, ADGM or offshore entities, extra care is needed. POAs may fall under different legal frameworks, often based on English common law, and might need to be witnessed or notarised in a specific way. If a POA is meant to work across onshore and offshore entities, getting legal input early helps avoid mismatches between what’s legally valid and what’s workable in practice.
How can The Knightsbridge Group help?
The Knightsbridge Group has over a decade of experience supporting international clients with business setup, property transactions and legal structuring in the UAE. If you need help drafting a Power of Attorney, issuing one remotely or understanding how to use it effectively, we’ll guide you through every step.
Email us at info@kbgroup.ae to get started.
