If you run a company in Dubai but travel often, have partners overseas, or cannot attend every signing in person, a Power of Attorney can save a great deal of time. It lets a trusted person act for you or your business on specific matters. Used well, it keeps deals moving. Used loosely, it creates real risk. This guide explains how a business Power of Attorney works in Dubai, what it can and cannot do, and how to set one up with sensible limits.
What a Business Power of Attorney Actually Is
A Power of Attorney, often shortened to POA, is a legal document where you, the principal, authorise someone else, the agent, to act on your behalf. In Dubai it can be general, covering a wide range of actions, or special and limited to a defined task such as signing a lease or opening a bank account. For business owners, a special POA is usually safer because it leaves less room for misunderstanding.
A business POA is not the same as being a manager or partner. It does not transfer ownership of shares, and it does not automatically make the agent liable for company debts. It simply grants authority to perform the acts written in the document, for as long as it remains valid and has not been revoked. If the task is not listed, the agent should not assume they can do it.
What an Agent Can Typically Do
With a clearly drafted POA, your agent may be able to handle everyday business steps while you are away. The exact wording matters, and banks and landlords will read it closely before accepting it.
- Signing a commercial lease and completing Ejari registration for an office or warehouse
- Opening, operating or closing a corporate bank account, depending on the bank’s wording requirements
- Signing contracts with suppliers or clients within a stated value limit
- Dealing with departments such as the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), a free zone authority, or utility providers for connections and renewals
- Appointing lawyers, accountants or PRO services for a specific matter
Even with a POA, some steps commonly require you personally. Many banks still ask the account signatory to attend at least once for identity checks, and some will only accept a POA that uses their preferred wording. Share transfers, major borrowing, and selling company assets usually need explicit, narrowly written authority and may still need shareholder resolutions.
How to Get a POA Notarised in Dubai
For most business uses, a POA needs to be notarised and, if it will be used with a government department, prepared in Arabic or as a bilingual Arabic-English document. Legal translation is typically required if your draft starts in English only.
The usual route is through the Dubai Courts Notary Public. Bring your Emirates ID and passport, your trade licence and Memorandum of Association if it is a company POA, and the agent’s ID details. The notary checks identities, confirms you understand the document, and attests your signature. Fees are typically modest for a standard document but vary with length and copies, so confirm the current fee with Dubai Courts before you attend. If you are outside the UAE, you would normally sign at a UAE embassy or consulate and then have the document attested for use in Dubai, which takes longer. Your legal adviser can confirm the exact attestation chain for your case.
Setting Limits That Protect You
The safest POA is a narrow one. Name the agent clearly, name the exact tasks, and add boundaries in writing. You can limit it by time, for example valid for six months, or by value, for example contracts up to a set amount only. You can exclude sensitive actions such as taking loans, giving personal guarantees, or changing company ownership.
A POA can usually be revoked by a notarised revocation document, and you should notify any bank, landlord or department that has relied on it so they stop accepting it. If an agent leaves your business, revoke promptly. Before you sign, have a Dubai lawyer review the draft for your structure — mainland LLC, sole establishment, or free zone entity — because the supporting resolutions differ.
A well-drafted Power of Attorney is a practical tool, not a shortcut around good governance. Keep it specific, time-limited, and notarised properly, and you will get the convenience without handing over more control than you intended.