Limited Power of Attorney for Property in Dubai: What It Can Cover

What a limited power of attorney for property is

A limited power of attorney for property is a signed document where you, the principal, name an agent and give that agent power over one property for set purposes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, agency (power of attorney) is covered in Articles 866 to 903, and general and special agency are in Articles 869 to 871. You can read the law on the UAE legislation portal.

In practice, a limited power of attorney is a special power of attorney. Our page on special power of attorney in Dubai explains how that type works in general.

Acts you can name: rent, manage, buy or sell one property

Each act you want your agent to perform should appear in the document as its own line. Typical acts for one property are:

• Rent the property and sign the tenancy contract.
• Collect rent and pay service charges.
• Manage the property, including repairs and dealing with the tenant.
• Sell the property and sign the sale documents.
• Buy a named property and sign the purchase documents.

A limited power of attorney to sell property should say who the buyer may be, or at least that the agent may sign the transfer. A limited power of attorney for property management should say whether the agent may sign new leases or only collect rent. If an act is not written, the agent should not assume it is covered.

For the full picture of buying, selling and renting, see our page on power of attorney for property in Dubai.

Limited or general power of attorney for real estate

A general power of attorney gives wide powers. A limited power of attorney for real estate gives power over one property and a short list of acts. Offices usually prefer the limited form for a single deal, because they can see at once what the agent may do.

Choose the limited form when you know the property and the task. Ask us if you are unsure which fits your case.

How to word the powers for one property

Name the property as it appears on the title deed or tenancy contract: unit number, building, community and plot or title deed number. Then list each act in plain words. Add a term only if you want one, because there is no general legal validity period for a power of attorney. The term is whatever the document says.

Common mistakes that get a file turned away:

• The property is described by area only, with no unit or deed number.
• The act is vague, for example “deal with my property”.
• The agent’s name does not match the passport.
• A foreign power of attorney arrives without its attestation chain.

Using it with the land department, a developer or a bank

The receiving office reads your document for three things: the property, the act and the agent. If any of these is unclear, it may ask for a new document. Check with the office before you sign, and send us the office’s wording if it has one.

If you signed abroad, the document must be attested in the issuing country, including the UAE embassy there, then by MOFAIC. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. MOFAIC charges AED 150 for personal documents. Our guide on making a UAE power of attorney from abroad shows the steps.

If you later want to end the power, revocation is covered by Article 898, and the Dubai Land Department lists revocation of a power of attorney as a free service. Our page on cancelling a power of attorney in Dubai explains the steps.