# How to Make a UAE Power of Attorney From Abroad > Living outside the UAE? What a power of attorney signed abroad needs before it works in the UAE: notary, legalisation, translation. We prepare it. Source: https://notaryservicesdubai.com/how-to-notarize-a-uae-power-of-attorney-poa-from-abroad/ Last updated: 29 September 2026 Publisher: Notary Services Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai (+971 54 380 1094) If you are abroad and need a power of attorney that UAE authorities and banks will accept, the document has to be signed in front of a notary where you are, then legalised through a chain of authentications before it can be used here. From abroad, our online notary public services can cover some documents, and when you are in the UAE our in-house notary public notarises it at our Business Bay office or on a home visit. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone will not work, no matter how it was obtained in your home country. 8 minute read This guide covers the route for signing a power of attorney outside the UAE and getting it accepted here, and sits under our main guide to [power of attorney in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/). If you are already in the UAE and want to revoke a power of attorney instead, see [cancelling a power of attorney in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/cancel-power-of-attorney-in-dubai/). Quick answer ## At a glance - The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Source: HCCH status table. - A document signed abroad for UAE use is typically attested by the issuing country's foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy or consulate there, then MOFAIC in the UAE. Source: MOFAIC. - MOFAIC's published attestation fee is AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents. - Notarial acts may also be performed remotely using IT tools under UAE federal law, without requiring the person to appear in person. - Documents notarised in the UAE are in Arabic; a foreign-language power of attorney needs an Arabic translation by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. ## Two routes: sign abroad and legalise, or sign remotely There are two practical paths for someone outside the UAE. **Sign in front of a local notary where you are, then legalise the document** through the chain described below. This works regardless of where you are in the world. **Sign remotely through a UAE notarial channel.** UAE federal law allows notarial transactions using IT tools, without the parties appearing in person, and the Ministry of Justice operates the E-Notary System for this. Our online notary public services also cover some documents signed from abroad; we can tell you which route applies once we know your situation. ## Signing abroad, step by step 1. **Sign before a local notary** in the country where you are. The document should state clearly what the agent is authorised to do; a power of attorney in general terms only grants the agent authority to manage, not to sell, mortgage, or carry out other acts beyond ordinary management, under UAE law. 2. **Get it authenticated by your own country's foreign ministry** , the body responsible for authenticating documents before they go to a foreign embassy. 3. **Take it to the UAE embassy or consulate** in that country for their attestation. 4. **Have it attested by MOFAIC once it reaches the UAE.** MOFAIC's Attestation of Official Documents and Certificates service certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals on documents issued outside the UAE. The original document must be in Arabic or English, or accompanied by a legally certified translation, and must not be laminated. Each country's foreign ministry and UAE mission has its own process and turnaround. We coordinate the UAE end, including the MOFAIC attestation once your document arrives. ## Why an apostille alone does not work An apostille is a certification recognised between countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE is not a party, so a UAE authority is not obliged to accept an apostille from your home country's authority for your power of attorney. The legalisation chain above, ending in MOFAIC attestation, is the route that applies instead. Be cautious of any offer to "apostille" a document for UAE use. ## Legal translation into Arabic Notarised instruments in the UAE are in Arabic. If your power of attorney is drafted in another language, it needs a translation into Arabic by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice before the authority you are dealing with, such as Dubai Land Department, RTA, or a bank, will act on it. We arrange this translation as part of preparing your document. ## What the power of attorney should say Be specific about what you are authorising. A power of attorney written only in general terms gives the agent authority for acts of management, and nothing more, under UAE law. If you need your agent to sell property, sell a vehicle, represent you in court, or sign for a company, the document needs to say so as a special power of attorney naming that act. Vague wording is one of the most common reasons a power of attorney gets challenged or rejected later. ## Common uses from abroad People outside the UAE most often need a power of attorney for: - **Selling a car** they own in the UAE while they are not present. See [vehicle power of attorney in the UAE](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/vehicle-power-of-attorney-uae/). - **Selling or buying property** in the UAE. See [power of attorney for property in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-property-in-dubai/). - **Court cases** , where an agent represents them in ongoing proceedings. - **Company matters** , such as signing authority or corporate decisions while the owner or director is travelling. Each of these needs its own specific wording rather than a general power of attorney; see [special power of attorney in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/special-power-of-attorney-dubai/) for how a targeted document is drafted. ## Documents checklist - Valid passport. - Emirates ID, if you hold UAE residency. - Full name and passport or Emirates ID details of your agent. - A clear description of what you want the agent authorised to do. - Any supporting document tied to the transaction, such as a vehicle registration card or title deed reference. Fees ## Fees and timings MOFAIC publishes its attestation fee as AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents, plus separate courier charges if the document needs to be sent back to you. Fees charged by the notary in your own country, and by your home country's foreign ministry, are set by those bodies, not by us. ## How we help There are three ways to get it notarised with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, through our online notary public services, or on a home visit. From abroad, the online option or the legalisation route above applies. We draft your power of attorney with the specific wording your transaction needs, arrange the legal translation into Arabic, and coordinate the MOFAIC attestation once your document reaches the UAE. We guide you through which step happens in your country and which happens here, so you are not sending documents to the wrong office. If a remote notarial channel is the right fit for your situation, we will tell you plainly rather than promising it applies when it does not. Call or WhatsApp us on +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and tell us where you are and what the power of attorney needs to cover. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### What do I need to make a UAE power of attorney from abroad? A passport, your agent's identification details, a clear description of what you are authorising, and access to a local notary where you are. From there the document goes through legalisation before it can be used in the UAE. ### Can I do a UAE power of attorney online from outside the country? UAE federal law allows notarial transactions using IT tools without personal appearance, and the Ministry of Justice runs the E-Notary System for this. Our online notary public services also cover some documents; tell us your situation and we will confirm which route applies. ### Where can I get a power of attorney signed abroad for use in the UAE? You sign it before a local notary in your own country, then it goes through your country's foreign ministry, the UAE embassy or consulate there, and finally MOFAIC attestation once it reaches the UAE. ### Does a power of attorney signed abroad need attestation in the UAE? Yes. MOFAIC attests documents issued outside the UAE as part of the legalisation chain, after your document has already been through your home country's foreign ministry and the UAE embassy or consulate there. ### Why is an apostille not enough for a document used in the UAE? Because the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. The document needs the full legalisation chain ending in MOFAIC attestation instead. ### Do I need a power of attorney to sell my car in the UAE while I am abroad? If you cannot be present to complete the sale yourself, yes, a power of attorney authorising your agent to sell the specific vehicle is the usual route. See our [vehicle power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/vehicle-power-of-attorney-uae/) guide for what the document needs to say. ### Does the power of attorney need an Arabic translation? Notarised instruments in the UAE are in Arabic, so a power of attorney drafted in another language generally needs an Arabic translation by a legal translator registered with the Ministry of Justice before UAE authorities will act on it. ### How much does it cost to arrange a UAE power of attorney from abroad? MOFAIC's own attestation fee is published as AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents. Contact us with your country and document type and we will give you a clear breakdown. More answers, grouped by topic, are on our [questions and answers page](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/faq/). Keep reading ## Related guides and services Services ### [Power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) How a power of attorney works in Dubai: general or special, what to prepare, notarisation in person or online, and cost, in one guide. Read more Power of attorney ### [Special power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/special-power-of-attorney-dubai/) A special power of attorney lets someone do one named task for you. What it covers in Dubai, what to prepare, and how notarisation works. Read more Power of attorney ### [Company power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/company-power-of-attorney/) Give a manager, PRO or partner authority to act for your company. What a company power of attorney covers and how we handle notarisation in Dubai. Read more More in power of attorney - [Property power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-property-in-dubai/) - [Vehicle power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/vehicle-power-of-attorney-uae/) - [Court case power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-court-case/) - [Inheritance power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-inheritance/) - [Share transfer power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-share-transfer/) - [Cancel a power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/cancel-power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) - [Power of attorney attestation](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/poa-attestation-in-dubai/) - [Certified true copies](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/certified-true-copy-attestation-in-dubai/) - [Documents attestation](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/documents-attestation-in-dubai/) Reviews ## What clients say Read what people we have helped say about us on our Google profile, or read [about Notary Services Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/about-notary-services-in-dubai/). About this page Prepared by the Notary Services Dubai team in Business Bay, Dubai. Last reviewed . ### Official sources we checked (4) - HCCH, status table, Apostille Convention: [https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) - MOFAIC, Attestation of Official Documents and Certificates: [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation) - Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, Civil Transactions Law, Articles 869 to 871: [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011) - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the Regulation of the Notary Profession: [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) Get started ## Talk to us about your document Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and tell us what document you have and where it needs to be used. We are at Empire Heights Tower B, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai.