Power of Attorney for Property Transactions in Dubai

A property Power of Attorney is a notarised legal document by which a principal authorises an agent to act on their behalf in a real estate disposition before the Dubai Land Department. The instrument is used in sale, purchase, gift, mortgage, usufruct, and musataha transactions, and is governed by a layered framework of federal civil law, the federal notary regime, and a Dubai-specific regulation issued by the DLD.

This site sets out how property POAs are constructed, notarised, accepted, and revoked in Dubai. It is a reference resource and not a substitute for legal advice.

The Operative Framework

Three legal layers apply to any property POA used in Dubai.

The first is the UAE Civil Code — Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2020. Articles 924 to 961 govern agency. They define the contract, set capacity requirements, distinguish general from special agency, and set the rules for termination.

The second is the federal notary regime — Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, implemented by Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2024. The framework recognises both Public and Private Notaries and gives legal effect to electronic notarisation. Dubai Resolution No. 137 of 2022 authorises digital notarisation procedures within the Emirate.

The third is Dubai Land Department Circular No. 29/R/2025, issued 16 July 2025. The Circular is the operative regulation governing the acceptance and verification of POAs in real estate dispositions in Dubai. It applies to sale, purchase, gift, mortgage, usufruct, and musataha. The Circular sits over the federal layers and dictates what the DLD will accept at the registration counter.

The Three Tests for Acceptance

A property POA is accepted by the DLD when three conditions are satisfied.

Wording. The POA must expressly authorise the specific transaction using the terminology set out in the Circular. Generic phrases such as “full authority to manage property” are insufficient and are rejected.

Verification. The POA must be verifiable through the issuing authority’s official electronic platform — the Dubai Courts portal, the Abu Dhabi Courts portal, or the Ministry of Justice eNotary search. QR codes are not an accepted verification method under the Circular.

Validity and authentication. The POA must be within its validity period. For foreign-issued POAs, the authentication chain — notarisation in the country of issuance, legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate, attestation by MOFAIC — must be complete, and an original physical document must be presented.

General vs Special POA for Property

The DLD has historically preferred Special POAs that name the specific property and the specific transaction. The Circular reinforces this preference by requiring transaction-specific wording. A General POA may be acceptable only where it expressly authorises the named transaction type using the Circular’s terminology and references the relevant property — at which point a Special POA is the cleaner instrument.

Foreign-Issued POAs

A POA executed outside the UAE may be used for a Dubai property transaction subject to validity periods and the authentication chain. A foreign POA used for a sale transaction is valid for two years from the date of issue. A foreign POA used for a purchase transaction is valid for five years from the date of issue. A POA notarised through the Dubai Courts Notary Public has indefinite duration unless the principal specifies an expiry date or revokes the document.

Sale Proceeds

The Circular prescribes specific rules for the routing of sale proceeds where the seller is represented by an agent. Acceptable methods include a manager’s cheque in the seller’s name, a cheque in the agent’s name supported by a receipt explicitly stating the funds are received on behalf of the seller, or a notarised acknowledgement from the owner.

Revocation

The principal may revoke a property POA at any time under Article 955 of the Civil Code, subject to vested rights and notice requirements. For a property POA registered with the DLD, revocation is a two step process: revocation through the issuing notary, followed by filing with the DLD to remove the POA from the property record.

Execution

For drafting, notarisation, and lodging support, see poas.ae.
For the broader property transaction context, see conveyance.ae.