POAs Involving Minors and Interdicted Persons

Minors and persons under legal interdiction cannot personally execute property transactions in Dubai. Property dispositions involving them must be carried out by a guardian, trustee or curator acting under appropriate authority. DLD’s current POA guidance addresses the approvals required by category, which is determined by the principal’s nationality and emirate rather than by the agent; confirm the specific approvals with DLD for the case.

Emirati Minors from Dubai

Where the minor is an Emirati resident in Dubai, written approval from the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (Dubai) is mandatory. The Foundation’s approval document must be presented at the registration alongside the POA or guardian’s signature.

Emirati Minors from Other Emirates

Where the minor is an Emirati from an emirate other than Dubai, a court order from the relevant judicial authority authorising the guardian or trustee is required. The order must specifically address the disposition contemplated.

Non-National Minors

Where the minor is a non-national, a local judicial order is required. The order is issued by the Dubai courts or, where appropriate, by the courts of the minor’s country of nationality with subsequent recognition.

Companies Acting as Guardian or Trustee

Where a company acts as guardian or trustee, the same rules apply by category of the underlying minor or interdicted person. Foreign companies generally require no additional approvals beyond their constitutional documents — the certificate of incorporation, the documents recording authority of the signatory, and any local trust order under which the company acts. Constitutional documents must themselves be authenticated through the standard chain where issued outside the UAE.

The Transferee Position

Where the minor is the transferee of the property — that is, the recipient under a purchase or gift — the signature of the guardian, trustee, or curator is sufficient under the Circular. Additional approvals may apply depending on the disposition type and any applicable court order, but the position is materially lighter than where the minor is the transferor.

Documentation

The relevant approval or court order must be presented at the Dubai Land Department alongside the POA. The document is verified by the Registrar at the same time as the POA itself. Absent the approval, the transaction will not be registered, regardless of the quality of the POA.

For execution support, see poas.ae.