Official References

This page is a reference index. The site does not reproduce statutory or Circular text in full. Canonical text is held by the issuing authority. Readers should verify current requirements directly with the Dubai Land Department or a licensed legal advisor before reliance.

Primary Federal Legislation

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 — UAE Civil Transactions Law, in force from 1 June 2026. Substantive law of agency at Articles 866 to 903.

Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 (as amended, including by Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2020) — the former Civil Transactions Law, repealed from 1 June 2026; still governs Powers of Attorney issued before that date.

Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 — Regulating the Profession of Notary Public. Recognises Public and Private Notaries; gives legal effect to electronic notarisation.

Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2024 — Executive Regulations implementing Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022.

Local Legislation (Dubai)

Dubai Resolution No. 137 of 2022 — authorises digital notarisation procedures in Dubai.

DLD Circular No. 29/R/2025 — Dubai Land Department guidance on the acceptance and verification of POAs in real estate dispositions in Dubai; confirm current requirements with DLD.

Verification Portals

Dubai Courts — Verification of POAs notarised through Dubai Courts.

Abu Dhabi Courts — Verification of POAs notarised through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

Ministry of Justice — Verification of POAs notarised through Ministry of Justice channels and other UAE judicial authorities.

Authorities

DubaiLand Department — operating authority for the property register and the registration
UAE Ministry of Justice — federal notarisation channel and eNotary
Dubai Courts Notary Public — notarisation channel within the Dubai courts
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) — attests foreign-issued documents brought into the UAE.
Awqafand Minors Affairs Foundation (Dubai) — issues approvals for property transactions involving Emirati minors resident in Dubai.

Key Civil Transactions Law Articles Referenced

Article 866 — defines agency as a contract between the principal and the agent whereby the agent undertakes to perform a legal act in the name and on behalf of the principal.
Article 868 — conditions of validity: the principal must have the right to dispose of the matter, the agent must be competent to carry it out, and the subject must be known and capable of being performed by proxy.
Articles 869–871 — general and special agency: an agency in general terms authorises only acts of administration; a sale, gift, pledge or settlement requires a special agency naming the type of act.
Article 897 — the agency ends on completion of the work, expiry of its period, or the death or loss of legal capacity of the principal or the agent.
Article 898 — the principal may dismiss or restrict the agent whenever he wishes, unless a third party’s right is attached to the agency or it was issued for the agent’s benefit.
Article 144 — where the agent and the person he contracts with are both unaware that the agency has expired, the contract’s effects accrue to the principal — the reason notification matters.
Pre-1 June 2026 documents: the corresponding provisions of the repealed 1985 law were Articles 924, 925, 927–929, 954 and 955.

Notes on Use

This index is provided for orientation. The site does not reproduce the full text of any of the instruments listed above. Canonical text is held by the issuing authority and prevails over any summary provided here. Procedural requirements should be confirmed with the Dubai Land Department or a licensed legal advisor before reliance on the content of this site.