Fees and steps checked on
Power of attorney attestation is the chain of stamps that makes a power of attorney (POA) signed in one country legally valid in another. A POA signed abroad for use in Dubai is notarised there, legalised by that country's foreign ministry, attested by the UAE embassy, and finally by MOFA attestation. A POA made in Dubai for use abroad goes from the notary to MOFA, then usually to the destination country's embassy.
Price: a UK power of attorney or board resolution is from AED 5,200 plus VAT, all official fees and courier included, in about 24 working days. POAs from other countries, and Dubai POAs for use abroad, are quoted: send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees.
Looking ahead: see Commercial attestation cost 2027.
Who needs power of attorney attestation
- Selling or buying property in Dubai while you live abroad, through an agent who signs for you.
- Selling or transferring a car registered in the UAE when you have left.
- Court cases, rental disputes and bank matters handled by a lawyer or relative in the UAE.
- Company matters, where a director signs a POA or board resolution for a manager in the UAE. See company documents attestation.
- Estate matters after a death, together with death certificate attestation.
Step by step: a POA signed abroad for use in the UAE
- Draft the POA, ideally in Arabic and English side by side, with the agent's full name and passport details and the exact powers. A special POA for one task is usually easier for UAE authorities to accept than a general POA.
- Sign before a notary in the country where you are. In the UK, a POA must be certified by a UK notary or solicitor before the FCDO will legalise it.
- Foreign ministry legalisation: FCDO in the UK, or in the USA usually the Secretary of State of the notary's state and then the US Department of State.
- UAE embassy and MOFA. For the UK and the USA, the embassy and MOFA stamps are added together on MOFA's digital route, usually in 2 to 3 working days for that stage. For countries on the paper route, MOFA adds the final stamp in the UAE.
- Translation, if the POA is only in English and the receiving authority wants Arabic: a legal translation by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice.
| Country | Usual time | Our total price |
|---|---|---|
| UK POA attestation | about 24 working days | from AED 5,200 plus VAT |
| USA POA attestation | about 7 weeks | quoted after you share a copy |
| Canada | 4 to 6 weeks | quoted after you share a copy |
| Other countries, see attestation by country | depends on the country | quoted after you share a copy |
A POA made in Dubai for use abroad
- Notary in Dubai. The government notary attests a general or special POA. Private notaries, licensed since 2 January 2026, can also do this. See notary public in Dubai and power of attorney in Dubai.
- MOFA attestation of the notary's stamp, online or by courier.
- Destination embassy in the UAE, if the country where the POA will be used asks for it. See UAE embassy attestation.
Remote notarisation by video exists for some documents. Ask us if your POA can use it before you book anything.
Documents you need
- The POA text, or the details of what your agent must be able to do
- Your passport copy and the agent's passport copy
- For a property or car: the title deed or vehicle registration details
- For a company POA: the board resolution and company documents
If someone only needs to hand over or collect your papers, a POA may be more than you need: see authorization letter for attestation.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Apostille only. Not accepted in the UAE: the embassy and MOFA stamps are still needed.
- Powers too vague. A land office or bank may refuse a POA that does not name the property, vehicle or account.
- Names differing from passports. Spell every name exactly as in the passport.
- English only where the authority works in Arabic. Plan the translation before signing.
See why attestation gets rejected. Once attested, the MOFA stamp can be checked at verify.mofa.gov.ae with its reference number and issue date.
