Fees and steps checked on
USA power of attorney attestation makes a document you sign in America usable by your representative in the UAE. A US notary witnesses your signature, the Secretary of State of that state authenticates the notary, the US Department of State authenticates the state, and the UAE Embassy attests it digitally together with MOFA. Allow about 7 weeks.
Price: custom quote. Send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price plus VAT, all official fees included, before any work starts. The usual time is about 7 weeks. See attestation fees.
Individual or company power of attorney
This distinction drives the cost. MOFA charges more for a commercial document than for a personal one, and a power of attorney given by a corporation is commercial. Individuals typically use one to let a relative or lawyer handle a Dubai property sale, a bank matter or a court case. Corporations use one to appoint a signatory for a UAE branch, alongside the papers on USA company documents attestation.
USA power of attorney attestation step by step
- Agree the wording. The office in the UAE that will rely on it often has a preferred format. Check before signing.
- US notary. You sign in front of a notary public, who notarises your signature.
- Secretary of State. The state that commissioned the notary authenticates the notary's signature. For a company, corporate documents are first attested by that local Secretary of State.
- US Department of State. The Office of Authentications adds its certificate, on form DS-4194, in about 5 weeks by mail.
- UAE Embassy and MOFA. VFS Global has handled document attestation for the UAE Embassy in Washington since 21 August 2025. The embassy and MOFA attest the document together on the MOFA portal, usually in 2 to 3 working days.
- Arabic, if needed. A legal translation is added in the UAE when the receiving authority asks for one.
Signing in the US versus signing in the UAE
| Signed in the US | Signed in the UAE | |
|---|---|---|
| Who witnesses | US notary public | Dubai notary |
| Extra stages | Secretary of State, US Department of State, UAE Embassy with MOFA | none |
| Typical time | about 7 weeks | much shorter |
If you will be in the UAE, see power of attorney in Dubai first.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Notary from another state. The Secretary of State can only authenticate notaries it commissioned. Sign and authenticate in the same state.
- Several documents in one bundle. Bundled apostilles are refused; each power of attorney is handled separately.
- Passport details that do not match. The names and passport numbers in the text must match the passports of both the grantor and the attorney.
- Scope too broad or too narrow. UAE offices may refuse a power of attorney that does not clearly cover the act. Redoing it means another 6 weeks.
The full US chain is explained on USA certificate attestation, and the general rules for any power of attorney on power of attorney attestation.
