A power of attorney lets a trusted representative sign at the trustee office on your behalf. For property it must be specific, legalised for use in the UAE and presented in Arabic.
- Type
- Special POA naming the property and permitted acts
- Language
- Arabic, or with certified legal translation
- Signed abroad
- Notarised, then legalised for UAE use
- Lead time
- Plan for several weeks when signed overseas
Special, not general
Legal commentary on the DLD's 2025 guidance states that a POA for a property transaction must be a special POA identifying the exact property and the acts the attorney may perform. General POAs are increasingly refused.
Signing outside the UAE
The document is notarised in the country of signing, then legalised so the UAE will recognise it — sources describe either an apostille or consular attestation through a UAE embassy, followed by attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Published guidance is inconsistent on when an apostille alone is accepted, so confirm the route for your country with your trustee office before signing.
Signing before a notary in Dubai, during a visit, removes the overseas chain entirely.
Translation
A POA in another language needs a certified Arabic translation by a UAE-licensed legal translator before it is used at the DLD.
Can I buy Dubai property without travelling?
Yes. With a correctly drafted and legalised special power of attorney, your representative can sign at the trustee office for you. See our remote-buying hub for the full sequence.
Does a Dubai property POA expire?
It remains valid until revoked or until any end date written into it, but trustee offices may question older documents. Keep wording specific and recent.