Granting Power of Attorney in real estate has become a very common practice in real estate daily transactions at the Dubai Land Department and its Trustee Offices, especially with the great interest of investment in properties in Dubai by expatriates or clients whom are overseas and have limited time to attend their transaction in Dubai. The practice of POA has eased the process for the clients who are seeking to finalize their real estate transactions.

In this article we will discuss the requirements by the Dubai Land Department that governs the practice of POA in the real estate transactions in Dubai.

• General power of attorney: This kind of POA in UAE authorizes the individual to act on the behalf of the principal to deal with real estate purchases. This kind of POA gives broad powers to an attorney and also enables her to do all the duties which are not limited until the date mentioned in the POA.
• Special power of attorney: This POA only gives specific powers to the attorney and only can act for special situations. This is mostly used for the transaction which is limited and can be completed quickly.

• For a POA to be valid it has to be prepared in Arabic or English with a legal translation into Arabic and to be notarized by Notary Public in the UAE.
• When a POA is entered in some other country then it should be authenticated in the UAE embassy and then it should be attested in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Validity of the POA that is issued by Dubai Notary Public is unlimited duration whether for Buying or Selling of properties, unless cancelled by the principle/the client.
• You can check the validity of all POA issued by Dubai Notary Public/Dubai Courts through Dubai Courts website: https://www.dc.gov.ae/PublicServices/NotaryDocuments.aspx?lang=ar
• Validity of the POA that is issued outside Dubai jurisdiction for Selling is two years duration.
• Validity of the POA that is issued outside Dubai jurisdiction for Buying is five years duration.