A corporate Power of Attorney involves a legal entity, so the review focuses on two issues: proving the company’s legal identity and proving that the person signing the POA has authority to represent the company and grant the requested powers.
Dubai Courts’ current POA notarisation service requires identity documents, documents proving the legal representative’s capacity and authority where applicable, and relevant contracts or supporting documents when establishment-related special powers are selected. The final document set therefore varies with the company structure and the powers requested.
Documents commonly required
1. Valid trade licence
Used to confirm the company’s legal and trade name, licence number, licensing authority, legal form and current status.
2. Memorandum / Articles and amendments
These documents are reviewed to identify managers or authorised signatories, how the company is represented, limits on authority, and whether there is an express power to appoint attorneys or delegate. Relevant amendments should also be included.
3. ID or passport of the company signatory
A clear, valid identification document is required for the person who will execute the POA on behalf of the company. Remote notary transactions are also subject to UAE identity and electronic-verification requirements.
4. Evidence of the signatory’s authority
If the authority is not sufficiently clear from the licence and constitutional documents, a shareholders’ resolution, board resolution, incumbency certificate, existing authority document or similar evidence may be required.
5. Shareholders’ or board resolution where needed
Some powers may sit outside a manager’s direct authority, or the company’s own constitutional documents may require approval. The resolution should identify the authorised person and the approved scope.
6. Agent’s identification
The attorney/agent’s Emirates ID or passport details are generally needed to identify the person receiving the authority.
7. Transaction-specific supporting documents
Depending on the POA, the notary or receiving authority may require property documents, vehicle details, bank information, subsidiary-company records, contracts, transaction documents or regulatory approvals.
Is the trade licence alone enough?
Not always
The licence proves that the company is registered and licensed, but it may not contain the full text of the manager’s authority. For material powers such as sale, purchase, mortgage, banking or further delegation, the constitutional documents and relevant resolutions should be checked.
Who can sign a corporate POA?
Manager or authorised signatory
Usually where the company documents expressly allow that person to represent the company, perform the relevant act and appoint or delegate to another person where required.
Shareholders or board
Where the power is reserved to shareholders or the board, the approval mechanism in the company documents must be followed.
Existing attorney
If the signer acts under an earlier POA, that document must permit sub-delegation and cover the authority now being granted.
What about free-zone companies?
Additional records may be required
Depending on the free zone and company structure, the file may also include an incumbency certificate, shareholder register, certificate of incorporation, board/shareholder resolution or a document issued by the free-zone authority.
What if the company is incorporated abroad?
Legalisation and Arabic translation
Foreign documents used to prove the company’s status or its representative’s authority may need to be duly legalised/attested and then legally translated into Arabic. Dubai Courts states that foreign documents used in notary services must complete the applicable attestation process and be legally translated into Arabic when issued in another language.
Foreign company records
Depending on the case, these may include the certificate of incorporation or registry extract, constitutional documents, director/signatory certificate and a corporate resolution approving the POA. The documents should be reviewed together to establish an unbroken chain of authority.
Additional documents by POA type
Corporate banking POA
The bank and requested powers may need to be identified, together with a review of the constitutional documents, corporate approvals and the bank’s own requirements.
Property POA
Property details or title documents may be relevant, together with clear corporate authority for the real-estate act and delegation.
Vehicle POA
Vehicle records may be needed, with express powers for sale, transfer, registration or other intended acts.
Court or government-authority POA
The receiving authority and intended procedures should be identified because specific requirements may apply beyond a general POA.
Pre-submission checklist
- Valid and legible trade licence.
- Memorandum / Articles and all amendments affecting management or authority.
- Valid Emirates ID or passport of the company signatory.
- Evidence of office and authority if not clear from the core documents.
- Shareholders’ or board resolution where required.
- Agent’s Emirates ID or passport.
- Documents related to the purpose of the POA.
- Required attestations and legal Arabic translations for foreign documents, where applicable.