A Power of Attorney in Dubai is not accepted merely because a document has been drafted and signed. The wording, identity documents, authority of the person signing, supporting documents and the requirements of the institution where the POA will be used can all affect whether it is accepted.
It is also important to distinguish between a POA that is returned or rejected during notarisation and a POA that is successfully notarised but later not accepted by the receiving authority. These are different situations and often require different corrections.
Common reasons a Power of Attorney may be rejected or returned for amendment
1. Names or personal details do not match
Differences between the POA draft and the passport or Emirates ID can cause problems. Even small spelling differences, incomplete names, incorrect passport numbers or inconsistent nationality details may require correction.
2. Identification documents are expired or unclear
Expired identification, unreadable scans, missing pages or incomplete copies can prevent the reviewer from verifying the parties correctly.
3. The required supporting documents are missing
The POA may relate to a property, vehicle, company, bank account or another specific asset or transaction. Supporting evidence may be required to confirm the transaction details or the principal's legal authority.
4. Corporate signing authority is not proven
When a company grants a POA, the person signing for the company must have sufficient authority under the company's constitutional and corporate documents. A trade licence alone may not always prove the required signing or delegation powers.
5. The company documents do not give the signer the required powers
The memorandum, articles, board resolution or other corporate documents may restrict the manager's powers or require additional approval for specific transactions.
6. The wording is too broad, vague or incomplete
A general statement authorising someone to “act on my behalf” may not be enough for a transaction that requires a specific power. Authorities often need the relevant action to be clearly stated in the POA.
7. A required specific power is missing
For example, authority to sell an asset does not necessarily mean authority to receive the sale proceeds, mortgage the asset, cancel a mortgage, sign a particular application or appoint another person. The intended powers should be stated deliberately.
8. Foreign documents have not completed the required attestation process
Documents issued outside the UAE may require the prescribed legalisation or attestation process before they can be relied upon in the UAE. The exact route depends on the document and where it was issued.
9. Arabic legal translation is missing or inaccurate
Foreign-language documents may require a certified Arabic legal translation. Inconsistencies between the original document and translation can also create delays or requests for correction.
10. Asset or transaction details are incorrect
Property numbers, vehicle chassis numbers, company names, licence numbers or other transaction-specific information should match the supporting records.
11. The receiving institution requires a more specific POA
A bank, Dubai Land Department, RTA, company registrar or another institution may have transaction-specific requirements. A notarised general POA is therefore not automatically suitable for every purpose.
12. Required corporate resolutions or approvals are missing
Certain corporate transactions may require a board resolution, shareholders' approval or another supporting corporate document before the POA can be used.
13. The document contains conflicting information
Contradictory clauses, inconsistent asset details or powers that conflict with one another can make the intended authority unclear.
Notary rejection vs rejection by the receiving authority
| Stage | Who reviews it | Common issue | Typical correction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before notarisation | Notary / document reviewer | Identity, authority, wording or supporting-document issue | Correct the draft or provide additional documents |
| After notarisation | Bank, DLD, RTA or other receiving institution | The POA does not contain the specific authority required for that transaction | Check the receiving authority's requirement and amend or reissue the POA if necessary |
| Foreign-document stage | Relevant UAE authority or receiving institution | Attestation or Arabic translation is incomplete | Complete the required attestation and certified translation |
| Corporate transaction | Notary or receiving authority | Signatory or delegation authority is not sufficiently proven | Provide the appropriate company documents or corporate approval |
How to reduce the risk of rejection
Examples of transaction-specific issues
Property Power of Attorney
A property POA should reflect the actual transaction. Powers for purchasing, selling, signing transfer documents, dealing with the Dubai Land Department, receiving funds or mortgaging property should not be assumed to be interchangeable.
Vehicle Power of Attorney
For a vehicle transaction, the POA should contain the powers needed for the intended RTA transaction. Selling, transferring ownership, exporting, receiving sale proceeds and dealing with a mortgage are distinct powers and should be included only where required.
Banking Power of Attorney
Banks apply their own compliance and operational requirements. A notarised POA does not oblige every bank to permit every type of account operation. The required banking powers should therefore be checked with the relevant bank before drafting.
Corporate Power of Attorney
A company POA can fail if the person signing it cannot demonstrate sufficient authority under the company's constitutional documents or required corporate resolutions.
What should you do if your POA has already been rejected?
- Ask which specific clause, document or authority requirement caused the issue.
- Determine whether the problem is drafting, identity information, corporate authority, translation, attestation or the receiving institution's own requirements.
- Correct the supporting documents where possible.
- Amend or reissue the POA if the required authority is missing or incorrectly drafted.
- Have the revised document reviewed before resubmission.