General POA vs. Special POA in UAE — What Is the Difference? | E-Notary Dubai

Understand the key differences between a General Power of Attorney and a Special (Limited) POA in UAE law — and which one you actually need.

3 February 2025· Updated Jan 2026

What Is a General POA?

A General Power of Attorney (وكالة عامة) grants broad authority to the agent to act on the principal\'s behalf across a wide range of matters — financial, legal, administrative, and personal. It does not specify one single transaction. Because of this broad scope, UAE courts and many authorities treat it with caution, and some institutions will not accept it for specific high-value transactions like property transfers.

→UAE Banks: Prefer Special POAs for specific account or transaction authority
→Dubai Courts: Accept both, but a well-defined POA reduces disputes

What Is a Special (Limited) POA?

A Special Power of Attorney (وكالة خاصة) limits the agent\'s authority to a specific transaction or a clearly defined scope. Examples: \"to sell the property at \address\ at Dubai Land Department only\" or \"to sign the employment contract with \company\ only.\" Special POAs are stronger for specific purposes because there is no ambiguity about what is authorized.

→MOHRE: Accepts both for employment transactions

Which Do Authorities in Dubai Prefer?

Yes — and this is the main risk. Because a General POA grants broad authority, it can be misused by an untrustworthy agent. UAE law provides recourse, but prevention is better. Always grant a General POA only to someone you completely trust, and consider adding specific limitations or an expiry date.

→Vehicle registration: Special POA preferred

Frequently Asked Questions

A General POA is appropriate when: you are relocating abroad for an extended period and need someone to manage all your UAE affairs; you have multiple ongoing tasks across different authorities (DLD, banks, RTA, government offices) that would each require a separate Special POA; or you fully trust the agent with broad authority over your affairs. A Special POA is always safer when the task is specific and limited in scope.

Yes — this is the primary risk of a General POA. Because it grants broad authority, an agent acting under a General POA could technically conduct unauthorized transactions in your name. This is why a General POA should only be granted to a person you fully trust. To limit risk: use a Special POA for high-value transactions (property sales, major bank transfers); specify excluded actions in the POA text; set a specific validity period rather than leaving it open-ended; and revoke the POA immediately when the purpose is fulfilled.