

An Overview of Power of Attorney
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document giving one person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the power to act for another person (the principal).
The agent can have broad legal authority or limited authority to make legal decisions about the principal’s property, finances or medical care or as it depends on the power given by the principal to the agent. Stated differently, it is a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.
The person who creates a power of attorney, known as the principal, can only do so when he/she has the requisite mental capacity. If the principal loses the capacity to grant permission after the power of attorney has been created, then the power will probably no longer be effective. In some powers of attorney, the grantor states that he/she wishes the document to remain in effect even after he/she becomes incapacitated. This type of power is commonly referred to as a durable power of attorney.
For a power of attorney to become a legally enforceable document, at a minimum it must be signed and dated by the principal. Some jurisdictions also require that a power of attorney be witnessed, notarized, or both. In the United Arab Emirates, the POA in order to be legally binding and enforceable, the same should be properly notarized before the Public Notary Public.
There are two types of powers of attorney typically used by individuals in the UAE:
- General power of attorney
- Special power of attorney.
A general power of attorney in the UAE authorizes an agent to act on behalf of the principal in a variety of situations. The powers granted in this type of power of attorney are very broad. A general power of attorney is usually used to allow the agent to handle all the affairs of the principal during a period when the principal unable to do so. While a special power of attorney authorizes an agent to act on the principal’s behalf in specific situations only.

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document giving one person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the power to act for another person (the principal).
The agent can have broad legal authority or limited authority to make legal decisions about the principal’s property, finances or medical care or as it depends on the power given by the principal to the agent. Stated differently, it is a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.
The person who creates a power of attorney, known as the principal, can only do so when he/she has the requisite mental capacity. If the principal loses the capacity to grant permission after the power of attorney has been created, then the power will probably no longer be effective. In some powers of attorney, the grantor states that he/she wishes the document to remain in effect even after he/she becomes incapacitated. This type of power is commonly referred to as a durable power of attorney.
For a power of attorney to become a legally enforceable document, at a minimum it must be signed and dated by the principal. Some jurisdictions also require that a power of attorney be witnessed, notarized, or both. In the United Arab Emirates, the POA in order to be legally binding and enforceable, the same should be properly notarized before the Public Notary Public.
There are two (2) types of powers of attorney typically used by individuals in the UAE: (1) General power of attorney and (2) Special power of attorney. A general power of attorney in the UAE authorizes an agent to act on behalf of the principal in a variety of situations. The powers granted in this type of power of attorney are very broad. A general power of attorney is usually used to allow the agent to handle all the affairs of the principal during a period when the principal unable to do so. While a special power of attorney authorizes an agent to act on the principal’s behalf in specific situations only.