Insights · AXD Real Estate Dubai
PoA Dubai Real Estate — Power of Attorney DACH
Do I need a power of attorney (POA) for a Dubai real estate purchase?
Only without personal travel. If the buyer appears in person at the DLD Trustee Office, a passport is sufficient. For a remote closing, a Special Power of Attorney is required: notarized in Germany, with apostille (UAE has been a Hague member since 2025), certified translation into Arabic, and attested at the Dubai Notary. The DLD does not accept general powers of attorney — the power of attorney must name the specific property.
The four-step legalization path since 2025
| Step | Authority | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notary in Germany | Notarial certification of the Special POA |
| 2 | Regional Court / Higher Regional Court / Ministry of Justice | Hague apostille (replaces UAE embassy legalization since 2025) |
| 3 | UAE-certified translator | Certified translation DE/EN → AR |
| 4 | Dubai Notary Public | Attestation — only then is the POA DLD-compliant |
Mandatory contents of the power of attorney
- Principal: full name, passport number, date of birth, nationality, address
- Agent: full name, passport number, Emirates ID number, address
- Property identification: DLD Property ID, project name, unit number, developer
- Scope: SPA signing, payment processing, NOC application, DLD transfer, Title Deed receipt, Ejari registration
- Validity period: max. 24 months, customary corridor 12 months
- Sub-delegation: expressly permitted or excluded — standard: excluded
Cost framework (empirical values 2026)
- Notarial certification Germany: approx. 60–150 EUR
- Apostille Regional Court / Higher Regional Court: 20–25 EUR
- Certified translation DE → AR: 150–250 EUR (per page)
- Dubai Notary Public: AED 200–500 (≈ 50–120 EUR)
- Total costs typically: 350–600 EUR
When does the DLD reject a power of attorney?
- General power of attorney without reference to the specific property
- Apostille missing or more than 6 months older than the notary stamp
- Translation not by a UAE-certified translator
- Power of attorney older than 24 months
- Contradictions between the German and Arabic versions
Sources
- UAE Federal Law No. 22 of 1991 — Notary Public Law
- Hague Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961 — UAE accession 2025
- Dubai Land Department — POA Acceptance Guidelines (dubailand.gov.ae)
- Dubai Courts — Notary Public Services
Note: Power of attorney questions are case-by-case law. For the legally secure drafting of the power of attorney (in particular for off-plan with interim payments), the engagement of a lawyer licensed in Dubai or a conveyancer accredited with the DLD is indicated.
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