Power of Attorney for Dubai Property 2026: Circular 29/R/2025 Requirements for Buyers and Sellers Explained

Published: 24 September 2026

If you’re buying or selling property in Dubai from overseas — or simply can’t attend a Trustee office appointment in person — a Power of Attorney (POA) lets someone else sign and register the transaction on your behalf. For years, a generically worded POA from a home-country notary was often enough to get a deal through. That changed on 16 July 2025, when the Dubai Land Department (DLD) issued Circular No. 29/R/2025, tightening exactly how a POA must be worded, verified, and used before a Registrar will accept it.

This guide explains what the circular actually requires, the difference between a General and a Special POA for property purposes, how the new payment safeguards protect sellers, and the real steps and costs involved in getting a POA notarized in Dubai or legalized from abroad.

What Is DLD Circular No. 29/R/2025?

Circular No. 29/R/2025, issued by the Dubai Land Department on 16 July 2025, reformed how powers of attorney are accepted and verified for real estate transactions in Dubai — covering sale, purchase, gift, mortgage, usufruct, and musataha dispositions.

The circular was introduced to close gaps that had allowed loosely worded or unverifiable POAs to be used in property deals, sometimes exposing buyers and sellers to fraud or disputes over who actually authorized a transaction. It applies to every POA submitted to the DLD or a Real Estate Registration Trustee centre, whether the document was notarized inside the UAE or abroad.

Three changes matter most for anyone buying or selling through a representative:

1. Mandatory electronic verification of the POA against official government records before a Registrar proceeds.
2. Transaction-specific wording requirements — generic authority language is no longer accepted.
3. Stricter payment disbursement rules that tie sale proceeds directly to the person named on the title deed, not to the POA holder.

Mandatory Electronic Verification

Under the circular, a Trustee-office Registrar must cross-check the principal’s name, Emirates ID number, and passport number against DLD systems before accepting a POA — a printed QR code on the document is no longer sufficient on its own.

Before mid-2025, many Trustee offices treated a notary-issued QR code as adequate proof that a POA was genuine and current. The circular ends that shortcut. The Registrar now performs a live check against the government’s own verification portals to confirm the POA hasn’t been revoked, hasn’t expired, and matches the identity documents on file. If the POA references an expired passport or Emirates ID, a copy of that expired document must still be provided so the Registrar can confirm the POA’s other details remain accurate.

Practical takeaway: if your passport or Emirates ID has been renewed since your POA was issued, do not assume the POA is still automatically valid at the Trustee office — confirm with the notary or your representative before relying on it for a transaction.

Wording Requirements: Why Generic POAs Get Rejected

A POA must expressly name the specific transaction type and identify the property by title deed, plot, or Oqood number — broad phrases like “full authority to manage property” are rejected regardless of the notary stamp.

This is the single most common reason a POA gets bounced back at the counter, according to multiple UAE legal advisories tracking the circular’s rollout. Wording that was routinely accepted before — “manage and dispose of my real estate,” for example — no longer clears the Registrar’s review. Instead, the DLD requires transaction-specific terminology, such as:

• For purchases: specific language such as “purchase,” “joint purchase,” or “purchase for oneself with explicit specification of the ownership share.”
• For sales: an explicit authorization to sell, naming the transaction as a sale.
• Property identification: the title deed number, plot number, or Oqood (Interim Property Register) number of the specific unit involved — not a description of “any property I own.”

If you’re having a POA drafted specifically for a Dubai property transaction, share the exact property reference number and intended transaction type with the drafting lawyer or notary before the document is finalized, rather than relying on a template used for a different country or purpose.

General POA vs. Special (Specific) POA

Not every POA type is treated the same way under the new rules.

Bottom line: for most buyers and sellers, a Special POA drafted for the exact transaction and property is the safer and more reliably accepted route. A General POA still has a place — commonly when an immediate family member is completing a purchase on your behalf — but it no longer functions as a catch-all instrument for property deals the way it sometimes did before the circular.

The Payment Safeguard: Why Sellers Should Care Most

Sale proceeds must now be paid by cheque issued in the name of the person recorded on the title deed — not in the name of the POA holder — even if that person lives overseas and never attends the Trustee office.

Before the circular, it was common for an overseas seller to grant a relative or agent a POA that also allowed them to receive the sale proceeds cheque in their own name, on the understanding they would forward the funds. The circular closes this route. Banks and Trustee offices must now issue the manager’s cheque in the seller’s name as it appears on the title deed, regardless of who physically attends to complete the transaction.

The same principle applies in reverse on the buying side: manager’s cheques for the purchase price are issued in the buyer’s (principal’s) name, not the POA holder’s name. The representative can sign documents, attend appointments, and complete registration — but they do not receive or hold the funds.

This closes a well-documented fraud risk where a POA holder could, in theory, intercept or redirect proceeds intended for an absent owner. If you’re selling remotely, make sure your UAE bank account details and the name on your title deed match exactly — a mismatch here is a separate, and increasingly scrutinized, area covered in our guide to selling property in Dubai as a non-resident.

Getting a POA Notarized: In Dubai vs. From Abroad

If You’re in the UAE

A POA for a Dubai property transaction can be notarized either in person at a Dubai Courts Notary Public office or a licensed private notary, or remotely through the Dubai Courts e-Notary system via a scheduled video call. During the video verification, the notary confirms your identity and intention to grant the POA, issues a one-time password (OTP) as part of the confirmation flow, and then finalizes the notarized document electronically — no physical office visit required. The finished POA carries a verifiable barcode or QR code that Trustee offices, banks, and other government bodies can check against the Dubai Courts record.

If You’re Signing Abroad

Because the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille alone — even one issued by a Hague member country — is not accepted at a Dubai notary or DLD Trustee office. Instead, a POA signed outside the UAE for use in a Dubai property transaction generally has to pass through this chain:

1. Notarization in front of a notary public in the country where you’re signing.
2. Authentication by that country’s own Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent).
3. Legalization by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country.
4. Final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) once the document reaches the UAE.

Only after this full chain is complete will the POA carry the legalization a DLD Trustee office expects to see, on top of meeting the circular’s wording and identification requirements above.

What It Costs

Fee ranges vary meaningfully by notary type, document complexity, and whether translation is required — treat the figures below as market-reported ranges to confirm at the time of booking, not fixed government tariffs.

Because these figures shift with notary type and country of origin, always confirm the exact current cost with the notary, law firm, or MOFAIC office you’re using before budgeting a transaction around it.

Step-by-Step: Using a POA for a Remote Dubai Property Deal

1. Decide the transaction and identify the exact property — title deed, plot, or Oqood number — before drafting begins.
2. Draft the POA with transaction-specific wording that names the exact authority granted (purchase, sale, mortgage, etc.) and the property reference.
3. Notarize the POA — via Dubai Courts e-Notary if you’re reachable for a video call, or through the home-country-notary-to-MOFAIC legalization chain if you’re signing entirely abroad.
4. Confirm your identity documents are current. If your passport or Emirates ID has changed since the POA was drafted, flag this to your notary and representative before relying on the POA at the Trustee office.
5. Your representative attends the DLD Trustee office with the notarized, verified POA, your identity documents (or copies as required), and the transaction paperwork — the Registrar performs the mandatory electronic verification at this stage.
6. Funds move directly to/from the principal’s name, not the representative’s — arrange your UAE bank account and cheque details accordingly well before the appointment.

Common Reasons a POA Gets Rejected

• Generic authority wording (“full authority to manage my property”) instead of transaction-specific language.
• No property identification — missing title deed, plot, or Oqood number.
• Expired identity documents referenced without the required supporting copy.
• A General POA used for a sale, or for a purchase by someone who isn’t an immediate family member of the buyer.
• Incomplete legalization chain for a POA signed abroad — missing the UAE Embassy or MOFAIC step.
• Payment instructions that don’t match the title-deed holder’s name, triggering a hold at the disbursement stage.

How This Differs From Related Guides on Our Blog

A POA is one piece of a larger remote-transaction picture. If you’re buying or selling from outside the UAE, these related guides cover the surrounding steps:

• If you’re buying from outside the UAE more broadly, our guide on buying property in Dubai as a foreigner covers the wider purchase process.
• If you’re a UK-based buyer specifically, see buying property in Dubai from the UK for a country-specific walkthrough.
• For the full paperwork checklist beyond the POA itself, see documents required to buy property in Dubai.
• If you’re selling rather than buying, our guide to selling property in Dubai and our guide to selling as a non-resident or overseas owner cover the DLRC’s own tightened 2026 rules on seller identity and payment matching.
• If you own a Dubai property but live elsewhere, our guide to property management for overseas landlords covers ongoing management once the transaction is complete.
• The DLD’s 4% transfer fee and other transaction costs referenced above are broken down in full in our guide to Dubai property buying costs and hidden fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Power of Attorney to buy property in Dubai from abroad?
Not always — some overseas buyers travel to Dubai to sign in person. But a POA lets a trusted representative, lawyer, or agent complete the purchase on your behalf without you attending the Trustee office, which is why it’s common for remote and investor buyers.

What changed with DLD Circular No. 29/R/2025?
Issued 16 July 2025, it introduced mandatory electronic verification of POAs against government records, required transaction-specific wording naming the exact property and transaction type, and tightened payment disbursement so proceeds go only to the person named on the title deed.

Can I still use a General Power of Attorney to buy or sell property in Dubai?
For a sale, generally no. For a purchase, a General POA is still accepted only when the representative is an immediate family member — parent, sibling, son, or daughter — of the buyer. Otherwise, a Special POA naming the specific transaction and property is required.

Is an apostilled POA from my home country accepted in Dubai?
No. The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not sufficient — even from a Hague member country. The POA needs to pass through home-country notarization, home-country MFA authentication, UAE Embassy legalization, and final MOFAIC attestation in the UAE.

Can I notarize a Power of Attorney remotely without visiting Dubai?
Yes, if you can attend a scheduled video call. The Dubai Courts e-Notary system verifies your identity and intent over video, issues a one-time password as part of the confirmation, and finalizes the notarized POA electronically.

Who receives the sale proceeds if I sell my property using a POA?
The manager’s cheque must be issued in the name of the person recorded on the title deed — the seller — not the POA holder. This applies even if the POA holder physically attends the Trustee office and signs on the seller’s behalf.

How much does it cost to get a POA notarized for a Dubai property deal?
A simple Special POA at a Dubai Courts Notary Public office typically costs roughly AED 200–500. A more complex, property-specific POA drafted through a private notary or law firm can run roughly AED 500–1,500 or more, depending on drafting and translation needs. Legalization costs for a POA signed abroad vary by country.

Why would a Trustee office reject my Power of Attorney?
The most common reasons are generic wording that doesn’t name the specific transaction and property, missing title deed/plot/Oqood identification, expired identity documents without supporting copies, using a General POA where a Special POA is required, or an incomplete overseas legalization chain.

Does the property need to be named specifically in the POA?
Yes. Since the circular, the POA must identify the exact property by title deed number, plot number, or Oqood number. A POA that only refers broadly to “my property in Dubai” without a specific reference will be rejected.

How long is a Power of Attorney valid for a Dubai property transaction?
Validity depends on how the POA itself is drafted and whether it’s been revoked, but the DLD’s mandatory electronic verification checks current validity at the time of the transaction regardless of the date on the document — always confirm the POA’s status with your notary or lawyer before relying on it for a time-sensitive deal.

Handling a Remote Transaction? Get It Right the First Time

A POA that’s worded incorrectly, missing a property reference, or improperly legalized can stall a transaction for weeks at the Trustee office — exactly when a remote buyer or seller can least afford the delay. Sanaya’s team handles buy, sell, rent, property management, mortgage services, and Golden Visa assistance for clients across Dubai and can help make sure your POA and supporting documents are structured correctly before you submit them.

For guidance on your specific transaction, contact Sanaya directly through our contact page.

Message Sanaya on WhatsApp: +971 50 436 5316

Buyers and sellers navigating property power-of-attorney rules may also want to understand what happens to a mortgaged property in the UAE when the owner dies, since inheritance and wills involve similar legal representation issues.