Licences & changes
Powers of attorney for company matters
Almost every company transaction has a step requiring someone's physical presence. A properly drafted power of attorney removes it — and one drafted too narrowly is the reason a shareholder ends up on a flight.
What it covers
What this licence actually permits.
A power of attorney authorises someone to act on your behalf. In the UAE it must be notarised, and where it is executed abroad it must be attested in the issuing country and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a legal translation into Arabic where required. Company matters requiring one arise constantly: signing an MOA or an amendment, transferring shares, opening a bank account, representing the company before a court, selling property, and dealing with government departments.
UAE powers of attorney are read strictly. A general authority to 'manage the company's affairs' will frequently be rejected for a specific transaction that is not expressly listed, because notaries, banks and registries look for the particular power rather than inferring it from a general one. This is why shareholders who thought they had delegated everything end up flying in for a single signature. The answer is to enumerate the specific powers when drafting — sign the MOA and its amendments, transfer and accept transfer of shares, open and operate bank accounts, appoint and remove managers, represent before specified authorities — and to check validity periods, since many are time-limited.
At a glance
- Form
- Notarised; attested and translated where executed abroad
- Reading
- Strict — specific powers rather than general authority
- Common uses
- MOA execution, share transfers, banking, litigation, property
- Banks
- Often require their own mandate regardless of a general POA
- Validity
- Frequently time-limited; check the period
- Revocation
- Formal, and must be notified to those relying on it
What it costs
The procedure
What the amendment involves.
- List every transaction you want coveredSpecifically. A general authority is routinely refused for a transaction it does not name.
- Draft with the receiving party in mindThe notary, the bank or the registry that will read it decides whether it works.
- Execute and attest correctlyNotarised locally, or attested abroad and by MOFAIC with an Arabic translation.
- Check the validity periodMany are time-limited, and an expired POA is discovered at the counter.
- Revoke formally when it endsAnd notify anyone who has been relying on it. An unrevoked POA in the hands of a departed partner is a live risk.
Related
Questions
For many steps, yes — MOA execution and notarisation in particular. It must be attested where executed abroad.
Often not. UAE practice reads powers strictly, and specific transactions should be expressly named.
Banks generally require their own mandate and frequently require a signatory to attend in person regardless of a power of attorney.
Formally, through the notary, and by notifying anyone who has been relying on it.
One question
What are you actually trying to change?
Name, activity, manager or address — each is a formal amendment with its own fee, and most require a fresh MOA addendum before the licence is reprinted. Bundling several amendments into one submission usually costs less and takes no longer than doing them one at a time.
How amendments runOr just ask usShare transfers are notarised, not administrative. Every shareholder signs or is represented under an attested power of attorney, the bank has to be told, and the UBO register updates within days rather than at the next renewal.
Transferring sharesOr just ask usThen do it properly rather than letting the licence lapse. An abandoned company accrues renewal penalties, immigration liabilities and a corporate tax deregistration fine, and it blocks the shareholders from clean incorporations later.
Closing down cleanlyOr just ask us