A company power of attorney in the UAE authorizes a named manager, PRO, lawyer or setup agent to act for a company: signing formation papers, renewing the trade license, dealing with banks, free zones and government departments, or closing one transaction. It must be signed by someone who can bind the company. Wordcraft drafts the POA and the supporting resolution in Arabic and English and arranges notarization.
Formation, Management and PRO Powers of Attorney
| Purpose | Typical powers |
|---|---|
| Company formation | Reserve the trade name, sign the MOA, apply for the license, open the establishment card, sign the lease and Ejari |
| Management | Run day-to-day operations, sign contracts, hire staff, represent the company before suppliers and customers |
| Government and PRO work | License renewals and amendments, immigration and MOHRE files, chamber and municipality matters |
| Banking | Open and operate accounts, sign cheques and facility documents (see bank power of attorney) |
| Specific transactions | Buy or sell an asset, sign a share transfer, register a trademark, attend a single meeting |
Write each power out in full. Authorities and banks do not read in powers that are missing, least of all the powers to receive money, delegate or litigate. For a lawyer representing the company in a case, see court power of attorney.
Board Resolution: Who Can Sign for the Company
The signatory must hold authority under the company's MOA or articles: typically the manager named on the license, or a director the board has authorized. Most authorities want to see that authority in writing, so the POA is normally backed by a board or shareholder resolution approving it and naming the attorney. We draft the two together so names, powers and dates line up. If the powers change the company's structure, an MOA amendment may be needed as well.
Parent Company Abroad: Notarize, Legalize, Translate
When the shareholder is a foreign company, for instance a parent opening a UAE branch or subsidiary, the POA and resolution are usually signed in the parent's home country:
- Signature before a notary in that country
- Authentication by its competent authority or foreign ministry
- Legalization at the UAE embassy or consulate there, which today also issues the UAE MOFA attestation in digital form
- Arabic legal translation in the UAE by an MOJ-certified legal translator
A foreign apostille does not stand in for step 3. We send the bilingual draft before the board signs abroad, so the UAE registrar reads the right text the first time. For branch and subsidiary formation, see our business setup services.
Corporate Papers We Need
- Trade license or certificate of incorporation
- MOA or articles of association, with any amendments
- Passports (and Emirates IDs, if resident) of the signatory and the attorney
- The board or shareholder resolution approving the POA, or the details for us to draft it
- The powers needed and the authorities, free zones or banks involved
- For foreign parents: certificate of good standing or incumbency, if the UAE authority asks for it
Drafting the POA and Resolution Together: Our Process
Tell us the company, the attorney and the jobs they will handle. Your free written quote, ready within 10–30 minutes, covers the POA, the resolution and the notary route. After payment, you approve both bilingual drafts. The signatory then signs in the UAE, in person or by video with a notary such as the MOJ e-Notary, or abroad with our instructions, followed by legalization and legal translation where needed. The notary carries out the notarization; our role is drafting, coordination and translation, and you can follow progress online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sign a company power of attorney?
Someone with authority under the MOA or articles, usually the manager or an authorized director, with a resolution approving the POA attached.
Do I need a board resolution for a company POA?
In most cases, yes. It shows the company approved both the POA and the attorney, and many authorities and banks ask to see it.
Can a foreign parent company give a POA for a UAE company?
Yes. The parent signs before a notary abroad; the POA is then authenticated there, legalized by the UAE embassy with MOFA attestation included, and translated into Arabic by an MOJ-certified legal translator.
How long is a company POA valid?
Until it is revoked, the company is dissolved, or an end date written into it passes. POAs notarized at ADJD are also capped at three years, while Dubai Courts and MOJ POAs have no cap unless the text sets one.
Can one POA cover several authorities?
Yes, if each authority and power is listed clearly. Some authorities and free zones prefer their own format, which your quote confirms.
Last updated: September 2026
