Power of Attorney From Heirs Abroad for a UAE Inheritance

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists powers of attorney among the documents it attests, and the chain is the one that applies to any foreign document:

1. Signature before a notary in the country where the heir lives.
   
2. Attestation by that country’s foreign ministry.
   
3. Attestation by the UAE embassy or consulate there.
   
4. Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE — the published fee at the time of writing (November 2026) is AED 150 for an individual’s document; confirm with the Ministry.
   
5. Legal translation into Arabic of the whole document, including the stamps.

An apostille does not replace steps 2 to 4: the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention (see apostille vs attestation).

Tip: if the power of attorney is drafted bilingually — Arabic and the local language — before it is signed, the translation step becomes a check rather than a new document, and there is less room for the Arabic to drift from what the heir actually signed. Whether a foreign notary will sign a bilingual text varies by country. See bilingual power of attorney translation.

An heir who is in the UAE can sign before a notary here. In Dubai, the law on notaries requires the instrument to be in Arabic, or bilingual with both texts in one document signed page by page; a signatory who does not know the language is assisted by a translator who signs the record. No embassy steps are needed. For how notaries work across the emirates, see our notary public in the UAE guide.

Courts, banks and the land department read powers of attorney narrowly. A general “to manage all my affairs” is often not enough. For an inheritance, the document should normally state:

• The deceased’s full name as on the death certificate, and the heir’s relationship to them.
  
• The specific powers: to open and follow the estate file; to receive the inheritance certificate; to accept or renounce the inheritance or a bequest; to appear before the courts, the land department, banks and company registrars; to sign transfer and sale documents; to receive funds.
  
• Whether the attorney may sell property and at what minimum price, or only register it in the heir’s name.
  
• Whether the attorney may receive money on the heir’s behalf — banks look for this expressly.
  
• Whether the attorney may appoint a lawyer or delegate.
  
• Any time limit.

Take advice on the wording from the lawyer handling the estate before signing; a missing power means repeating the whole chain. If the estate includes property, our guide to powers of attorney for UAE property covers validity and revocation.

1. Names

The heir’s and the deceased’s names in Arabic must match the other documents in the file exactly. See name spelling mismatches.

2. Powers

“Sell”, “transfer”, “mortgage”, “receive” and “settle” are distinct powers in Arabic legal usage; a vague rendering can drop one.

3. Completeness

Every stamp and endorsement is translated, including those on the back.

4. Dates and numbers

Including passport numbers.

5. Who translated it

The translation must come from a translator or translation house registered with the Ministry of Justice.

A minor heir acts through a guardian, whose authority is itself proved by documents that need attesting and translating. An heir who lacks capacity needs a court-appointed representative. Raise these early; they take longest.

Can an heir abroad use an apostilled power of attorney in the UAE?

No. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the foreign ministry, UAE embassy and UAE MOFA attestations are still needed.

Is a general power of attorney enough for an inheritance?

Often not. Courts, banks and the land department read powers narrowly and look for specific powers, such as the power to receive money.

Does the power of attorney need an Arabic translation?

Yes, the whole document including the stamps, by a translator registered with the Ministry of Justice — unless it was signed in the UAE in Arabic or bilingual form.

How much does it cost?

From AED 80 per 200-word page for Arabic and English, AED 100 for French, AED 150 for German, Italian or Turkish, and AED 250 for other languages such as Chinese, Russian or Urdu (all excl. 5% VAT). Urgent work is priced on request, and large files receive discounts. See our pricing page.

We prepare bilingual versions of powers of attorney drafted by the estate lawyer, translate attested powers of attorney into Arabic, and check names against the rest of the inheritance file. Smart World Legal Translation (SWLT) is an MOJ-licensed legal translation office in Abu Dhabi, led by Dr. Hani Elimam, an MOJ-licensed translator. For the legal handling of the estate, see the UAE will drafting service at Smart Legal Services, and for the rest of the file see inheritance translation rules by authority.

This article is general information about the translation side of wills and inheritance in the UAE. It is not legal advice. Laws, registry rules and fees change; confirm current requirements with the registry or authority concerned and take advice from a lawyer on your own situation.

Send the draft or the attested power of attorney and the deceased’s death certificate. Smart World Legal Translation is led by Dr. Hani Elimam (MOJ-licensed translator, AIIC member), has translated legal documents since 2014 and is rated 4.8/5 on Google. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.