Power of attorney
Power of attorney for a prisoner in the UAE
A power of attorney for a prisoner in the UAE lets a person in custody appoint a relative, friend or lawyer to act for them outside. It covers family, money and legal matters they cannot handle themselves. Our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office notarises it, and the notary visit is the same as our home visit service. The prison authority, not us, decides whether and when a visit can happen.
WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 with the name of the person and the prison, and we tell you what to prepare.
What the agent can do
Write only what the family needs. Common tasks:
| Need | Act to write |
|---|---|
| Bills and rent | Pay rent, utilities and school fees from a named account |
| Bank | Operate the named account up to a stated amount, see bank power of attorney |
| Property | Manage the named property, see property management POA |
| Vehicle | Renew, transfer or sell the named car, see car POA |
| Documents | Collect papers, sign receipts and deal with offices |
| Legal case | Appoint and instruct a lawyer, and act in the case, see court case POA |
Sale and court action are special acts. Name each one, the asset and any limit.
Step by step
How the notary visit works
A person in custody cannot come to our office, so the notary goes to them. This is the home visit service applied to the place where the person is held.
Tell us where the person is and the name of the agent.
We draft the POA in Arabic and English and send it to the family.
We ask the prison authority how a notary may visit and what it needs. The authority decides access and the rules.
Our in-house notary public visits when access is given. The notary checks identity and consent, reads the content and notarises the POA.
The agent receives the finished POA.
We do not know in advance what the authority will ask. The family may need to help by contacting the prison or the person's lawyer.
Power of attorney
Also in Power of attorney
Checklist
What to prepare
What to prepare
- The person's full name, and ID details as they appear on their documents.
- The agent's ID, either Emirates ID or passport.
- The list of tasks, and the asset details.
- The name of the lawyer, if one is involved.
- The prison contact, if you have one.
The notary must be able to check ID, so tell us early if the person has no ID with them.
Fees
Cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our POA service, Arabic and English | From AED 1,500 |
| Home visit | Quoted on request |
| Federal notary fee | AED 100 per party |
Starting prices. We agree the final price with you first. Any charge from the prison side is separate.
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
How we help
How we help
We keep the POA short, narrow and clear, and we deal with the paperwork on our side so the family can focus. Related guides are in the power of attorney section.
Questions
Questions about power of attorney for a prisoner
Can a prisoner sign a POA in the UAE?
Yes, in principle, if the notary can meet them and confirm identity and consent. The prison authority decides access.
Can a lawyer visit to do it instead?
That is for the prison authority and the lawyer to arrange. Tell us what is allowed and we adjust.
How long will it take?
It depends on access, so we do not promise a time.
Can the family cancel the POA later?
Only the principal can revoke it. See cancelling a POA.
Can the agent sell property for the prisoner?
Only with a special POA that names the sale of that property.
Contact
Send us your question
Tell us the document, who signs it and where it will be used. We reply with the route, the list of what to bring and your price.
Sources for this page
- Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, Civil Transactions Law, Article 870: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/4011
- Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, Article 7 (notary verifies identity, capacity and consent): https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024, fee table, item 9 on POAs: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491