Corporate POA: Arabic Translation and Notarisation

The parent company in London appoints a local manager to sign contracts in Dubai. The corporate lawyer drafts a power of attorney in English. The Dubai Notary Public returns it — they need it in Arabic. The board resolution authorising the POA is also in English. That needs translation too. The contract deadline is in three days.

Corporate powers of attorney in the UAE follow a strict language requirement. The Dubai Notary Public notarises documents in Arabic. A corporate POA in English must be translated into Arabic before it can be notarised, and only the notarised Arabic version carries legal weight.

How Corporate POA Works in the UAE

A corporate power of attorney authorises a named person to act on behalf of a company. Unlike a personal POA where one individual authorises another, a corporate POA involves the company as a legal entity delegating authority to a representative.

The chain of authority runs:

1. The company’s governing documents (MOA, articles of association) define who can bind the company
2. A board resolution authorises the issuance of the POA
3. The POA itself names the representative and lists the specific powers granted
4. The Dubai Notary Public notarises the POA, making it legally effective in the UAE

Every link in this chain must be in Arabic or accompanied by MOJ-certified Arabic translation.

What Needs Translation

The Board Resolution

The board resolution — or partner resolution in an LLC — authorises the company to issue the POA. If the parent company is foreign, the resolution is in English. The notary needs the Arabic version to verify that the board actually authorised the POA issuance.

The resolution must state:

• The company name and registration details
• The date of the board meeting or written resolution
• The specific decision to grant a power of attorney
• The name and passport details of the person receiving the POA
• The scope of powers being granted

The Draft POA

The POA document itself must be in Arabic for notarisation. If the corporate lawyer drafted it in English, the Arabic translation becomes the notarised document. The English version is kept as reference but has no legal standing after the Arabic version is notarised.

The POA must specify:

• The company’s full legal name and trade license number
• The representative’s full name and identification details
• Each power being granted — listed individually, not as a general statement
• Any limitations on the powers (monetary limits, geographical restrictions, time limits)
• The validity period

Supporting Corporate Documents

The notary may also request:

• The trade license (already in Arabic for mainland companies; needs translation for free zone companies)
• The memorandum of association (Arabic version)
• The establishment card
• Passport copies of the signatory and the representative

The Notary Appointment

The Dubai Notary Public handles corporate POA notarisation during standard business hours. The process:

1. Book an appointment through the Dubai Courts portal
2. The signatory (the person authorised to bind the company) attends in person with their Emirates ID or passport
3. The representative may or may not need to attend — depends on the notary’s requirements
4. Present the Arabic POA, the Arabic board resolution, and supporting documents
5. The notary reads the document aloud, confirms the signatory’s identity, and stamps the POA
6. The notarised original is registered in the notary’s system

The entire appointment takes 30-60 minutes if all documents are in order. Missing an Arabic translation of any required document means rescheduling.

Foreign Corporate POAs Used in the UAE

If a company abroad issues a POA for use in the UAE — authorising someone in Dubai to sign a contract, manage property, or represent the company in court — the POA follows a different chain:

1. The POA is executed and notarised in the issuing country (per local notarisation rules)
2. The notarised POA is attested by the issuing country’s foreign ministry
3. The attested POA is legalised by the UAE embassy in the issuing country
4. The legalised POA is attested by MOFA UAE after arrival in the UAE
5. The attested POA is translated into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed translator

The Arabic translation must reflect the fully attested document — including all stamps and attestation marks. Translating before attestation means the translation does not show the attestation chain, and the court or authority may reject it.

For countries in the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille replaces steps 2-3. But the UAE is not a Hague member, so the UAE embassy legalisation step is always required regardless of whether the issuing country provides an apostille.

Scope Precision

UAE courts interpret powers of attorney narrowly. A POA that grants “general authority to manage company affairs” may not cover:

• Selling company property (requires explicit real estate authority)
• Opening or closing bank accounts (requires explicit banking authority)
• Signing employment contracts (requires explicit HR authority)
• Filing or settling lawsuits (requires explicit litigation authority)

The Arabic translation must list each power precisely. If the English draft uses broad language, the translator and the reviewing lawyer should ensure the Arabic version is equally specific. Courts will enforce the Arabic text literally.

Contact Channels

For MOJ-certified Arabic translation of corporate POAs, board resolutions, and supporting documents:

• WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217
• iMessage: +971 50 862 0217
• Email: info@onlinetranslation.ae
• Phone: +971 50 862 0217
• Walk-in: Palm Jumeirah Mall, Dubai

Send the board resolution and draft POA. We translate the full package into Arabic for notarisation — typically the same day.