It is a question that comes up constantly for people dealing with property, courts, company matters, or family business in the UAE: someone is told they need a power of attorney translated, notarized, or both, and it is not clear what that actually involves or in what order. A bank wants a notarized Arabic copy. A court will not accept the English one. A relative abroad signed something that a Dubai office now says is not valid here.
A power of attorney (POA) is a document where one person grants another the authority to act on their behalf. Because it transfers real legal power, the UAE treats it carefully, and the Arabic version is the one that carries weight. Here is how translation, notarization, and legalization fit together, and who is actually qualified to certify the translation.
What a Power of Attorney Needs in the UAE (the short version)
For a power of attorney to be acted on by a UAE authority, three things usually have to be true:
- It is in Arabic, or bilingual with an Arabic version, because the Notary Public and the courts work in Arabic.
- The Arabic translation is certified by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice, not a general or machine translation.
- It is notarized, and where the document crosses borders, legalized through the right chain of authorities.
Translation and notarization are separate acts. Arkan provides the MOJ-certified Arabic translation; the notarization itself is performed by the UAE Notary Public, a separate authority. Keeping those two straight saves a lot of confusion later.
Why the Arabic Translation Carries the Weight
In UAE notarial and court practice, the Arabic text is what the authority reads and acts on. An English version may sit alongside it for reference, but if the two ever diverge, the Arabic is the one the authority follows. That makes the translation load-bearing rather than a formality.
Consider what a single word can do. A power of attorney that authorizes someone to manage a property is very different from one that authorizes them to sell it. If the Arabic renders the scope of authority more broadly or more narrowly than you intended, the powers that the authority recognizes change with it. This is why the translation has to come from someone who understands both the legal meaning and the language, and why it should be MOJ-certified legal translation rather than a quick conversion.
If the Person Granting It Does Not Read Arabic
This is the part that surprises people, and it is worth leading with. When a power of attorney is signed before a UAE Notary Public, the person granting it has to understand what they are signing. If that person does not read or speak Arabic, the notary may require a sworn or registered interpreter to be present to confirm understanding before the document is notarized.
That is interpretation, not translation, and it is a different discipline. A certified translator produces the written Arabic document; an interpreter renders the spoken explanation in real time at the notary appointment. Where a venue requires a sworn or court-registered interpreter, the specific credential is confirmed before the assignment, because requirements vary by setting. If your matter involves signing in front of a UAE authority and the signatory works in another language, factor in interpretation alongside the translation rather than discovering the need at the counter.
Two Directions, Two Processes
Most power of attorney problems come from not knowing which way the document is traveling. The steps differ.
| Your situation | Typical steps | Where Arkan fits |
|---|---|---|
| A POA issued abroad that you need to use in the UAE | Attest or apostille in the country of origin, legalize through UAE MOFA, then certified Arabic translation | MOJ-certified Arabic translation and attestation guidance |
| A UAE POA you need to use in another country | Notarize at a UAE Notary Public, legalize through UAE MOFA, then the destination embassy, with translation into the destination language | Translation into the target language and legalization routing |
| Not sure which steps your POA needs | A route check before you start anything | Document route check |
The legalization chain is where the apostille question comes in. If the country of origin is part of the Apostille Convention, the path looks different from a country that still uses full consular legalization. We cover that distinction in attestation versus apostille in the UAE.
Who Is Qualified to Translate It
Not every translation counts as certified for a document this sensitive. In the UAE, MOJ certification is what authorities look for, and it works in tiers:
- Arabic to English is MOJ-certified directly under License #701, held personally by Arkan’s licensed translator.
- Other major pairs are MOJ-certified through contracted licensed translators, each holding their own licence.
- Rare pairs with no MOJ translator registered in the UAE are issued under Arkan company certification, which authorities accept because no MOJ option exists for that pair.
What you should never be told is that a single licence covers MOJ-certified translation in dozens of languages. That is not how the licence works, and a power of attorney is exactly the kind of document where that distinction matters. For the full picture of how MOJ certification works, see our guide to MOJ-certified legal translation in Dubai.
Common Reasons a Power of Attorney Gets Rejected
Most rejections are avoidable and come down to a handful of issues:
- Name mismatches. The name in the translation does not match the spelling in the passport or Emirates ID. Arabic transliteration of foreign names is a frequent culprit.
- Scope read differently in Arabic. The authority granted is broader or narrower than intended once it is in Arabic.
- A missing step. Notarization or a legalization stamp in the chain was skipped, so the receiving authority will not accept the document.
- An expired or revoked POA. The document is past its validity or was withdrawn before it was used.
The honest fix for almost all of these is to check the document against the receiving authority before any work begins, rather than after a rejection.
Not sure what your power of attorney needs? Tell Arkan where the document came from and where it is going, and we map the translation, notarization, and legalization steps before you spend on any of them. Get your power of attorney translated or check what your document needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a power of attorney need to be translated into Arabic in the UAE?
In practice, yes. A UAE Notary Public works in Arabic, and a power of attorney presented for notarization or use before a UAE authority is expected to be in Arabic, often as a bilingual Arabic and English document. If your draft is in another language, it needs a certified Arabic translation by a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice before the notary will act on it. The Arabic text is the version the authority reads and follows.
Who can translate a power of attorney for use in the UAE?
For Arabic to English, the translation is MOJ-certified under License #701, held personally by Arkan’s licensed translator. Other language pairs are MOJ-certified through contracted licensed translators, each under their own licence, and rare pairs with no MOJ translator registered in the UAE are issued under Arkan company certification. A general or machine translation is not enough for a document a notary or court will rely on.
Is the translation or the notarization done first?
The certified Arabic translation is prepared so the Notary Public can read and notarize the document, so translation generally comes before notarization. Notarization and certified translation are separate acts performed by different parties: Arkan provides the MOJ-certified Arabic translation, and the UAE Notary Public performs the notarization. Confirm the order with the receiving authority, because requirements vary by document and purpose.
Can I use a power of attorney issued in another country in the UAE?
Usually, but it needs a legalization chain first. A foreign power of attorney is typically attested or apostilled in the country of origin, then legalized through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then translated into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed translator before a UAE authority will accept it. The exact chain depends on whether the origin country is part of the Apostille Convention. See attestation versus apostille for the difference.
How long does power of attorney translation take?
Turnaround depends on the length of the document and the language pair. A short, routine power of attorney in a supported pair can often be ready quickly, while longer or specialized documents take more time. Legalization and notarization steps, which are handled by separate authorities, add their own timelines. Ask for a clear estimate against your document before you commit.
Why was my power of attorney translation rejected?
The most common reasons are names that do not match the spelling in the passport or Emirates ID, a scope of authority that reads differently in Arabic than intended, a missing notarization or legalization step, or a power of attorney that has expired or been revoked. A route check before submission catches most of these before they cost you a trip.
Next Steps
If you are holding a power of attorney and are not sure what it needs, start with where it came from and where it is going. A foreign document coming into the UAE needs legalization and a certified Arabic translation; a UAE document going abroad needs notarization, MOFA, the destination embassy, and translation into the target language. Either way, the Arabic translation has to be certified by someone qualified to certify it.
Tell Arkan what you are working with and we confirm the route before any work starts. Begin with the power of attorney translation service, or run a free document route check if you want the steps mapped first.