Imagine finalizing a vehicle sale in Dubai just days before you are to travel abroad. The buyer is ready, the paperwork is almost complete, but you can’t appear in person at the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to transfer ownership. Does that mean the sale falls through? Not if you have a vehicle Power of Attorney (POA).
A Power of Attorney in Dubai gives you the legal rights to authorize someone you trust to sell or transfer your vehicle on your behalf. It empowers your chosen agent to carry out these tasks before the RTA with full legal authority, ensuring your vehicle sale transaction is completed without disruption, even in your absence.
In a jurisdiction as structured and regulated as the UAE, it is essential to understand how a vehicle Power of Attorney works.
What Is a Vehicle POA and Why You May Need One
A vehicle Power of Attorney is a legal document that entrusts an appointed individual with the responsibility of managing matters about your vehicle. The scope typically covers selling the vehicle to a new buyer, registering the vehicle in someone else’s name, transferring ownership at the RTA, and handling renewals, fines, and insurance-related matters. In essence, it provides a legal green light for your representative to act on your behalf before the relevant local authorities
In Dubai, transferring a vehicle usually requires all parties to be present at the RTA for the ownership transfer. However, if you have already left the UAE, are tied up with other commitments, or are simply unable to be physically present, a vehicle POA offers a convenient solution.
The UAE’s laws, more specifically articles 924-930 of Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, acknowledge a notarized POA as a binding legal authorization, granting full validity to actions performed by your appointed representative within the document’s scope.
Issuing a Vehicle Power of Attorney in Dubai
There are multiple steps involved in issuing and drafting a vehicle Power of Attorney in Dubai:
1. The drafting of the POA document: The wording on the document should be accurate and comprehensive, clearly stipulating the specific powers granted and to whom it is granted. To avoid mistakes and possible rejection, it is recommended to have your POA professionally drafted in both English and Arabic.
2. Notarization by the Dubai Courts Notary Public: Once the draft is prepared, it needs to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. The Principal is required to be present at the signing. Copies of the documents of both parties (the Principal and the agent) would need to be available to the Principal. If you cannot be physically present and are overseas, the POA can be signed at a UAE embassy or consulate and attested later by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). This process can also be completed online through the UAE’s e-Notarization process, allowing you to sign and authenticate a POA remotely through a video call.
3. Registration: After notarization is complete, your representative can present the POA at the RTA to initiate or complete the vehicle sale or transfer. The RTA will then verify the POA before approving the transaction.
Key Considerations:
1. A vehicle POA is usually valid until the purpose of the transaction is completed.
2. A vehicle POA can be revoked at any time by submitting a written revocation to the Notary Public.
3. To avoid misuse of the scope of authority, always limit the powers provided to a specific transaction. Example: Sale/transfer of one specific car.
4. The UAE’s Ministry of Justice and Dubai Courts now allow online POA notarization for certain types of documents, including vehicle POAs, making the process quicker and more efficient.
Why Accuracy Matters
A missing clause or even a small typing error can lead to RTA rejections and legal complications when it comes to a vehicle POA. For example, if your POA doesn’t clearly state that the agent appointed has powers to both “sell and receive” sale proceeds, the transaction may be deemed incomplete. This is why having a professionally drafted POA prepared by trusted service providers like JustPOA can make all the difference.
JustPOA specializes in notarizing and drafting vehicle Power of Attorney documents, ensuring full compliance with the RTA and other legal authorities. Need to authorize someone to sell or transfer your vehicle in Dubai? Skip the hassle and let JustPOA handle your vehicle Power of Attorney, ready for use in as little as 24 hours.
FAQs
Can I authorize someone to sell my car in Dubai?
Yes, you can legally authorize someone else to sell your car in Dubai by issuing a vehicle POA. The POA must be drafted to specify the exact vehicle details and scope of authority, and it must be notarized by the Dubai Courts Notary Public or the UAE Ministry of Justice.
How do I give Power of Attorney to someone in the UAE?
To grant a Power of Attorney to someone in the UAE, you will need to draft a document that explicitly states the powers you are granting. You will then need to translate it into Arabic and get it notarized. If you are residing outside the UAE, it needs to be signed before a UAE embassy and then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Today, this process can also be completed online through the UAE’s e-Notarization process, allowing you to sign and authenticate a POA remotely through a video call.
Can a foreign POA be used in the UAE?
Yes, but it must be legally attested and translated. The POA should be notarized in the country of issue, attested by the concerned country’s foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, and then legalized by the MOFA in the UAE.
