A Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE is a special power of attorney that allows a vehicle owner to authorize another person to carry out specific acts related to selling the vehicle on their behalf. The authority to sell must be clearly stated in the document because Article 870 of Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 Promulgating the Civil Transactions Law, effective from 1 June 2026, treats a sale as an act that requires a special power of attorney specifying the type of transaction.
Notarizing the power of attorney does not, by itself, transfer ownership of the vehicle. The POA determines who may act on behalf of the owner, while the vehicle must still be transferred and registered through the competent traffic authority after its requirements are met. A clear distinction should therefore be made between issuing the POA and completing the vehicle ownership transfer.
Do you need someone to sell your car on your behalf and want to make sure the POA gives the right powers without being unnecessarily broad? We can review the purpose of the POA, identify the required authority, and determine the appropriate notarization route before you submit the transaction.
Or continue reading first to understand the requirements and steps.
Quick answer: A vehicle owner may need a Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE when they want another person to sell the vehicle or complete specified sale-related procedures on their behalf. The POA should clearly define the agent’s authority because UAE law requires a special power of attorney for a sale, while broadly worded general authority does not automatically grant the power to sell.
What Is a Power of Attorney for Car Sale?
A Power of Attorney for Car Sale is a special POA authorizing an agent to carry out the acts specified in the document on behalf of the vehicle owner. The authority may cover selling the vehicle, signing documents, dealing with the competent authority, or performing other actions expressly authorized by the principal. Powers that are not stated in the POA, or are not necessarily incidental to the authorized acts, should not be assumed.
Articles 869 to 872 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law regulate this issue. Article 869 provides that a power of attorney may be general or special. Article 870 requires a special POA for acts falling outside ordinary administration and preservation, including a sale. Article 872 limits the agent’s authority to the matters specified in the POA and the necessary acts arising from them.
When Do You Need a Power of Attorney to Sell a Car?
A Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE is commonly needed when the registered owner will not personally handle the sale and wants another person to act in their place within defined limits. This may arise when the owner is travelling, unable to attend, or simply wants to appoint someone to complete the relevant procedure. In every case, the scope of authority should reflect what the owner actually intends to delegate.
If the purpose is limited to selling the vehicle, the POA does not need to include unrelated powers. If the agent will also need to perform additional vehicle-related procedures, those powers should be identified according to the authority before which the POA will be used. Clear drafting reduces uncertainty when the document is reviewed by the notary or traffic authority.
What Documents Are Required for a Car Sale POA?
There is no single document checklist that applies uniformly across all Emirates because notary requirements may vary depending on the authority, the parties’ status, and the method of application. Under Dubai Courts’ Power of Attorneys Ratification service, supporting documents include proof of identity such as an Emirates ID or passport, as well as documents establishing the capacity and authority of a legal representative where another person is acting for a party. Dubai Courts also requires a valid vehicle possession certificate when the POA relates to a vehicle.
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department service for notarizing a power of attorney limited to vehicles lists an Emirates ID and the document to be attested among its required documents. A draft Vehicle Sale Power of Attorney should also include sufficient information to identify the vehicle and clearly define the intended transaction. Final requirements should always be checked with the relevant authority in the Emirate where the application will be submitted.
- Proof of identity as required by the notarizing authority.
- The draft power of attorney or document to be notarized.
- Principal and agent details matching their official identification documents.
- Vehicle details sufficient to identify the subject of the POA.
- A valid vehicle ownership or possession certificate where required.
- Proof of the legal representative’s capacity and authority where the application is submitted on behalf of another party.
If documents submitted to Dubai Courts are not in Arabic, the service requires a legal translation meeting the authority’s requirements. Documents issued outside the UAE may also need to satisfy the applicable attestation requirements. You may review our legal translation services or document attestation services where these steps are required.
Steps to Issue a Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE
The process begins by identifying exactly what the agent will be authorized to do. The POA is then drafted to reflect those powers without using broader wording than necessary. Once the documents are prepared, the applicant identifies the competent notary authority according to the Emirate and the nature of the transaction, then follows that authority’s submission, verification, and signing process.
- Define the authority: Decide whether the agent will only sell the vehicle or will also perform other vehicle-related procedures.
- Prepare the POA: Verify the principal, agent, and vehicle details and state the authority to sell clearly.
- Select the notarizing authority: Identify the appropriate notary based on the Emirate and intended use of the document.
- Submit the application: Provide the required information and supporting documents through the approved channel.
- Application review: The authority may request an amendment to the draft or additional documentation before approval.
- Signing and notarization: Complete the verification and signing requirements through the process adopted by the relevant authority.
- Receive the notarized POA: Once notarized, the POA may be used within the scope of the powers stated in the document.
Dubai Courts explains that its POA ratification process includes submitting the application and attachments, legal and administrative review, approval or a request for amendments, signing and approval, and receipt of the completed transaction. In Abu Dhabi, the service for a vehicle-specific POA involves submitting the application and documents, paying the prescribed fee after approval, completing the required remote process, and receiving the notarized document electronically. The exact process should not be assumed to be identical across all Emirates.
Car Sale Power of Attorney Fees and Processing Time
There is no single fee that should be presented as the cost of a Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE across the entire country. Fees are calculated according to the competent notary authority, and every amount should be linked to the authority that publishes it. Notary fees for the POA should also be distinguished from vehicle ownership transfer fees, which form part of a separate transaction.
The following information was verified on 5 October 2026:
| Authority | Published Fee or Processing Time | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Courts | AED 100 for the attestation of each party to the Power of Attorney, plus AED 20 for Knowledge and Innovation fees. | Dubai Courts – Power of Attorneys Ratification. |
| Abu Dhabi Judicial Department | AED 100 for each year of validity of a power of attorney limited to vehicles. | Abu Dhabi Judicial Department – Service ADJD-0005. |
| Abu Dhabi Judicial Department | Published completion time: 2 working days. | Abu Dhabi Judicial Department – Service ADJD-0005. |
These figures apply to the authorities identified above and should not be treated as uniform UAE-wide fees or timelines. A published completion period is also not a guarantee for an individual transaction. Additional documents, amendments to the wording, legal translation, or document attestation may affect the actual timeframe. Fees and procedures should therefore be checked again at the time of application.
Does a Car Sale POA Transfer Vehicle Ownership?
No. A Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE authorizes the agent to perform the acts specified in the document, but it does not replace the vehicle ownership transfer procedure before the competent traffic authority. In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority treats vehicle ownership transfer as the procedure through which the vehicle is transferred from the seller and registered in the new owner’s name.
| Element | Power of Attorney for Car Sale | Vehicle Ownership Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Authorize another person to act on behalf of the owner. | Register the vehicle in the new owner’s name. |
| Authority | The competent notary or notarization authority. | The competent traffic or vehicle registration authority. |
| Result | A notarized POA defining the agent’s authority. | Registration of the vehicle in the new owner’s name after the applicable requirements are met. |
If your objective is to understand the requirements for registering the vehicle in the buyer’s name, including inspection, insurance, fines, and transfer formalities, those issues concern the separate vehicle ownership transfer process. The official authority for vehicle ownership transfer in Dubai is the Roads and Transport Authority.
What Powers Should Be Included in the Vehicle Sale POA?
The legal principle is that the agent only receives the authority stated in the POA together with powers necessarily incidental to the authorized acts. The document should therefore reflect the real purpose of the authorization and should not rely on broad general wording where the intended transaction is specifically the sale of a vehicle.
Before notarizing a Power of Attorney to Sell a Car in UAE, consider whether the transaction requires authority to sell, sign documents, attend before a particular authority, receive transaction documents, or perform other acts connected with the sale. Unnecessary financial or unrelated powers should not be added merely because they appear in a standard template. The wording should correspond to the principal’s needs and the transaction for which the POA will be used.
What May Lead to a Request to Amend the POA?
Dubai Courts’ customer journey shows that a POA application is subject to legal and administrative review and that the authority may approve it, request amendments before resubmission, or reject the transaction with reasons. Reviewing the wording and supporting documents before submission can therefore reduce avoidable amendments. Filing an application alone should not be treated as prior approval of the proposed wording.
- Failing to state the authority to sell the vehicle clearly.
- Errors or inconsistencies in the names or identification details of the parties.
- Failure to provide the vehicle ownership or possession certificate where required.
- Failure to provide proof of a representative’s legal capacity or authority.
- Failure to meet legal translation or attestation requirements for foreign documents.
- Confusing the agent’s authority under the POA with the separate vehicle ownership transfer procedure.
You can also start from our legal services page if you need assistance identifying the appropriate notary route or determining the documents and powers required before preparing the POA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Someone Sell My Car Using a Power of Attorney in the UAE?
Yes. A vehicle owner may authorize another person to sell the car when the POA is valid and clearly grants the agent authority to complete the sale within its stated limits. Under the UAE Civil Transactions Law currently in force, a sale is one of the acts that requires a special power of attorney. Vehicle ownership transfer requirements must still be completed with the competent traffic authority.
Is a General Power of Attorney Enough to Sell a Car?
A broadly worded general POA should not automatically be assumed to authorize the sale of a vehicle. Article 870 of the current Civil Transactions Law requires a special POA for acts outside ordinary administration and preservation and expressly includes a sale. Article 871 further provides that a general POA that does not specify its purpose only authorizes acts of administration.
How Much Does a Power of Attorney for Car Sale Cost in the UAE?
There is no single fee that applies across every Emirate. Dubai Courts publishes a fee of AED 100 for each party to the Power of Attorney plus AED 20 for Knowledge and Innovation fees. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department publishes a fee of AED 100 for each year of validity for a power of attorney limited to vehicles. Fees should be verified again at the time of application.
How Long Does a Vehicle Sale Power of Attorney Take?
The timeframe depends on the notary authority and whether all required documents are complete. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department publishes a completion time of 2 working days for its vehicle-specific POA service. Actual processing may take longer if the authority requests amendments, additional documentation, translation, or attestation.
Does a Power of Attorney for Car Sale Replace Ownership Transfer?
No. The POA authorizes an agent to act on behalf of the owner within the powers stated in the document. Vehicle ownership transfer is a separate process through which the vehicle is registered in the buyer's name with the competent traffic authority. A POA may be used as part of a sale, but it does not by itself change the vehicle's registration.
Conclusion
A Power of Attorney for Car Sale in UAE should clearly define the agent’s powers because UAE law treats a vehicle sale as a transaction requiring special authority. The required documents, fees, and submission method should also be checked with the relevant notarization authority in the applicable Emirate rather than assuming that Dubai or Abu Dhabi procedures apply throughout the UAE.
Before submitting the application, review the parties’ details, vehicle information, scope of authority, and the authority before which the POA will be used. One Point Legal Services can assist with preparing or reviewing the POA and identifying the appropriate notarization route before the transaction begins.
