POA · POA services
Power of Attorney Revocation in the UAE
End an existing mandate properly, so banks and registries actually stop accepting it.
Updated September 2026 · market data verified methodology
A revocation of power of attorney is the instrument that cancels a mandate you previously granted. From the moment it is signed before the notary, the attorney you appointed can no longer sign, file or represent you — whether the original document was a broad general mandate or a narrow one drawn for a single property deal, and whether you now want a different representative or prefer to act yourself.
UAE practice gives a principal two routes: a revocation deed executed at a notary session, or the notary's online procedure that lets you cancel a POA remotely. The notarized document alone is not the whole job — the attorney, your bank and any authority the attorney dealt with also have to learn about the cancellation, because until notice reaches them, third parties may keep relying on the old mandate. This page sets out both routes, the papers to prepare and the notification steps that make a revocation stick.
How it is done
A written revocation executed before the notary — at an in-person session or through the notary's online procedure
What to prepare
The original POA's details — parties, date, issuing notary and scope — plus identity papers of both parties
Who must be told
The attorney first, then banks and other institutions the attorney dealt with — notice by registered mail, through the notary or by delivery
Can the attorney object
No — cancelling a mandate is the principal's right and does not require the attorney's consent
Who uses this POA
- Principals who no longer need the mandate and prefer to sign their own documents
- Owners replacing a representative — the usual sequence is to revoke the old POA before issuing a new one
- Anyone who has lost confidence in the attorney and wants the authority stopped without delay
- Sellers whose property or vehicle mandate has served its purpose and should not circulate further
- Principals tidying up their paperwork after a move, a divorce or a change of residency
What the attorney can do
- After a valid revocation: nothing — the authority to sign, file and represent in your name ends with the mandate
- Until banks and registries receive notice, they may still accept the attorney's signature, which is why serving the cancellation is part of the process
- Acts the attorney completed properly before the revocation date stand; the deed cuts off future authority only
- A revoked attorney cannot refuse the cancellation or keep exercising powers by ignoring the notice
- Once the old mandate is closed, a new attorney can be appointed immediately — the two documents work in sequence
Limits and practical notes
Check these before drafting — they decide whether an authority accepts your document.
- The cancellation must be in writing and notarized — telling the attorney by phone or messenger does not end the mandate
- Third parties may keep relying on the old POA until notice reaches them, so serving the attorney and the bank is a step in its own right, not an afterthought
- If the transaction covered by a special POA is already moving, cancelling mid-deal can stall the file and leave counterparties and the attorney in dispute — check the deal status first
- The revocation has to identify the original document; a deed without the POA's details can be returned by the notary
- Procedure differs between emirates and between the in-person and online tracks — confirm current practice before booking
Documents to prepare
The principal (individual)
- Passport of the principal; visa page and Emirates ID if resident in the UAE
- Passport, visa page and Emirates ID of the attorney whose mandate is being cancelled
- The original power of attorney or its details — date, issuing notary, parties and scope
- Anything specific to the original POA's subject — title deed, trade licence or vehicle papers, where relevant
Cancelling a special power of attorney
A special POA is written for one defined transaction — a single sale, a single registration — and its cancellation carries one extra layer of caution: timing. Before revoking, establish where the underlying deal stands. If a transfer is already mid-process at a registry or a bank, pulling the mandate at the wrong moment can freeze the transaction and hand the attorney and counterparties grounds for claims.
When you do cancel, put the effort into the wording rather than the speed. A revocation that names the original POA precisely — its date, issuing notary and scope — closes the question for banks and registries at first sight, while a vague one invites follow-up requests. Whether you call it cancelling or revoking, it is the notarized deed plus the notices that make the cancellation effective.
- Check whether the transaction under the mandate is still in progress before revoking
- Identify the original POA precisely — date, issuing notary, parties and scope
- Serve notice on the attorney and on every institution the attorney dealt with
- Plan the replacement mandate so the new authority starts where the old one ends
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel a power of attorney in Dubai?
The same way you revoke it anywhere in the UAE: a written revocation executed before the notary — in person or through the online procedure — followed by notice to the attorney and to any bank or authority the attorney dealt with. Cancelling and revoking are two names for the same instrument.
Does the attorney have to agree to the cancellation?
No. Revocation is the principal's right and works without the attorney's consent; the attorney cannot keep the mandate alive by refusing to accept the notice. What the attorney's cooperation does change is the practical side — returning originals and confirming which third parties were contacted.
What happens to the attorney's powers after the revocation?
They end for the future: the attorney can no longer sign or represent you, and banks must stop accepting the mandate once notified. Acts the attorney validly completed before the cancellation are not reversed. That is exactly why prompt notice matters when trust has broken down.
Can I revoke the old POA and appoint a new attorney at the same time?
Yes, and it is the usual sequence when you are changing representatives: the revocation closes the old mandate and a new POA grants fresh authority, so there is no gap and no period with two live mandates over the same assets.
Do I need to visit the notary in person?
Not necessarily. The in-person session is one route, and the notary's online procedure is the other, designed for principals who are abroad or simply prefer remote handling. Requirements differ somewhat between the two tracks and between emirates, so confirm the current practice for your situation.
Need this POA arranged?
Describe the task — you get a recommendation on wording, the document checklist and an itemized estimate.