How to Cancel or Revoke a Power of Attorney in Dubai

Revocation is the principal’s act of withdrawing or restricting authority previously granted to an agent, subject to the instrument, current law, rights attached to the agency and required notice or recording steps. It is different from expiry, completion of the authorised task, replacement by a new instrument, or another event that terminates agency.

The current UAE Civil Transactions Law addresses termination and revocation in Articles 897–900. The legal effect and notice consequences can depend on the facts. A notarised revocation document does not necessarily notify the former agent, bank, developer, registry, company or counterparty automatically.

Subject to current law, a principal may revoke or restrict an agent’s authority. If the agency involves a third-party right or was issued in the agent’s interest, Article 898 provides that it cannot be terminated or restricted without the consent of the person whose interest it serves. Article 899 may also require compensation for damage caused by revocation at an inappropriate time or without acceptable justification. POAS does not determine contested rights; obtain UAE legal advice where either issue may apply.

Identify the existing POA precisely

Prepare:

  • principal and former agent identity details;
  • copy of the existing POA where available;
  • date, instrument, notarial or verification reference;
  • powers to be revoked;
  • whether revocation is complete or partial;
  • organisations that have received or relied on the POA;
  • transactions still in progress; and
  • any urgent risk, dispute or action already taken by the agent.

Where the original cannot be found, gather all known identifying information. The notary or relevant registry may require further evidence or searches.

Revocation, expiry and replacement are different

  • Revocation: an act intended to withdraw or restrict authority.
  • Expiry: the instrument reaches its stated end date or duration.
  • Completion: the authorised work has been completed.
  • Replacement: a new POA is created; this should not be assumed to cancel the old one without clear wording and the required steps.
  • Other termination events: current law may end ordinary agency on events including death or loss of capacity, subject to the law’s stated exception and the facts.

Because third parties may act on the authority they know about, notice and record updating can be as important as preparation of the revocation instrument.

Revocation checklist

  • Identify the original instrument and former agent.
  • Decide whether the withdrawal is full or partial.
  • List banks, registries, companies, developers and counterparties that may rely on the old POA.
  • Ask each affected organisation how it records revocation.
  • Preserve evidence of notices and delivery.
  • Do not assume the revocation reverses acts already completed.
  • Obtain urgent independent legal advice where misuse, fraud, disputed rights or imminent loss is alleged.

How the POAS revocation service works

  1. Open the Revocation & Cancellation file and pay online. The POAS fee is AED 1,999 + VAT.
  2. Send the existing instrument, identity details, desired scope and affected organisations.
  3. POAS checks the available information and likely execution route before drafting.
  4. Review the revocation document and notification plan.
  5. Complete the identity and execution steps required by the applicable licensed notary.
  6. Notify and update affected agents and organisations separately where required.

Private-notary, notification, government, translation, courier and other third-party charges are separate unless expressly included.

FAQs

Do not assume so. Use express revocation wording and follow the required execution, notice and record-update steps.

The effect depends on the instrument, current law and any rights attached to the agency. Qualified advice may be needed for a contested or rights-linked arrangement.

Not necessarily. Each affected organisation may require separate notice, a copy, a reference update or its own procedure.

Not automatically. Revocation generally concerns authority going forward; completed acts and disputed consequences require separate assessment.

A partial revocation may be possible if the powers to be withdrawn and retained can be identified clearly and the applicable process accepts it.

Contact affected organisations immediately and obtain independent legal advice. The standard POAS preparation route is not an emergency injunction or dispute service.

POA Revocation & Cancellation. AED 1,999 + VAT. Review and pay