Power of Attorney | 5 min read
Power of Attorney to Close a Bank Account in the UAE
A power of attorney to close a bank account lets a person you name end your account with a UAE bank when you cannot go yourself. Our lawyers and legal consultants draft, translate and handle your power of attorney in house, and we take it through ratification before a notary public.
Call +971 55 564 0358 to tell us which bank and which account you want closed.
The catch most people miss is that the bank decides. Banks read the document line by line. If the wording only says “manage my accounts”, the bank may refuse to close one. Acceptance is decided by the body that receives the document.
What a Power of Attorney to Close a Bank Account Must Say
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, an agency written in general terms gives the agent only acts of management (Article 871(1)). Any act that is not management and preservation needs a special agency that names the act (Article 870(1)). You can read both on the UAE legislation portal.
Closing an account ends your relationship with the bank, so as our drafting practice we name it directly. We write these points into the deed:
- The name of the bank and the branch, if you know it.
- The account number or numbers, or a clear description of them.
- The act: close the account, receive the remaining balance, and sign the closing forms.
- Where the balance is paid: into which account, in whose name.
- Whether the agent may also cancel cards, cheque books and standing orders.
We never publish a ready-made deed to copy. A copied wording is the most common reason a bank turns a document away.
General or Special: Which One Do You Need?
A general agency covers management only. A special agency names the acts the agent may do. Our drafting practice for a closure is a special power of attorney that names the bank and the act. Read more in our guide to the special power of attorney in Dubai and the general power of attorney.
If you want the agent to open and run accounts as well, the page on a power of attorney for a bank account in the UAE covers that.
Power of Attorney to Close a Bank Account: Procedure
- Tell us the bank, the account and who will act for you.
- We draft the deed in Arabic and English and check every document before the appointment.
- We take care of the legal translation if your document is in another language.
- We book the notary appointment and attend it with you. Ratification is carried out before a notary public, who checks your ID, reads the document out and ratifies it.
- If the deed will be used abroad, we take care of the MOFAIC attestation.
- Your agent takes the ratified original to the bank.
Talk to us
Call or WhatsApp +971 55 564 0358, or email info@poaindubai.ae.
Documents Required
From you:
- Your passport or Emirates ID. The notary checks identity from an ID card, passport or other official state document.
- The bank name and the account details.
- The name and ID details of your agent.
From your agent:
- Passport or Emirates ID, to be named in the deed and shown to the bank.
The bank may ask for more, such as its own form or a copy of your last statement. We tell you what to ask the bank before you sign.
Fees for a Power of Attorney to Close a Bank Account
Government fees are shown apart from our charge. Our own charge is quoted on enquiry, before any work starts.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal notarisation of a general or special power of attorney | AED 100 per party | Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 |
| Federal private notary, with up to 30% added | AED 130 per party | Same resolution |
| Notarising a translation in the instrument, federal | AED 50 per page | Same resolution |
| MOFAIC attestation of a personal document | AED 150 | MOFAIC |
These are federal figures. In Dubai, notarial services follow Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 and Dubai Courts publishes its own fees, so the amount is confirmed with the office that ratifies the document.
Processing Time
We cannot promise a time. It depends on the appointment, the translation and whether the bank asks for an attestation. Ask us once you know the bank and we tell you the steps in order.
Our office is in the Jebel Ali area, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 18:00. Friday, 9:00 to 12:00. Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00. Sunday, closed.
If the Account Holder Is Abroad
Sign the deed before a notary public in the country where you are, then attest it. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a foreign document is attested in the issuing country, then by MOFAIC in the UAE. Our page on how to notarise a UAE power of attorney from abroad explains the order.
When the Deed Should Stop Working
The term is whatever the document says. There is no general legal validity period. Under Article 897, an agency ends when the work is done, when its term expires, or on the death or loss of capacity of the principal or the agent. Once the account is closed, the work is done. You can still cancel early: see how to cancel a power of attorney in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
How much does power of attorney to close a bank account cost?
Government fees depend on where it is ratified. The federal figure is AED 100 per party, or AED 130 with a private notary on the federal schedule. For Dubai, the amount is confirmed with the office that ratifies the document. Our own charge is quoted before any work starts.
How long does power of attorney to close a bank account take?
We cannot give a time, because it depends on the appointment and on what the bank asks for. Tell us the bank and we explain each step. Our documents checklist helps you prepare.
What documents are required for power of attorney to close a bank account?
You need your passport or Emirates ID, the account details and your agent’s ID details. The bank may ask for its own form as well. We tell you what to ask the bank before you sign.
Can power of attorney to close a bank account be done online?
Sometimes. Personal appearance is the default, and the notary may use remote tools instead. The Ministry of Justice also runs a digital power of attorney service. We tell you which route fits your case, and the bank decides whether it accepts the result.
Start Your Power of Attorney Today
Call +971 55 564 0358, WhatsApp us or email info@poaindubai.ae. Tell us what your agent needs to do and which authority will receive the document, and we will tell you which power of attorney you need, what to bring and what the official fees are.