Yes, another person can potentially withdraw money or operate your bank account in the UAE under a Power of Attorney, but only where the POA gives that person the necessary banking authority and the bank accepts and verifies the document.
A general statement allowing someone to “represent me” may not be enough for withdrawals, transfers, cheque signing, or account closure. Banks need to establish exactly what the representative is authorised to do before allowing access to the customer’s funds.
The safest approach is therefore to identify the banking activities required first and draft the POA around those specific powers.
Can Someone Withdraw Money from Your UAE Bank Account Using a POA?
Yes, if withdrawing funds is expressly covered by the authority granted and the receiving bank accepts the POA for that purpose.
UAE Central Bank customer-due-diligence rules require licensed financial institutions to verify that a person claiming to act for a customer is actually authorised and to verify that person’s identity.
A Power of Attorney is specifically recognised as one form of evidence that can establish such authority.
However, the CBUAE rules do not mean that every POA must be accepted for every banking transaction. The individual bank still needs to determine whether the document gives sufficient authority for the requested transaction.
For example, Commercial Bank of Dubai’s current banking POA framework expressly distinguishes administrative authority from account-operation authority. Its account-operation form can cover withdrawals, transfers, and other account instructions.
Other UAE banks may use different wording or internal forms.
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What Powers Should the POA Include for Account Operation?
If the representative needs to actively manage the account, the POA should describe the required powers clearly.
Depending on what the principal wants to authorise, these could include authority to:
- operate specified bank accounts;
- withdraw funds;
- transfer money;
- deposit funds;
- give account instructions;
- sign or issue payment instructions;
- deal with cheques;
- request account statements;
- manage deposits;
- communicate with the bank;
- request specified banking services; or
- close an account where expressly authorised.
These powers do not all need to appear in every POA.
If the representative only needs to make a particular withdrawal or deal with one account, a narrower Power of Attorney can be drafted around the exact banking authority required.
Does Authority to Withdraw Money Also Allow Transfers or Account Closure?
Not necessarily.
A Power of Attorney operates according to the authority actually granted in the document and accepted by the bank.
Authority to collect a statement does not automatically mean authority to withdraw funds. In the same way, authority to withdraw money should not automatically be interpreted as authority to:
- close the account;
- borrow money;
- open new accounts;
- grant a mortgage or pledge;
- provide guarantees; or
- sign finance facilities.
If those additional powers are required, they should be addressed expressly.
This distinction is particularly important with borrowing and security powers because they can create new financial liabilities rather than simply allow someone to manage existing funds.
Can a General Power of Attorney Be Used to Operate a Bank Account?
Possibly, but the title “General Power of Attorney” does not by itself determine what the bank will allow.
The bank will look at the wording.
If an existing general POA clearly authorises the relevant banking transactions, the bank may review it for acceptance. If the authority is vague or does not cover the requested action, the bank may require a more specific document.
A Special Power of Attorney can often provide greater clarity where the purpose is limited to:
- one particular bank;
- one specified account;
- a defined type of transaction;
- a particular amount or purpose; or
- a defined period.
Broader authority should not be granted merely because a general form is available.
Does Notarisation Mean the Bank Must Accept the POA?
No.
Notarisation and bank acceptance are separate steps.
The notarial process establishes the document through the applicable legal procedure. The bank then performs its own checks before allowing the representative to transact.
These checks can include:
- the identity of the principal;
- the identity of the attorney;
- whether the POA is authentic and verifiable;
- whether the document remains effective;
- the exact banking powers granted;
- whether account details correspond with the bank’s records;
- KYC and compliance requirements; and
- any bank-specific approval or documentation requirement.
This is consistent with CBUAE rules requiring banks to verify both the identity and authority of persons acting for customers.
Can the POA Holder Use Online Banking?
A Power of Attorney should not be treated as permission to simply give another person your personal online-banking password, PIN, OTP, or other security credentials.
If the representative needs remote or electronic access, the account holder should ask the bank what authorised access arrangement it provides.
CBUAE customer-identification rules recognise that persons legally empowered to transact for customers can include authorised persons with remote-access credentials, but the relevant access should be established through the financial institution’s approved process.
The existence of a POA does not automatically convert the principal’s personal login credentials into the attorney’s authorised banking credentials.
Can a POA Holder Borrow Money From the Bank?
Only if the relevant borrowing authority is expressly granted and the bank accepts it.
Operating an existing account and creating new debt are materially different powers.
A bank may require clear wording before allowing an attorney to:
- apply for credit facilities;
- borrow funds;
- sign finance agreements;
- provide guarantees;
- create a pledge;
- sign mortgage documents; or
- grant other security.
The bank may also conduct additional credit, legal, risk, and compliance checks before proceeding.
What About Company Bank Accounts?
A company can also appoint a representative to carry out banking activities, but corporate authority requires additional verification.
The bank needs to establish that the individual issuing or approving the authority has the legal power to bind the company.
Depending on the company and transaction, supporting documents could include:
- trade licence or registration documents;
- Memorandum or Articles of Association;
- board or shareholder resolutions;
- authorised-signatory records;
- identification documents; and
- the corporate POA itself.
CBUAE guidance specifically recognises board resolutions, constitutional documents, company-registry information, and Powers of Attorney as possible evidence of a representative’s authority.
Does a Banking POA Need to Be Notarised?
Where the receiving bank requires a formal notarised POA, the document must complete the applicable notarial procedure before submission.
The UAE Ministry of Justice currently provides electronic procedures for eligible Powers of Attorney through UAE Pass, while Dubai also provides notarial services through its applicable notary framework.
The exact procedure depends on the applicant and the type of authority being granted.
For the full process, see our guide explaining how to notarise a Power of Attorney in the UAE.
What If the Bank POA Was Signed Outside the UAE?
A Banking Power of Attorney executed abroad may require additional formalities before it can be submitted to a UAE bank.
Depending on the country where it was issued, the process may include:
- execution before a local notary or competent authority;
- authentication by the relevant authority in the issuing country;
- UAE Embassy or Consulate attestation where applicable;
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation; and
- certified Arabic translation where required.
MOFA confirms that Powers of Attorney can fall within its document-attestation framework. A POA containing commercial content is treated as a commercial document for attestation purposes.
Notarisation, Attestation, Authentication and Legalisation
The four terms are related but do not describe the same process.
- Notarisation concerns formal execution or ratification of the POA through the competent notarial procedure.
- Attestation verifies official signatures or seals through the appropriate authority.
- Authentication refers more broadly to verifying that a document, signature, seal or issuing authority is genuine.
- Legalisation generally refers to the wider process required to prepare a document issued in one jurisdiction for official use in another.
A document can therefore have been notarised abroad but still require further attestation or legalisation before it is suitable for submission in the UAE.
Can You Put Limits on the Attorney’s Banking Authority?
Yes. Limiting authority can be particularly useful where the representative only needs to complete a defined banking task.
Depending on the intended transaction and bank requirements, the POA can potentially identify:
- the specific bank;
- the specific account;
- the transactions permitted;
- powers that are specifically excluded;
- the purpose of the authority; and
- an expiry period.
The principal should avoid granting unnecessary financial powers.
For example, a representative who only needs to collect a liability letter may not need authority to withdraw money, make transfers, or close an account.
Can an Old POA Still Be Used for Bank Withdrawals?
Possibly, but its status should be checked before attempting a transaction.
A bank may refuse to rely on an older POA where the authority is unclear, identity information has changed, the document has expired or been revoked, or the bank’s current requirements are not met.
If an existing document is being reused, first check whether the Power of Attorney remains valid and suitable for the intended transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bank Account POAs in UAE
Can someone withdraw cash from my UAE bank account using a POA?
Potentially, yes. The POA must grant sufficient withdrawal authority and the bank must verify and accept the representative before allowing the transaction.
Can a POA holder transfer money to another account?
Yes, where transfers are within the powers granted and accepted by the bank. Authority to perform another banking task does not automatically include transfer authority.
Can a POA holder close my bank account?
Only where the POA provides sufficient authority and the bank accepts it for account closure. A limited POA may deliberately exclude this power.
Can the attorney use my ATM card or online banking password?
A POA should not be treated as authority to share personal PINs, passwords, or OTPs. The bank should be asked to establish any approved access available to an authorised representative.
Does a notarised POA guarantee access to my bank account?
No. The bank still verifies the document, the representative’s identity, the scope of authority, and its own compliance requirements before accepting the POA.
Can a POA signed overseas be used to withdraw money in the UAE?
Potentially, after completing the applicable authentication, legalisation, attestation, and translation requirements and subject to acceptance by the bank.
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Conclusion
A POA holder can potentially withdraw money, transfer funds or operate a UAE bank account, but only within the authority actually granted and accepted by the bank.
The document should therefore identify the intended banking powers clearly rather than relying on unnecessarily broad wording. Notarisation establishes the POA through the applicable legal procedure, while the bank separately decides whether the document and representative satisfy its requirements.
If you need to authorise another person to deal with your UAE bank account, Notary Public Dubai’s Power of Attorney service can assist with drafting and the applicable document formalities. NotaryPublicDubai.com is a private legal-document service and is not a bank, Dubai Courts, the UAE Ministry of Justice or another UAE government authority.
