Powers of attorney and wills in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah
Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain follow the federal judicial system, so a power of attorney there is notarised through the federal notary channels, including the Ministry of Justice’s digital power of attorney service. Ajman’s land department registers sales made by legal representatives and publishes fee categories for sales by proxy. Sharjah opened real-estate ownership in development areas to all nationalities in 2022. Wills are the less settled part, and this page says where the published sources stop.
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Four emirates, one federal system
The UAE Government portal states: "The emirates of Sharjah, Ajman Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain follow the federal judicial system." Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah run their own judicial departments instead.
Its justice e-services page describes attestation services as "provided through Notary Public Departments in the courts or via digital judicial platforms, enabling users to submit and track applications remotely."
The Ministry of Justice’s digital power of attorney
The federal Ministry of Justice publishes a service for drafting general and special powers of attorney and sale contracts "without the intervention of a Notary Public": register with UAE Pass, choose the digital power of attorney, pay, sign with UAE Pass and receive the document electronically.
When it launched the service, the Ministry said customers can complete transactions "whether they are residing inside or outside the country and without having to personally visit a notary public". Its second phase, it said, "offers eight types of power of attorney, including lawyer representation and digital powers of attorney in legal cases, real estate, rental disputes, licensing, vehicles, stocks, and company management."
The service uses set templates, so it suits a standard power of attorney better than a bespoke one.
Source: UAE Ministry of Justice, Digital Power of Attorney phase 2
Ajman: selling property through a representative
Ajman’s Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation registers "the sale of a property or real estate unit between the seller and the buyer or their legal representatives". Its fee schedule has separate categories for a sale by proxy: one for a proxy who is a relative, "a legal representative, heir proxy, or the same proxy", and one for a sale "by proxy to others".
The same schedule sets the registration fee by nationality: "For citizens and citizens of the States of the Gulf Cooperation Council: 2% or AED2,500 as a minimum, and for non-citizens 3% or AED3,000 as a minimum, with the ownership fees to be borne by the buyer."
Source: Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, Sale registration
Ajman: property received under a will
Ajman’s land department also registers property passing under a will. Among the required documents it lists "A Valid Passport" and "A letter from the Sharia court." Cancelling or amending a registered will likewise needs "A letter from the Sharia court to cancel and amend the will."
Ajman’s published route for a will therefore runs through the Sharia court. We did not find a separate non-Muslim wills registry on Ajman’s own pages.
Source: Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, Registering a will
Sharjah: ownership for all nationalities
In 2022 the Sharjah Executive Council "issued a decision allowing all nationalities to own real estate of all kinds without limitation of time in real estate development areas and projects", citing Law No. (2) of 2022.
Sharjah’s Real Estate Registration Department could not be reached when this was written, so its requirements for a sale by a representative are not quoted here. Ask the Department before relying on a particular form of power of attorney.
Wills: what the DIFC Courts say, and where it stops
The DIFC Courts’ wills FAQ says a Full Will "covers the distribution of your movable and immovable property in the UAE", and that a non-Muslim aged at least 18 "with assets in the UAE" may register one "virtually from any part of the world". Their rules, however, define a registrable will as one relating to assets "situated in the Emirate of Dubai and/or Ras Al Khaimah". The two are worded differently, and we quote both rather than reconcile them.
The DIFC Courts also state that their probate orders "require execution at the Dubai Courts as a standard formality", and that "The laws of the local courts in the Emirate(s) where the assets are located will apply by default to anyone who dies without a DIFC Courts Will." We found no DIFC statement on how a DIFC will is enforced over assets in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain or Fujairah.
Source: DIFC Courts, Wills FAQ
Questions
Where do I notarise a power of attorney in Sharjah or Ajman?
Both follow the federal judicial system, so the federal notary channels apply, including the Ministry of Justice’s digital power of attorney service with UAE Pass.
Can I sign a power of attorney remotely for property in these emirates?
The Ministry of Justice says its digital service can be used from inside or outside the UAE without visiting a notary. It works from set templates, and the land department receiving the document decides whether it is enough for the transaction.
Can foreigners own property in Sharjah?
The Sharjah Executive Council’s 2022 decision allows all nationalities to own real estate in real estate development areas and projects, without limitation of time.
Does a DIFC will cover my property in Ajman or Sharjah?
The DIFC Courts’ FAQ speaks of property in the UAE, while their rules speak of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and they say nothing about enforcement in these four emirates. Take legal advice before relying on it for assets there.
What this page does not do
- Umm Al Quwain’s and Fujairah’s own land, municipality and police sites could not be read when this was written; Fujairah Municipality’s site disallows automated access. Nothing emirate-specific is stated for them beyond their place in the federal system.
- Sharjah’s Real Estate Registration Department and the Ministry of Interior’s vehicle pages could not be reached, so no requirement of theirs is quoted.
- Fees are as Ajman’s land department published them when read on 22 September 2026, and may change.
- The Deedbox is not a law firm and not a notary. It does not legalise, apostille or attest documents, and does not act for anyone before a mission, a foreign ministry or a court.