Signing a power of attorney in Germany for use in the UAE
Germany publishes this corridor more completely than almost any other. A notarised Vollmacht is pre-certified by the Landgericht, then given a final certification (Endbeglaubigung) by the Bundesamt fuer Auswaertige Angelegenheiten at EUR 22, and then legalised by the UAE Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate General in Munich. The Federal Foreign Office names the United Arab Emirates on the closed list of states whose missions require that final certification, with commercial documents excepted.
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Why Germany treats the UAE differently from most countries
The Federal Foreign Office lists the states whose missions require an additional Endbeglaubigung for German documents, "unabhaengig von der oben beschriebenen Vorbeglaubigung" - independently of the pre-certification described above. The list names "Vereinigte Arabische Emirate (außer fuer Handelsurkunden)": the United Arab Emirates, except for commercial documents.
The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi puts the same point from the other side: "Im deutsch-emiratischen Verhaeltnis geschieht dies durch eine sog. Legalisation" - in the German-Emirati relationship this happens by legalisation, not by apostille. Translations on this page are ours.
It also says the binding information about requirements and fees comes from the UAE Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate General in Munich, and that the German Consulate General in Dubai cannot legalise German documents at all.
Which German body certifies a Vollmacht
The Bundesamt fuer Auswaertige Angelegenheiten (BfAA), which took over the Endbeglaubigung of German documents from 1 January 2023, publishes who pre-certifies what. For private individuals and for companies alike, the pre-certification of "alle gerichtlichen und notariellen Urkunden (Urteile, Handelsregisterauszuege, Vollmachten usw.)" - all court and notarial documents, judgments, commercial-register extracts, powers of attorney and so on - is done by the Landgericht, along with translations by a sworn translator.
BfAA states that it can only issue the Endbeglaubigung once the document has been pre-certified by the competent body, and that from 1 July 2025 a fee of EUR 22.00 is charged for each one.
Source: BfAA, Endbeglaubigung
The route side by side
Four authorities, each publishing its own step.
| Step | Who does it | What is published |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Notarisation | A German notary | The Vollmacht is a notarial document |
| 2. Vorbeglaubigung | The Landgericht | BfAA names it for notarial documents including Vollmachten |
| 3. Endbeglaubigung | BfAA | EUR 22.00 per certification since 1 July 2025; the UAE is on the list that requires it, except for commercial documents |
| 4. Legalisation | UAE Embassy Berlin or Consulate General Munich | The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi points to them for binding requirements and fees |
Can it be done without flying back?
The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi states that legalisation from abroad is possible in most cases, because applications can generally be submitted by post and fees transferred. What it does not do is act as a substitute: German documents cannot be legalised by the Consulate General in Dubai.
The UAE missions in Germany publish no attestation requirements of their own on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, so the fee and the counter arrangements have to come from them directly.
Source: German Embassy Abu Dhabi, Legalisation und Apostille
Commercial documents are the exception
The Federal Foreign Office list excludes Handelsurkunden, commercial documents, from the UAE Endbeglaubigung requirement. A power of attorney written for company business may fall on that side of the line, and the UAE mission treats a power of attorney with commercial content as a commercial document.
Because the two systems classify from different directions, ask the UAE Embassy in Berlin which route your document takes before the Landgericht step, not after.
What to settle in the UAE first
German authorities certify signatures and seals. The powers are judged in the UAE.
- Which UAE authority, bank or developer will act on the document, and the wording it expects.
- Whether the document is personal or commercial.
- Whether the receiving authority wants Arabic. A sworn translation is pre-certified by the Landgericht in the same way as the deed.
- That names and passport numbers match exactly.
Questions
Does a German apostille work for the UAE?
No. The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi states that the German-Emirati relationship runs on legalisation, and the Federal Foreign Office lists the UAE among states whose missions require a final certification before their own legalisation.
What does the German side cost?
BfAA charges EUR 22.00 for each Endbeglaubigung since 1 July 2025. The Landgericht and the notary charge separately, and the UAE mission publishes no fee on the Ministry website.
Who pre-certifies a notarised Vollmacht?
The Landgericht. BfAA names it for all court and notarial documents, including Vollmachten, and for sworn translations.
Can the German Consulate in Dubai legalise my German power of attorney?
No. It states that it cannot legalise German documents. The chain runs through German authorities and then the UAE mission in Germany.
What this page does not do
- Translations of the German quotations on this page are ours, not official.
- The UAE Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Munich publish no attestation page on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, so their requirements and fees are not quoted here.
- Whether the document is sufficient for a particular transaction is decided by the UAE authority that receives it.
- 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.