Signing a power of attorney in India for use in the UAE
The UAE Embassy in New Delhi publishes the route. A power of attorney must be signed before a notary or legal authority in India, attested by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and then attested through the UAE’s digital service, one application that covers the Embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MEA lists the UAE among countries outside the Apostille Convention and describes "Normal Attestation" for them. The UAE authority that receives the document decides whether it is enough for the transaction.
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The route the UAE Embassy in New Delhi publishes
The Embassy says India-issued documents "must be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Republic of India" before it attests them, and that powers of attorney "must be signed before a local notary or legal authority in India, then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of India."
It describes the service as "One service, two attestations: One application covers both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MoFA in the UAE." The original is still needed: "The original physical document is required for the digital attestation process."
It also says "A power of attorney containing commercial content is considered a commercial document."
What the Consulate General in Mumbai says, and how it differs
The UAE Consulate General in Mumbai words the middle step differently. Its page says powers of attorney "must be signed before a local notary or legal authority in Republic of India, then attested by Home Department Government of India or the relevant authorities in the Republic of India."
The two pages do not name the same authority for that step, and neither explains the difference. If you are applying through Mumbai, ask the Consulate which attestation it expects before you start.
Source: UAE Consulate General in Mumbai, Attestation Information
What India’s Ministry of External Affairs publishes
MEA describes two routes. An apostille, which it says "is done for personal documents like birth/death/marriage certificates, Affidavits, Power of Attorney, etc.", and "Normal Attestation", which it says "is done for all the countries which are not a member of Hague Convention and where Apostille is not accepted."
MEA’s published list of countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention includes "UAE (United Arab Emirates)". MEA states that "Normal Attestation is done free of cost."
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India - Apostille and attestation
The route side by side
Each authority publishes its own step. Laid out together:
| Step | Who does it | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Signing | A notary or legal authority in India | UAE Embassy New Delhi |
| 2. Indian attestation | Ministry of External Affairs (New Delhi’s wording); Home Department or the relevant authorities (Mumbai’s wording) | UAE missions in India; MEA |
| 3. UAE attestation | The UAE mission and UAE MOFA, in one digital application | UAE Embassy New Delhi |
The other direction is a different page
If you are in the UAE and the document is for use in India, the route is different: the Indian missions in the UAE publish their own requirements and will themselves execute a power of attorney. That is covered in the guide to a power of attorney from the UAE for India.
Questions
Can an Indian apostille be used in the UAE?
That is not the route the UAE Embassy in New Delhi publishes. It asks for attestation by India’s foreign ministry and then its own digital attestation, and MEA lists the UAE among countries outside the Apostille Convention.
Does MEA charge for attestation?
MEA states that "Normal Attestation is done free of cost." Its outsourced agencies charge their own service fee, which MEA publishes separately.
Do I need to send the original?
Yes. The Embassy states that "The original physical document is required for the digital attestation process." A MOFA-approved service provider collects it and returns it.
Does the power of attorney need to be in Arabic?
For attestation, MOFA asks for the document in English or Arabic, or an official translation. The UAE authority receiving it may ask for Arabic separately.
What this page does not do
- MEA’s list naming the UAE is a document dated January 2025 in its own metadata. It is cited here only for the UAE entry.
- The two UAE missions in India word the Indian attestation step differently. This page quotes both and does not choose between them.
- 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.