Signing a procura in Italy for use in the UAE
The Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi publishes the whole route in one sentence: the document is legalised at the competent Prefettura, its translation is sworn at the Tribunale, and it is then presented to the UAE Embassy in Rome. The embassy also states, in capitals, that it cannot take part in that procedure. Everything happens in Italy before the document travels.
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The route, as Italy publishes it
For documents issued in Italy and used in the UAE, the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi states: "Il documento in questione deve essere legalizzato presso la Prefettura competente, ne deve essere asseverata la traduzione presso il Tribunale ed infine presentato all’Ambasciata emiratina a Roma." The document must be legalised at the competent Prefettura, its translation sworn at the Tribunale, and then presented to the UAE Embassy in Rome. The translation here is ours.
It adds that this is "una procedura che deve essere completata in Italia e NON coinvolge l’Ambasciata/Consolato italiano all’estero" - a procedure to be completed in Italy that does not involve the Italian embassy or consulate abroad - and states outright that the embassy cannot intervene in the legalisation procedure.
The competent Prefettura is the one for the province where the document was issued, not a single national office.
Source: Italian Embassy Abu Dhabi, documents issued in Italy for use in the UAE
The sworn translation is part of the route, not an afterthought
Italy is unusual here. The translation is sworn at the Tribunale as its own step, before the document reaches the UAE Embassy in Rome, rather than being arranged later in the UAE.
The Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi separately certifies conformity of translations between Italian and English, but only for civil-status certificates, identity documents and driving licences, and school or academic documents. It states that such a translation does not legalise the document. A procura is not on that list.
The route side by side
Three steps in Italy, then the UAE mission.
| Step | Who does it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Notarisation | An Italian notary | The procura is drawn as a notarial act |
| 2. Legalisation | The competent Prefettura | The province where the document was issued |
| 3. Sworn translation | The Tribunale | Asseverazione, named in the embassy’s own sentence |
| 4. UAE attestation | UAE Embassy in Rome | Named by the Italian embassy as the final step |
Why there is no apostille shortcut
An apostille replaces legalisation only between parties to the Hague Convention. The UAE is not listed among the Contracting Parties in the Hague Conference status table, and the Italian embassy names the UAE Embassy in Rome as the final step rather than an apostille.
What to settle in the UAE first
Italy authenticates the act and its translation. The powers themselves are judged in the UAE.
- Which UAE authority or company will act on the procura, and the wording it expects.
- Whether the powers are personal or commercial, since the UAE missions treat a power of attorney with commercial content as a commercial document.
- Which language the receiving authority wants, given the translation is sworn in Italy at the Tribunale.
- That names and passport numbers match exactly.
Questions
Can the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi legalise my Italian procura?
No. It states that the legalisation procedure must be completed in Italy and that the embassy cannot intervene in it.
Which Prefettura do I use?
The one competent for the province where the document was issued. The embassy links the Prefettura di Roma page as an explanation and tells readers to go to their own territorially competent office.
Do I need the translation sworn before the UAE Embassy in Rome?
The embassy’s published order puts the sworn translation at the Tribunale before the document is presented to the UAE Embassy in Rome.
Does the UAE Embassy in Rome publish its requirements?
Its page on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs website carried no attestation content when we checked, so ask the embassy directly about documents, fees and appointments.
What this page does not do
- Translations of the Italian quotations on this page are ours, not official.
- No fee is quoted: the Prefettura, the Tribunale and the UAE Embassy in Rome each publish their own charges elsewhere, and the UAE page is empty.
- 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.