Contracts and obligations · Legal glossary
Authorization (letter of authority)In Arabic: التفويض
Definition
Authorization (a letter of authority) is التفويض in Arabic: a letter that authorises a named person to do a named act. It is not a notarised power of attorney.
How it varies across the GCC
Saudi Civil Transactions Law has no contract named تفويض. The agency rules in articles 480 to 485 apply. In Oman a permission or an order is treated as agency when the context shows that (Civil Transactions Law, article 679). The other states are under review.
The rules that apply to a specific matter depend on the state, any free zone involved and the current text of the law, so check the official source before relying on them.
Basis by country
| Country | Basis |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Under review |
| Saudi Arabia | No contract is named تفويض. The agency contract is Civil Transactions Law, articles 480 to 485: the agent stands in the principal’s place (article 480). An agency in general words that does not specify the type of act is void (article 482). A special agency is valid for a defined type of act (article 483). An act beyond administration needs a special agency (article 484). Later ratification counts as a prior agency (article 485). |
| Bahrain | Under review |
| Qatar | Under review |
| Kuwait | Under review |
| Oman | Civil Transactions Law, article 679: a permission or an order is agency when the context shows it. |
Sources
Official texts for the points on this page. General information, not legal advice. An article number is cited only where it was verified.
- Saudi Civil Transactions Law, art. 480–485https://laws.boe.gov.sa/BoeLaws/Laws/LawDetails/655fdb42-8c96-422b-b8c4-b04f0095c94c/1
- Oman Civil Transactions Law, Royal Decree 29/2013 (text on qanoon.om), art. 679https://qanoon.om/p/2013/rd2013029/