Guide · Agency · Saudi Arabia and the UAE
General vs special power of attorney
General power of attorney in Arabic: الوكالة العامة — a class of acts. A special power of attorney is الوكالة الخاصة — one named act. Neither is an unnotarised authorization.
A general power of attorney covers a class of acts you tick. A special one names a single act or transaction. In Saudi Arabia an agency in general words that does not specify the type of act is not valid. In Oman a general agency has a written statutory scope. The scope of a general agency in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait is under review. An authorization is an unnotarised letter, a different paper. This is general information, not legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Laws change. Check the sources and have the text reviewed by a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before you rely on it. Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.
In short
- General: types of act you select. Special: one named act.
- Saudi Arabia: general words that do not name the type of act are void (Article 482). Anything beyond administration needs a special agency (Article 484).
- An authorization is not a wakala. If the recipient accepts a letter that is not notarised, that is a tafweed.
The difference
On this site a general power of attorney covers the types you tick on the checklist. A special one names a single act: a sale, a claim, a bank act, a filing. Delete the option that does not apply. The instrument issued on Najiz or before a notary is the one that binds, not the draft.
A power of attorney is not an authorization. An authorization is a letter the recipient may accept without notarisation. If the body requires a notarised wakala, the letter is not enough.
Saudi Arabia and Oman
In Saudi Arabia an agency in general words that does not specify the type of act is not valid (Article 482 of the Civil Transactions Law). A special agency is valid for a defined type of act (Article 483). Any act beyond administration needs a special agency (Article 484).
In Oman an agency is special if it is limited to one or more defined matters, and general if it covers every matter that accepts representation (Article 675 of the Civil Transactions Law). A general agency lets the agent carry out exchanges and dispositions, other than donations, settlement, release, arbitration, loans and matters of personal status, unless the instrument authorises them (Article 677). An agency in general words that are not joined to anything that shows what is meant authorises only acts of administration and preservation (Article 678).
The UAE and the rest of the GCC
Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, Article 869, in force on 1 June 2026, says an agency may be general, special, conditional or deferred. The articles on the scope of a general agency are under review, so no article number is stated for that scope.
Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait: the general-versus-special scope is under review. Ask the body that will receive the instrument, or a lawyer licensed there.
General and special by country
| Country | Verified | Under review |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | General words that do not name the type of act are void (482). A special agency is valid for a defined type (483). Anything beyond administration needs a special agency (484). | Nothing in this row is left without a Saudi source. |
| Oman | Special if limited to defined matters; general if it covers every matter that accepts representation (675). A general agency excludes gifts, settlement, release, arbitration, loans and personal status unless written in (677). | Article 676 is cited, not restated beyond that citation. |
| United Arab Emirates | An agency may be general, special, conditional or deferred (Article 869, in force 1 June 2026). | The articles on the scope of a general agency are under review. |
| Bahrain | Under review. | No article number. |
| Qatar | Under review. | No article number. |
| Kuwait | Under review. | No article number. |