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Power of Attorney Legalization for Arab Countries
A power of attorney lets someone in an Arab country act for you: register a company, sign contracts, sell property, collect an inheritance or appear before a court. Before it can be used there, it has to be legalized. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce reviews the POA and completes the apostille or embassy route the destination requires, for companies and for individuals.
Two routes, depending on the country. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept a POA with a Secretary of State apostille, and Oman does for personal POAs. The other Arab countries require the full chain: Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, then the embassy. Either way, the POA must be signed in person before a notary.
What a Power of Attorney Is
A power of attorney (POA) is a document in which one person or company (the principal) authorizes another (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on their behalf. Arab authorities read the POA literally, so it must spell out every power you want to give. Legalization confirms the notary’s signature and seal, not the powers in the document.
Special POA
Limited to one matter, such as selling a property or registering a trademark.
Most requestedGeneral POA
Broad powers to manage your affairs or business. Some offices limit what it covers.
BroadCommercial POA
Signed by a company officer for company registration, agencies or tenders.
CompaniesPersonal POA
For family matters: inheritance, property, bank accounts or civil records.
IndividualsChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the POA will be used to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsBusiness POA: full chain. Personal POA: Secretary of State apostille
Final stepBusiness: Embassy of Oman. Personal: apostille
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsBusiness POA: notarized → Secretary of State. Personal POA: also U.S. Department of State
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen ($120 commercial POA, $60 personal POA)
Embassy fees often differ for commercial and personal POAs. We confirm the current fee with your order.
How a Power of Attorney Is Legalized
- Draft the POAList each power clearly, with the agent’s full name and passport or ID number. Use the receiving office’s template if you have one. Many Arab offices prefer a bilingual English–Arabic POA.
- Sign in person before a notaryThe principal, or the company’s authorized officer, signs in front of a U.S. notary. The notary’s seal goes on the signature page. Some offices also ask for witnesses, so check before you sign.
- Secretary of StateThe state where the notary is commissioned certifies the notary. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (and Oman, for a personal POA), this certificate is the apostille.
- U.S. Department of State and embassyFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and the embassy in Washington, D.C. legalizes the POA. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global and then MOFA.
- Returned to youSent back with tracking. Your agent usually has it certified locally and translated before using it.
Common mistakes: remote online notarization (several Arab embassies reject it), signing before you reach the notary, a missing passport or ID number for the agent, or vague powers that the local office won’t accept. Some embassies, such as Yemen’s, also ask for a copy of the principal’s ID or passport with a personal POA.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The original POA, signed and notarized in person, with every page included.
- A copy of your passport or ID if the embassy requires it. For a commercial POA, include a board resolution if the receiving office asks for one.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy one at checkout.
What the POA should include
- Full names, nationalities and ID or passport numbers of the principal and the agent
- Each power, spelled out clearly (sell, buy, sign, collect, register, appear in court)
- The property, company or case it covers, if it is a special POA
- The date, place and duration, and whether the agent may delegate
Documents That Go With the POA
Agency Agreement
Appoints your agent or distributor. It is often filed together with a POA.
Same routeDeath Certificate
Needed with an inheritance POA. It is a state record, so order a certified copy.
Certified copyProcessing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | State apostille |
| Oman (personal POA) | State apostille |
| Embassy step | None |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country and POA type |
| Example: Yemen | $120 commercial, $60 personal |
Times are counted from the day we receive your POA. Our service fee and return shipping are shown at checkout. Call us for the current timeline for your country.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
POA reviewed firstWe check the wording, the agent’s details and the notarization before your POA goes to the state.
Business or personal, correctlyOman and the UAE treat the two differently, and we follow the right route.
All 18 Arab countriesOne order covers the state, the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
Where to Send Your POA
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Power of Attorney Legalization: Common Questions
Can I notarize a power of attorney online?
We recommend signing before a notary in person. Several Arab embassies reject remotely notarized POAs, and a rejection means starting over.
Who issues the apostille for a power of attorney?
The Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned. The U.S. Department of State doesn’t apostille POAs, because they aren’t federal documents.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled POA?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (since July 9, 2026), and Oman for personal POAs. The other Arab countries require the full embassy chain.
Does a POA for inheritance or selling property need anything extra?
Often. Some embassies, such as Yemen’s, require POAs for inheritance, financial transactions or selling assets to be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, and ask for a copy of the principal’s ID.
Does the POA need an Arabic translation?
Usually yes. Arab authorities generally require a certified Arabic translation, prepared locally. A bilingual POA can save time.
Giving someone power to act for you abroad?
Send us the draft POA before you sign. We’ll check the wording and confirm the route for the destination country.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
