When someone signs a contract, opens a bank account, or applies for a licence on behalf of a company, banks and government offices ask one question first: does this person actually have the authority to act? Business authorisation documents explained simply — they are the papers that prove a person is allowed to speak and sign for a company, and this guide walks through each type, when you need it, and how the UAE handles them.
Get these documents wrong and everything stalls — bank accounts stay frozen, licences go unrenewed, and deals fall through at the signature stage. Get them right and your business runs without friction.
Quick Answer
Business authorisation documents are formal papers that grant or prove a person’s authority to act on a company’s behalf. The main types in the UAE are board resolutions, powers of attorney, authorised signatory lists, the Memorandum of Association (MOA), the commercial licence or registration certificate, and bank account mandates. Which one you need depends on the task: a board resolution covers internal company decisions, a power of attorney is the standard proof of authority for banks and government offices, and the licence proves the company itself exists and is licensed to operate.
What Are Business Authorisation Documents?
A business authorisation document connects a person to a company’s authority. It answers three questions: who is this person, what are they allowed to do, and who gave them that permission? Without that paper trail, a signature on a contract is just ink — the other side cannot verify the signer had any right to bind the company.
These documents sit at the centre of everyday business life in the UAE because so many official processes — licensing, banking, immigration, court filings — require formal proof of authority. Understanding them is part of the wider job of keeping every document a company should keep, and mistakes with them appear regularly in our roundup of common business documentation mistakes.
Business Authorisation Documents Explained: The Main Types
1. Board resolution
A board resolution is a written record of a decision taken by a company’s board of directors or shareholders — for example, appointing a manager, approving a loan, or authorising someone to open a bank account. Banks in the UAE routinely ask for a board resolution before they will act on a company account. Resolutions are internal documents, but they become external proof of authority when presented to banks and authorities. Our guide to company resolutions explained covers how they work, and how to prepare a company resolution walks through drafting one.
2. Power of attorney (POA)
A power of attorney is the most widely used authorisation document in the UAE. It is a legal document in which the company (or an individual) appoints an agent to act on its behalf — signing contracts, dealing with banks, appearing before government departments, or handling legal matters. POAs come in general and special forms: a general POA grants broad authority, while a special POA is limited to specific tasks. In the UAE, a company POA typically needs to be notarised, and foreign POAs usually require attestation. For the full process, see our guide to the UAE power of attorney.
3. Authorised signatory list
This is the company’s official list of people permitted to sign cheques, contracts, and official forms on its behalf. Banks maintain their own version as the bank mandate, and government offices may ask to see it before accepting a submission. Keep it updated: a signatory who left the company six months ago should not still be on the list.
4. Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association
The MOA is the company’s founding constitutional document — it names the shareholders, the capital, the managers, and who may represent the company. It is one of the first documents any bank or authority checks when verifying authority, because it shows the original chain of power inside the company.
5. Commercial licence / registration certificate
The licence (or registration certificate for free zone companies) proves the company exists and is licensed to carry on its activities. It is not itself an authorisation of a person, but almost every authorisation process starts with it: banks, notaries, and government departments ask for a valid licence before they look at anything else. For the different options, see our overview of UAE business licence types.
6. Bank account mandate
When a company opens a business account, the bank records exactly who may operate it — alone or jointly, and up to what limits. This mandate is the bank’s version of the signatory list and typically requires a board resolution plus identification documents for each signatory; it is updated whenever signatories change.
When You Need Each Document
| Situation | Document usually required |
|---|---|
| Opening a company bank account | Board resolution, licence, MOA, signatory IDs |
| Appointing someone to handle government paperwork | Power of attorney (notarised) |
| Signing contracts on the company’s behalf | Board resolution or POA; licence to prove the company |
| Applying for or renewing a licence | Authorised signatory’s ID, licence, sometimes a POA |
| Legal proceedings or disputes | Special POA for the lawyer; MOA and resolutions as evidence |
| Someone uses a foreign-issued POA in the UAE | Attested POA (foreign-issued documents need attestation) |
UAE Requirements to Know
Authorisation documents in the UAE carry a few formalities that catch newcomers out:
- Notarisation: Powers of attorney for use in the UAE are typically notarised by a UAE notary public. Courts and many government departments will not accept an un-notarised POA.
- Arabic: Arabic is the language of UAE courts and most official procedures. Documents in other languages usually need translation by a legal translator before courts or authorities accept them.
- Attestation: Foreign-issued authorisation documents generally need attestation in their home country and by the UAE embassy, plus UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, before they are accepted here.
- Validity periods: Many POAs are issued for a fixed term (commonly one to three years). An expired POA is worthless — track it like any contract expiry. The official UAE government portal u.ae business section is a good starting point for current procedures.
How to Prepare, Verify, and Store Authorisation Documents
- Confirm the right document for the task. Ask the bank or authority exactly what they want before you draft anything — requirements vary.
- Draft carefully. Names must match passports and licences exactly; the scope of authority must be precise. Vague wording gets rejected.
- Notarise and attest where required. Build the time and cost into your planning — attestation chains take days, not hours.
- Verify before relying on one. When someone presents an authorisation document to you, check signatures, dates, seals, and the issuing authority before you accept or rely on it.
- Store originals securely and track expiries. Keep notarised originals in a safe place with scanned backups, and log every expiry date in the same register as your contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a board resolution and a power of attorney?
A board resolution records a decision made inside the company (e.g. “we appoint Ahmed as manager”), while a power of attorney is the external legal instrument that lets the appointed person act before third parties like banks and government departments. In practice, you often need both: the resolution to authorise, the POA to prove it.
Can a POA issued in another country be used in the UAE?
Generally yes, but it must go through attestation — typically notarisation in the home country, attestation by that country’s foreign ministry, attestation by the UAE embassy there, and finally UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in the UAE. It will also usually need legal translation into Arabic.
Does a power of attorney expire?
Many do. POAs are often issued for a fixed term, and a POA can also end if it is revoked, if its purpose is completed, or in some cases if the grantor dies or the company is dissolved. Always check the document’s stated term and track the date.
Who can be an authorised signatory of a company?
Typically a manager, director, partner, or an employee formally appointed by resolution or POA. The person usually needs valid UAE identification (Emirates ID) and, for banking, must appear in person at least once. Requirements differ between banks and free zones, so confirm with the specific institution.
Is an authorised signatory list the same as a bank mandate?
They overlap but are not identical. The signatory list is the company’s own record of who may sign for it; the bank mandate is the bank’s binding record of who may operate the account, with signing rules (single, joint, limits). Keep the two consistent with each other.
The Bottom Line
Business authorisation documents are the bridge between a company and the people who act for it. Know the six main types — board resolutions, powers of attorney, signatory lists, the MOA, the commercial licence, and bank mandates — match the right document to the task, and handle the UAE formalities of notarisation, Arabic translation, and attestation before you need them in a hurry. Keep originals secure, track every expiry, and when you want the deeper detail, start with how powers of attorney work and the practical guides linked above.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.