What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney, called a wakala in Arabic, is a signed document that lets another person, such as a lawyer, act in your name in Saudi Arabia.
Published by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations · Last updated
General information about Saudi law — not advice on your situation.
At a glance
- In Arabic
- وكالة
- Said as
- wakāla (wa-KAA-la)
- Official channel
- Najiz for powers of attorney made in Saudi Arabia. For one signed abroad: a notary, then an apostille or legalisation, in your country.
- Can you use it from abroad?
- Yes, usually. You sign it in your own country, without travelling.
Tell us your country, what the power of attorney is for and, if you know, which Saudi office will receive it.
Why does a power of attorney matter if you are a foreigner?
A Saudi lawyer needs your power of attorney before acting for you with a court or a government office. If you live abroad, it is how a lawyer in Saudi Arabia can act in your name while you stay at home.
The wording matters as much as the signature. It lists exactly what the holder, the person you name, may do: which matter, and with which courts, banks or other offices. It also says whether the holder may settle a dispute or receive money for you.
A power of attorney can be specific, for one named matter such as one case. Or it can be general, for ongoing matters you cannot list in advance. Our page on power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad compares the two.
Powers of attorney made in Saudi Arabia are issued and checked on Najiz, the Ministry of Justice’s online platform.
Where will you meet a power of attorney?
You will meet it whenever someone in Saudi Arabia must act for you while you are somewhere else:
This page explains how to sign, stamp and translate one, step by step.
Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroadThis page shows which official stamps your country uses.
Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by countryA lawyer represents you under your power of attorney.
Court cases in Saudi Arabia while you live abroadA lawyer who holds your power of attorney can check for you.
How to check for a travel ban or an open case in Saudi ArabiaA lawyer can claim for you under your power of attorney.
Recovering an unpaid invoice from a Saudi company
Can you give a power of attorney for Saudi Arabia from abroad?
Yes, usually. You sign it in your own country, in front of a notary or another official who is allowed to do this, without travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Before Saudi courts and offices accept it, it usually needs official stamps. If your country has joined the Apostille Convention, a treaty between countries on accepting each other’s public documents, it usually needs an apostille. This is a certificate confirming that the signature and stamp on it are real. If your country has not joined, it usually needs legalisation instead. This is a series of stamps, usually ending with the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country.
It often needs a certified translation into Arabic too, made by an approved translation office. Which steps you need depends on where you sign and on the receiving office. So ask us before you pay for any stamp or translation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wakala the same as a power of attorney?
Yes. Wakala is the Arabic word for a power of attorney. Some official English pages call it an “agency” instead. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs does this in its ratification service, which gives documents legal validity for use in another country. Whichever word is used, it is the document that lets someone, such as a lawyer, act for you.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Ratification services on documents
Does a Saudi lawyer need a power of attorney to act for me?
Usually, yes, for court cases and steps with government offices. If you only need advice, you usually do not need one. If you are abroad, you sign it in your own country, in front of a notary. It then needs an apostille or legalisation, and often a certified Arabic translation. The lawyer drafts the text and explains each power in it.
Can I cancel a power of attorney for Saudi Arabia?
Ask a licensed Saudi lawyer before you act, because the steps depend on the document and where it has been used. The wording of a power of attorney sets out exactly what the holder may do, so keep a copy of every one you sign and note who holds it. To change who acts for you, tell us in a few lines first. Please don’t send documents yet.
Official sources
This page draws on 3 official sources. Each line shows who publishes it, its language and, where recorded, the date we last checked it.
- Ministry of Justice · Najiz (Ministry of Justice e-services) (in Arabic) · checked
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Ratification services on documents (in English) · checked
- HCCH · Apostille Convention status table (in English) · checked
General information about Saudi law, not advice on your situation. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.