# 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 2026-10-19. 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. ## 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](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/) compares the two. Powers of attorney made in Saudi Arabia are issued and checked on [Najiz](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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: - [Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/) — This page explains how to sign, stamp and translate one, step by step. - [Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by country](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/) — This page shows which official stamps your country uses. - [Court cases in Saudi Arabia while you live abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/court-cases/) — A lawyer represents you under your power of attorney. - [How to check for a travel ban or an open case in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/check-for-a-travel-ban-or-case/) — A lawyer who holds your power of attorney can check for you. - [Recovering an unpaid invoice from a Saudi company](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/unpaid-invoices/) — A lawyer can claim for you under your power of attorney. ## 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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/) instead. This is a series of stamps, usually ending with the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country. It often needs a [certified translation](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/) 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. ### 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 - Ministry of Justice: [Najiz (Ministry of Justice e-services)](https://najiz.sa/applications/landing) (checked 2026-10-19) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs: [Ratification services on documents](https://www.mofa.gov.sa/en/eservices/Pages/svc31.aspx) (checked 2026-10-19) - HCCH: [Apostille Convention status table](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) (checked 2026-10-19) General information about Saudi law, not legal advice on your situation. For your own case, speak to a licensed lawyer. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed. --- Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/glossary/power-of-attorney/