How do you give a power of attorney in Saudi Arabia to a lawyer or a relative?
A power of attorney in Saudi Arabia is usually issued electronically on Najiz, the Ministry of Justice platform, in a few minutes and without visiting a notary. You log in with your National Single Sign-On account, enter the principal and the agent, pick the terms (the powers) and the duration, then approve. An electronic POA lasts one year at most. To let someone act in court, the agent must be a licensed lawyer or a relative within the fourth degree. If you are outside the Kingdom, the POA goes through a Saudi mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead.
This guide explains the types of POA, the Najiz steps for individuals and companies, the requirements, the route from abroad, how to verify and revoke a POA, and the powers a lawyer needs to plead, settle, collect money and enforce a judgment. It is part of our litigation and procedure guides and is written for residents, expats and companies.
You can book a consultation on WhatsApp with the team at Al-Safwa Law Firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultations to review your documents and explain your legal options clearly.
Table of Contents
What is a power of attorney (wakala) in Saudi Arabia?
A power of attorney, called wakala in Arabic, is a document by which one person (the principal) authorises another (the agent) to act on their behalf within stated limits. The agent can only do what the terms allow, for the period stated. Most POAs today are electronic deeds issued by the Ministry of Justice through Najiz, and anyone can check their status online with the POA number.
When you appoint a lawyer, the POA is what allows them to file your case, attend hearings and sign on your behalf. Without it, the court deals with you in person.
Types of POA: general, special and for litigation
On Najiz you do not pick a label. You pick the terms, and the terms decide how wide the POA is. In practice, POAs fall into three groups: If you are wondering how to get a special power of attorney in Saudi Arabia, the Najiz steps in the next section show how it is issued.
| Type | What it covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| General POA | Many terms across several areas, so the agent can handle most of your affairs | A family member managing matters while you live abroad |
| Special POA | One defined act or asset, such as one property, one vehicle, one bank matter or one case | Selling a named property, collecting a specific amount |
| POA for litigation | Terms under “Claims and Courts”: filing claims, pleading, defending, appeals, and the specific powers you add | Appointing a lawyer for a lawsuit, an appeal or enforcement |
A narrow POA is usually the safer choice. Give the agent the powers the task needs and set an end date. You can always issue a new POA later.
How to issue an electronic POA on Najiz (individuals)
The Ministry of Justice Issue Power of Attorney service (page updated 18 October 2026) lists these steps:
- Log in to Najiz with your National Single Sign-On credentials.
- Select “All Electronic Services”.
- Choose “Powers of Attorney and Declarations”.
- Open the “Issue Power of Attorney” service.
- Click “File New Application”.
- Enter the details of the principal and the agent or agents.
- Select the terms of the POA.
- Select the duration.
- Click “Approve”.
- You receive an SMS confirming that the POA has been issued.
No documents are required, and the POA is fully electronic: no printing, stamping or signing. The MOJ service card lists issuance as immediate. The ministry also publishes a user manual for issuing an individual POA on Najiz (PDF) with screenshots of each screen. For the current fee, check the service page before you apply.
Several principals in one POA
Heirs or co-owners can use the Multi-principal power of attorney service. It accepts 2 to 50 principals. Each principal must accept or reject on Najiz within 48 hours of the application. A principal who rejects or does not respond in time is left out, and the POA is issued for those who accepted.
Issuing a POA for a company or sole proprietorship
A company POA is issued through the Najiz Business portal, not the Individuals portal. According to the MOJ service conditions:
- The user needs an active Najiz Business account.
- The capacities available are “sole proprietorship owner” or “company representative”.
- For a sole proprietorship, the user must be its owner.
- For a company, the user must have the authority within the company to issue a POA. This normally comes from the company’s articles or the manager’s appointment recorded with the commercial register.
If you are setting up or changing a company, check who is listed as manager first. Our guide to commercial registration in Saudi Arabia explains the registry side. Entities or ID types that Najiz cannot process go through the Virtual Notarial Office, as the Register power of attorney service page explains.
Requirements and restrictions you should know
These conditions come from the MOJ service pages checked in November 2026. They decide whether your POA can be issued and what it can do:
- Who can issue: a Saudi national or a resident with a valid ID, aged 18 or over, with full legal capacity and an active National Single Sign-On account.
- Duration: an electronic POA cannot exceed one year.
- Agent for court matters: for “Claims and Courts” terms, the agent must be a licensed lawyer or a relative within the fourth degree of kinship.
- Nationality of the agent: the MOJ rules for the multi-principal service state that Saudi principals appoint Saudi agents, while resident principals may appoint Saudis or residents.
- Expired ID: if the principal’s ID has expired, the POA is limited to “Claims and Courts” matters.
- Aged over 65: a first POA must be issued through the Virtual Notarial Office or a private notary. Later POAs can be issued on Najiz.
- Elderly, ill or special needs: the Mobile Notary Service completes the POA.
- Prison inmates: POAs can be completed at self-service kiosks in prisons by videoconference.
- Death: the POA is revoked automatically when any party dies, through data linked with the Ministry of Interior.
When you need the Virtual Notarial Office
The Virtual Notary Public service handles POAs, declarations and real estate deeds without a visit. You submit the request on Najiz with the supporting documents, and a specialised team reviews and approves it. Unlike the instant e-POA, the MOJ service card counts this one in days. If you apply through an agent, the agent must hold a valid POA, or an external POA authenticated by the Saudi Ministry of Justice.
Power of attorney in Saudi Arabia from abroad
If you live outside the Kingdom and cannot use Najiz yourself, there are two common routes. Confirm the exact route with the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country before you sign anything.
- Through a Saudi mission: the POA is prepared at the Saudi embassy or consulate where you are. Saudi missions abroad handle the ratification of POAs as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) document ratification service.
- Through a local notary: you sign the POA before a notary in your country, have it authenticated by that country’s authorities and legalised by the Saudi mission, then have it ratified by MOFA in Saudi Arabia.
MOFA’s Ratification services on documents covers the “ratification of agencies” (POAs). You submit the request on the MOFA portal, pay through SADAD (or Enjaz at missions abroad), and the ministry, one of its branches or a mission reviews it. Before an MOJ service will accept a foreign POA, it must be authenticated by the Ministry of Justice, as the Virtual Notary service conditions state.
Two practical points save time. Have the POA translated into Arabic by a certified translator if it is in another language. And make sure the names match the passport and Iqama exactly. If you only need advice before deciding, our online legal consultations work from any country.
How to verify a POA
Use the MOJ Verify power of attorney service before you rely on a POA presented to you, for example by a buyer’s agent: Always verify a power of attorney in Saudi Arabia before relying on it.
- Open Najiz and go to “All Electronic Services”, then “Verification Services”.
- Choose “Verify power of attorney” and click “New Application”.
- Enter the POA number and the ID number of one of the parties.
- Click “Verify”.
The result shows whether the POA is valid or expired, all its terms, and a copy you can view or print. You can also use the service without logging in, using your ID number and mobile verification. To see every POA you have given or received, use My powers of attorney on Najiz.
How to revoke a POA
The Revoke power of attorney service works for both the principal and the agent, with no notary visit:
- Log in to Najiz and open “Powers of Attorney and Declarations”.
- Choose “Revoke power of attorney”, then “New Application”.
- Select the POA and click “Revoke power of attorney”.
- All parties are notified by SMS, and a revocation certificate appears on your POA page.
The POA must be “valid” or “partially terminated”. A party who holds several capacities can revoke one and keep the rest. If a lawsuit is running, also tell the court and the other party. Under Article 52 of the Law of Civil Procedure, dismissing your agent does not stop the proceedings unless you notify your opponent of the new agent or that you will continue in person.
What powers should a lawyer’s POA include?
A litigation POA lets a lawyer file, plead and defend. Some acts, however, need express wording. Article 51 of the Law of Civil Procedure (Royal Decree No. M/1 dated 22/1/1435H, official English translation) says that, if the principal is not present, the agent may not do the following unless the POA specifically authorises it:
- admit the claimed right, waive it or accept a settlement;
- accept, direct or reject an oath;
- drop the case;
- waive the judgment, in whole or in part, or any method of appeal;
- lift an interdiction, or release a mortgage while the debt is unpaid;
- claim forgery, request the judge’s dismissal, or select or reject an expert.
Use this checklist when you choose the terms on Najiz:
| What you want the lawyer to do | Power to include |
|---|---|
| File the case and attend hearings | Claims and Courts terms: filing, pleading and defending, submitting memos and evidence |
| Negotiate and close the case | Settlement, admission and waiver, stated expressly (Article 51) |
| Challenge the judgment | Appeal and objection terms. Waiving an appeal also needs express authority. See our appeal lawyer page. |
| Collect what the court awards | Receiving amounts and cheques on your behalf, if you want payments to go through the lawyer |
| Enforce the judgment | Enforcement terms for the Enforcement Court. See our enforcement court lawyer page. |
For labor claims, the friendly settlement and the Labor Court also ask for a POA with the right powers. Our guide to the Labour Court in Saudi Arabia covers that path.
Filing the POA with the court
Under Article 50 of the same law, the lawyer declares that they appear for you and deposits a certified copy of the POA with the court clerk. The court may allow the copy to be filed later, but no later than the first hearing. The POA can also be made by a declaration you sign in the hearing record.
Common reasons a POA is refused or does not work
These recurring problems come from the MOJ conditions above:
- Wrong agent for court work: the agent is neither a licensed lawyer nor a relative within the fourth degree, so the “Claims and Courts” terms cannot be used.
- Missing express powers: the lawyer cannot settle, waive or drop the case because those powers are not stated (Article 51).
- Expired POA: an e-POA ends after one year at most. Under Article 88 the case does not stop when a POA expires, and the court may give time if you appoint a new agent within 15 days.
- Expired ID: the POA is limited to Claims and Courts, so a property or bank task fails.
- Foreign POA not completed: it was not legalised, ratified by MOFA, translated or authenticated by the MOJ.
- A principal did not respond: in a multi-principal POA, anyone who did not accept within 48 hours is excluded.
Before you sign: the lawyer’s fee agreement
The POA gives authority. The fee agreement sets the scope of work. Before signing, check what the lawyer will handle (first instance only, or appeal and enforcement as well), the payment terms, and how either side can end the agreement. Fees vary with the type and stage of the case, so ask for them in writing. No lawyer can promise a result. Their duty is to represent you properly on the evidence and the law.
Frequently Asked Questions about Power of Attorney in Saudi Arabia
A power of attorney in Saudi Arabia is quick to issue on Najiz, but what it can do depends on the terms you choose. Pick the right agent, give the powers the task needs, including settlement, receiving money and enforcement where relevant, and keep an eye on the one-year limit.
If you want a lawyer to take your case, our team can tell you which terms to select before you issue the POA.
To get a legal consultation from our team, contact us via the WhatsApp button at the bottom of the screen.
Read also:
- Statement of claim drafting in Saudi Arabia
- Inheritance and estate lawyer in Saudi Arabia
- Real estate lawyer for property transactions
Sources:
- Issue Power of Attorney, Ministry of Justice (Najiz) (page updated 18 October 2026, checked November 2026)
- Multi-principal power of attorney, Ministry of Justice (page updated 18 October 2026)
- Register power of attorney, Ministry of Justice (page updated 18 October 2026)
- Virtual Notary Public, Ministry of Justice (page updated 18 October 2026)
- Verify power of attorney, Ministry of Justice and My powers of attorney
- Revoke power of attorney, Ministry of Justice (page updated 18 October 2026)
- User manual: Issuing Individual Power of Attorney via Najiz Portal, Ministry of Justice (PDF)
- Law of Civil Procedure, Royal Decree No. M/1 dated 22/1/1435H, official English translation, Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers (Articles 50, 51, 52 and 88)
- Ratification services on documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (checked November 2026)
A legal advisor holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the prestigious Cairo University. He possesses extensive experience spanning over 25 years in criminal, civil, and family law, during which he has achieved notable accomplishments that have solidified his reputation as a valuable asset to any legal team
