Power of Attorney in Saudi Arabia: How to Issue One

A power of attorney wakala lets someone act on your behalf. Sell a property, represent you in court, run a bank errand, sign for your company, complete a transaction while you are abroad.

The good news is that in the Kingdom you no longer need to queue at a notary public. The Ministry of Justice now issues powers of attorney electronically through the Najiz platform, in minutes, and the document is verified digitally by banks and government bodies.

This guide explains the types, the exact steps, how to check one is genuine, and how to cancel one instantly.

What a Power of Attorney Actually Does

Two parties are involved:

• The principal is the person granting the authority.
• The agent is the person receiving it.

The authority can be narrow — one defined task — or broad, covering financial, legal, and business matters. What matters is that you choose deliberately, because a power of attorney is a real transfer of power over your affairs.

The Two Main Types

Special (limited) power of attorney. Grants authority for specific, listed tasks. Selling one named property. Representing you in one named case. This is the safer default, and it is what most people should use.

General power of attorney. Grants broad authority across financial, legal, and business matters. It is powerful, and for that reason it should be used sparingly and only with someone you trust completely.

The practical rule: grant the narrowest authority that gets the job done. A general power of attorney handed to the wrong person is very difficult to unwind after the damage is done.

How to Issue a Power of Attorney Through Najiz

The electronic service lets you create and issue a power of attorney without visiting a notary public. Here is the path:

1. Log in to the Najiz platform using your National Single Sign-On (Absher) credentials.
2. Select All Electronic Services.
3. Choose Powers of Attorney and Declarations.
4. Open the Issue individual power of attorney service.
5. Click New Application.
6. Enter the details of the principal and the agent(s). Enter the agent’s ID or Iqama number exactly as registered — an error here causes rejection or delay.
7. Select the power of attorney terms — the specific actions the agent may perform.
8. Select the duration.
9. Click Approve.

The power of attorney is issued and stored in the Najiz system. There is no need for the agent to carry a printed copy; government offices and most private organisations verify it electronically. In some cases the agent may be asked to log in through Absher to confirm acceptance of the authority.

Issuing an electronic power of attorney is generally free for standard personal use.

The Alternative: Register and Issue via the Virtual Notarial Office

If your situation does not fit the standard individual service, there is a second route:

1. Log in to Najiz with National Single Sign-On.
2. Select All Electronic Services, then Powers of Attorney and Declarations.
3. Open the Register power of attorney service and click Use the service.
4. Specify the type of power of attorney.
5. Enter details of the principal(s), agent(s), and the terms and duration.
6. Click Submit application.
7. Complete the issuance through the Virtual Notarial Office.

Note that identity verification may require attendance at the relevant office.

Reissuing a Previous Power of Attorney

If you have used a power of attorney before and want the same terms again, you do not need to start over. On Najiz, select Issue e-power of attorney, then Copy previous power of attorney, and enter the number of the previous power of attorney together with the ID number of one of the parties.

Issuing One From Outside the Kingdom

The Ministry of Justice operates a system allowing an electronic power of attorney to be issued through Saudi embassies and consulates abroad.

This replaced a slow paper process. Previously, a client abroad had to obtain a paper power of attorney from the embassy, then post it to the Kingdom for certification by the ministries of foreign affairs and justice. The electronic version can be used immediately, verified through the ministry portal, and revoked on the same platform.

How to Verify That a Power of Attorney Is Genuine

Never act on a power of attorney you have not checked. Anyone can print a document.

1. Log in to Najiz with National Single Sign-On.
2. Select All Electronic Services.
3. Choose the Verification Services package.
4. Open Verify power of attorney.
5. Click New Application.
6. Enter the power of attorney number and the ID number of one of the parties.

The service confirms the status, lets you review the clauses, and allows you to download the decree electronically.

If a stranger presents you with a power of attorney over someone else’s property or bank account, this three-minute check is the difference between a valid transaction and a fraud.

How to Cancel a Power of Attorney

You can view your active powers of attorney, check their status, and cancel them at any time through your Najiz account. Cancellation takes effect instantly.

Two practical warnings:

• Tell the agent, and tell the counterparty. Cancellation is instant in the system, but a bank or buyer part-way through a transaction should be informed directly.
• Cancel when the task is done. Many people issue a power of attorney for one sale and then forget it exists for years. Diary a date to revoke it.

How Long Does a Power of Attorney Last?

You select a duration when you issue it. It is commonly stated that a Saudi power of attorney runs for up to five years unless a shorter period is specified or it is revoked earlier — but do not rely on a general rule. Check the duration shown on your own document at the point of issuance, and set your own shorter period where you can.

Common Mistakes We See

• Granting general authority when special would do. The most expensive error in this article.
• Getting the agent’s ID number wrong, causing rejection.
• Vague terms. If the clause does not clearly permit the act, the bank or registry will refuse it, and you will reissue.
• Never revoking it. An old power of attorney is a live risk.
• Accepting a paper document at face value without running the Najiz verification.
• Assuming a foreign power of attorney will work here. A document issued abroad generally needs proper legalisation and translation. If you are pursuing a claim in the Kingdom, this is a routine stumbling block — we cover it in our guide to enforcing a foreign debt or judgment in Saudi Arabia.

When You Need a Lawyer, Not Just a Portal

The portal issues the document. It does not tell you whether the wording protects you.

We draft powers of attorney with terms tight enough to do the job and narrow enough to limit risk, and we handle the surrounding documentation through our notary services. A power of attorney appointing counsel is also the first document required in most litigation and enforcement matters, and in estate work — see our guide to inheritance and wills in Saudi Arabia.

If you are a foreign resident, our guide for expats explains where powers of attorney fit into the wider picture. You can view our full range of legal services in Saudi Arabia, or read how much a lawyer costs before you engage anyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Do I Issue A Power Of Attorney In Saudi Arabia?

Log in to the Najiz platform with your National Single Sign-On credentials, select All Electronic Services, choose Powers of Attorney and Declarations, open the Issue individual power of attorney service, click New Application, enter the principal and agent details, select the terms and duration, then click Approve. No visit to a notary public is required.

2. Is A Najiz Power Of Attorney Free?

Issuing an electronic power of attorney through Najiz is generally free for standard personal use. The document is valid immediately after issuance and is stored in the Najiz system.

3. How Do I Verify A Power Of Attorney In Saudi Arabia?

Log in to Najiz, select All Electronic Services, choose the Verification Services package, open Verify power of attorney, click New Application, and enter the power of attorney number together with the ID number of one of the parties. You can review the clauses and download the decree electronically.

4. How Do I Cancel A Power Of Attorney?

You can view, check the status of, and cancel any active power of attorney at any time through your Najiz account. Cancellation takes effect instantly. Inform the agent and any counterparty directly, since a bank or buyer mid-transaction will not otherwise know.

5. Can I Issue A Power Of Attorney From Outside Saudi Arabia?

Yes. The Ministry of Justice operates a system for issuing an electronic power of attorney through Saudi embassies and consulates abroad. It can be used immediately, verified through the ministry portal, and revoked on the same platform, replacing the old paper-and-post process.

6. What Is The Difference Between A General And A Special Power Of Attorney?

A special or limited power of attorney grants authority for specific listed tasks. A general power of attorney grants broad authority over financial, legal, and business matters. Grant the narrowest authority that achieves your purpose — a general power of attorney given to the wrong person is very hard to unwind.

7. How Long Is A Power Of Attorney Valid In Saudi Arabia?

You select the duration when you issue it. A maximum of five years is commonly cited, unless a shorter period is specified or the document is revoked earlier. Always check the duration recorded on your own document rather than relying on a general rule.

8. Does A Power Of Attorney Need To Be Printed?

Usually not. Government offices and most private organisations verify an electronic power of attorney directly through Najiz. In some cases the agent may be asked to log in through Absher to confirm acceptance of the authority.