How to Appoint a Power of Attorney in Kuwait

If you're trying to authorize someone to act for you in Kuwait — sign a sale, collect documents, finalize a divorce, run a company matter — you'll need a notarized power of attorney. The process is straightforward if you know where to go and what to bring. Most people don't.

Quick Answer

A power of attorney Kuwait appointment is done through the Ministry of Justice's Notary Public (Idarat al-Tawtheeq), or through a Kuwaiti embassy/consulate if you're abroad. You'll need your Civil ID (or passport), the agent's full details, and a clear statement of the powers being granted. Expect to pay around KD 10 per POA, book an appointment via the MOJ portal, and attend in person. Non-Arabic documents require certified translation. Special powers (property sale, divorce, company incorporation) must be spelled out explicitly — a general POA won't cover them.

Where You Actually Go

Powers of attorney in Kuwait are issued through the Notary Public Department (Idarat al-Tawtheeq) under the Ministry of Justice. This is governed by Law No. 4 of 1961 on Notarization and its amendments, which gives the notary exclusive authority to authenticate POAs for use inside Kuwait.^[1]

You have three main channels:

• In-person at a Notary Office. Branches operate in Kuwait City, Hawalli, Farwaniya, Jahra, Ahmadi, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer.
• Online appointment booking via MOJ. The Ministry of Justice e-services portal (moj.gov.kw) lets you reserve a slot and upload drafts in advance.
• Kuwaiti embassy or consulate abroad. If you're outside Kuwait, the embassy's consular section notarizes POAs for use back home, usually with a fee in local currency plus legalization.^[2]

Walk-ins are technically allowed at some branches, but honestly, book the appointment. Queues without one can eat half a day.

What to Bring and What It Costs

For a power of attorney Kuwait appointment at the Notary, the standard file is:

• Original Civil ID (and passport if you're a non-resident)
• Full details of the agent (wakeel): name, Civil ID number, nationality, address
• A draft POA text in Arabic — the notary will not translate for you
• Supporting documents proving the subject matter (e.g. title deed copy for a property POA, commercial licence for a corporate POA)
• Two witnesses in certain cases (the notary will tell you)

Fees under the current MOJ schedule run roughly KD 10 for a standard POA, with additional charges for extra copies and specialized forms. Corporate POAs and property-sale POAs sometimes carry higher stamp duty depending on the transaction value. Confirm the fee at the counter — rates have been adjusted periodically.

If your POA is in English or any non-Arabic language, you need a certified translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. The notary rejects uncertified translations without exception.

General vs Special Powers — Get This Right

This is where people slip up. A general power of attorney (wakala 'ammah) covers routine administrative acts: collecting documents, representing you in minor dealings, following up with ministries. It does not authorize anything that disposes of your rights or assets.

For the following, you need a special power of attorney (wakala khassah) with the specific act named in the text:

• Selling, mortgaging, or gifting real estate
• Pronouncing or accepting divorce (talaq / khula) — see Kuwaiti Personal Status Law No. 51 of 1984, which requires explicit authority^[3]
• Incorporating, dissolving, or transferring shares in a company
• Withdrawing from or settling a court case
• Operating bank accounts or signing cheques
• Accepting inheritance or waiving inheritance rights

If the special power isn't spelled out, the ministry, bank, court, or land department will refuse to act on it. You'll be back at the notary paying another fee.

Watch out: A POA signed abroad must be legalized. That means notarization in the country of signing, then authentication by that country's foreign ministry, then the Kuwaiti embassy, and finally stamping by Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs once it arrives. Skip a step and the deed won't be accepted.

Revoking or Amending the POA

A POA stays in force until it expires (if a term was set), until the task is completed, until the principal or agent dies, or until you formally revoke it. Revocation is done at the same Notary Public office that issued it — bring your Civil ID and the original POA reference. The MOJ then updates the central register, and the agent is deemed on notice.

For sensitive matters — property, company control, bank mandates — notify the relevant third parties (land registry, bank, Ministry of Commerce) in writing yourself. The MOJ's internal update is not a substitute for telling the counterparty.

For related civil matters, see our overview on civil law questions in Kuwait.