Used militaria in the UAE typically sells for AED 99 to AED 2,000 (about $27 to $540). Militaria is a specialist market with strict legal boundaries, so accurate identification and lawful items are essential.
What militaria is worth in the UAE
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | AED 1,977 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | AED 1,681 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | AED 1,285 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | AED 890 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | AED 494 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Insignia and badges with period construction
- Provenance linking an item to an individual
What pulls it down
- Reproductions sold as period originals
- Deactivated items without correct certification
Selling militaria in the UAE
Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
The UAE has an unusually active second-hand market driven by how often people arrive and leave — relocation sales mean good-quality items turn over quickly and often at well below their age.
Domestic courier coverage is quick and cheap by international standards, and most of the population is within a short drive of everyone else.
The Emirates is a pre-launch market, so this is what a seller here should expect when it opens. The population turns over unusually fast, and that shapes the whole market: relocation sales put nearly-new furniture, appliances and cars on the market at heavy discounts, and the best stock appears in concentrated bursts as people leave. Distances are short and courier coverage is quick and cheap, so postage is rarely the obstacle it is elsewhere. Expect buyers to move fast and to expect a reply the same day.
Working out what yours is worth
- Confirm the item may lawfully be sold and posted
- Research the pattern and period before describing it
Getting it ready
- Identify exactly what the item is. Deactivated firearms, edged weapons, ordnance and certain insignia are all regulated differently and some cannot be sold or posted at all.
- For anything deactivated, find the certificate and check it meets the current specification, since older deactivations are no longer accepted in many jurisdictions.
Photograph
- All maker’s marks, proof marks, unit stamps and dates, legibly
- Any deactivation certificate or paperwork
- Every dent, repair, replacement part or area of wear
Put in the description
- What the item is, its nation of origin and period
- All markings, transcribed and photographed
- Any legal paperwork, and any restriction you are aware of on sale or carriage
Check the legal position before agreeing any carriage, and sell only to adults where age restrictions apply. For anything restricted, a documented in-person handover to an eligible buyer is the safer route.
Steady to a dedicated collector audience year round, with lifts around major anniversaries. Correctly identified marked pieces sell quickly; generic unattributed items are slow.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the AED 1,977 a buyer pays is the AED 1,977 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Arab Emirates with their own page for militaria.
- Selling militaria in Dubai
- Selling militaria in Sharjah
- Selling militaria in Abu Dhabi
- Selling militaria in Al Ain
- Selling militaria in Ajman
Common questions
Where can I sell militaria in the UAE?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
Can you post it?
Check carrier rules and the law at both ends before you promise anything. Edged weapons, deactivated firearms and ordnance are variously restricted, refused or unlawful to send.
Is militaria legal to sell?
Much of it is, but rules vary by country and some categories are restricted or prohibited. Check before listing, and never post anything restricted.
What is a renamed medal?
One where the original recipient’s details have been erased and replaced. It substantially reduces value and should always be disclosed.
More: how to sell militaria, what militaria is worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Arab Emirates.