Used original artworks in the UAE typically sell for AED 200 to AED 2,950 (about $54 to $810). Original works are valued on artist, medium and provenance, and establishing the artist is most of the job.
What original artworks are worth in the UAE
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | AED 2,966 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | AED 2,521 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | AED 1,928 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | AED 1,335 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | AED 741 | 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
- Original frames appropriate to the period
- Sound surfaces with no flaking or overpainting
What pulls it down
- Unsigned works with no attribution
- Water damage on works on paper
Selling an original artwork in the UAE
Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
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.
Turnover peaks around the summer, when a large share of relocations happen and whole households are sold at once.
Working out what yours is worth
- Search auction results for the artist’s name
- Note the medium, dimensions and any damage
Getting it ready
- Photograph any signature, and check the back for labels, gallery stamps, inscriptions or exhibition stickers.
- Measure the work itself and the frame separately, and note the medium: oil, acrylic, watercolour, print.
Photograph
- The signature close up
- The reverse, showing any labels, stamps or inscriptions
- A detail of the surface showing brushwork or print texture, plus any damage
Put in the description
- Medium and support: oil on canvas, watercolour on paper, print and so on
- Dimensions of the work and, separately, the frame
- Provenance: where you acquired it and any documentation, plus condition
Pack flat with corner protectors and a rigid board either side, and never let the glazing sit against the surface. Consider removing glass entirely before posting, as it breaks and cuts the work.
Slower and more considered than most categories, often weeks. Well-documented pieces with clear provenance sell far faster and higher than vague ones.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the AED 2,966 a buyer pays is the AED 2,966 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 original artworks.
Common questions
Where can I sell an original artwork 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.
Is it an original or a print?
Look at the surface under raking light: brushwork sits proud, prints are flat and may show a dot pattern under magnification. Say which you observed.
How do I find out if a painting is valuable?
Identify the artist first, from the signature and any labels on the reverse, then search auction results for that name.
Do labels on the back matter?
A great deal. Gallery and exhibition labels are provenance and can add real value, so photograph them and leave them alone.
More: how to sell an original artwork, what original artworks are worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Arab Emirates.